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A Japanese introduction usually begins with a greeting, gives your name and closes with よろしくお願いします. Choose the level of politeness to suit the situation. A first meeting with a colleague or someone older normally calls for polite language; a conversation with a close peer can be more relaxed.
A polite first introduction
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| はじめまして。 | Hajimemashite. | Nice to meet you; used on a first meeting. |
| マイクです。 | Maiku desu. | I’m Mike. |
| マイクと申します。 | Maiku to mōshimasu. | My name is Mike (a humble, more formal expression). |
| よろしくお願いします。 | Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. | A polite closing expression of goodwill and cooperation. |
はじめまして is not limited to business Japanese. マイクです is a normal polite way to state your name; と申します is useful in more formal settings. You do not need to use the more formal version for every new friend.
よろしくお願いします has no single English translation that fits every situation. In an introduction it conveys goodwill toward the relationship you are beginning. “Please take care of me” is only a rough explanation, not a request for literal care.
A complete example is: はじめまして。マイクです。よろしくお願いします。 Say the three parts naturally, rather than reading each sound as an English word.
Greetings through the day
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おはようございます。 | Ohayō gozaimasu. | Good morning (polite). |
| おはよう。 | Ohayō. | Good morning (casual). |
| こんにちは。 | Konnichiwa. | Hello; good afternoon. |
| こんばんは。 | Konbanwa. | Good evening. |
The final は in こんにちは and こんばんは is pronounced wa. In おはよう, は is pronounced ha. Long vowels matter: the final ō in ohayō should be longer than a short o. Japanese o is a clear vowel, not the same as the vowel in English “law”.
A more relaxed introduction
With peers, a simple はじめまして。マイクです。よろしく。 can work. よろしく is less formal than よろしくお願いします. おはよう is casual, while おはようございます is the safer polite morning greeting.
私はマイクです (Watashi wa Maiku desu) means “I’m Mike”. 私は can be omitted when it is already clear that you are introducing yourself. The remaining マイクです is still polite; omitting the topic does not by itself make the sentence casual.
Pronunciation and practice
The final u in です and ます is often devoiced in standard speech, but it is not a universal rule that the vowel disappears. Listen to complete recorded phrases instead of relying on English spelling approximations. The long vowel in 申します (mōshimasu) also needs attention.
Practice a short introduction with your own name. Add one relevant detail, such as your country or work, once you know the appropriate vocabulary. またね (mata ne, see you later) is a casual farewell, rather than a formal closing for every business introduction.
