How to Say ‘Please introduce yourself.’ in Japanese
自己紹介をお願いします。
jiko shoukai o o negai shi masu
[jee-koh shoh-kai oh oh neh-gah-ee shee mah-soo]
💬 Usage Tip: [〜をお願いします] is a very standard polite request pattern. Here it’s “Your self-introduction, please.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is often the very first question in Japanese interviews—prepare a 30–60 second version.
Phrase Breakdown
自己紹介
jiko shoukai
self-introduction
A noun meaning “self-introduction.” Common in first meetings/classes.
自己紹介をします。
I will introduce myself.
Words in this phrase
自己
jiko
[jee-koh]
Self / oneself
Here 自己 is part of 自己紹介, a common interview request.
面接官が自己紹介をお願いしますと言いました。
The interviewer said, “Please introduce yourself.”
紹介
shoukai
[shoh-kai]
Introduction
紹介 completes 自己紹介 (“self-introduction”), which is usually 30 seconds to 1 minute in interviews.
紹介は一分くらいで話します。
I speak my introduction in about one minute.
を
o
[oh]
(object marker)
を marks the direct object: 自己紹介を = “(your) self-introduction (please).”
自己紹介をしてから質問に答えます。
I answer questions after doing my self-introduction.
お願いします
o negai shi masu
please; I request (it)
Polite request expression: “Please (do it).” Here: “Please give your self-introduction.”
もう一度お願いします。
One more time, please.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
(honorific prefix)
お adds politeness in お願いします, appropriate for interviewers and formal requests.
自己紹介をお願いしますのおは丁寧な印象です。
The “o” in “jikoshoukai o onegaishimasu” gives a polite impression.
願い
negai
[neh-gah-ee]
Request / favor
願い is the noun “request.” With お願いします, it becomes “please (do…).”
面接官に自己紹介をお願いしますと頼まれました。
The interviewer asked me, “Please introduce yourself.”
し
shi
[shee]
Do (part of verb)
し is the stem of する; in お願いします it forms a polite request.
自己紹介をお願いしますと言われたらはいと答えます。
If I’m told “Please introduce yourself,” I reply “Yes.”
ます
masu
[mah-soo]
(polite ending)
ます makes the request formal and polite, suitable for job interviews.
面接ではお願いしますのますをはっきり言います。
In interviews, I clearly say the “-masu” in “onegaishimasu.”
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