How to Say ‘(polite set phrase part; used in greetings like はじめまして)’ in Japanese
まして
mashite
[mah-sheh-teh]
💬 Usage Tip: Usually not used alone in daily speech; it’s a set chunk in [はじめまして]. Think of it as “(we) meet for the first time.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Set phrases are common in Japanese greetings—people learn and use them as fixed social tools rather than analyzing each piece.
Phrase Breakdown
まして
mashite
[mah-sheh-teh]
(polite set phrase part)
まして is most commonly encountered inside はじめまして. By itself it’s not usually used as a standalone word in daily conversation at beginner level.
クラブで会って、はじめまして、と言った。
We met at the club and I said, “Nice to meet you.”
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