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How to Say ‘Nice to meet you, I'm Tanaka.’ in Japanese

はじめまして、田中です。

hajime mashi te tanaka desu

[ha-JEE-meh mah-shee teh tah-nah-kah dess]

🇯🇵 In Japan: People introduce themselves by family name alone in most settings, and they never add さん to their own name. A small bow usually goes with はじめまして.

Phrase Breakdown

はじめまして、

hajime mashi te

Nice to meet you.

A greeting used when meeting someone for the first time. Say ha-ji-me-ma-shi-te with a light 'shi'.

Example

はじめまして、よろしくお願いします。

Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.

Words in this phrase

はじめ

hajime

[ha-JEE-meh]

first time; beginning

Stem of はじめる 'to begin'; part of the greeting はじめまして 'nice to meet you'.

Example

はじめまして、よろしくお願いします。

Nice to meet you, please treat me well.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite verb ending part

Part of polite verb forms used in formal speech.

Example

丁寧に話しました。

I spoke politely.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.

Example

てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。

When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.

田中です。

tanaka desu

I'm Tanaka.

Name + です is a simple, polite self-introduction. Don't add さん to your own name.

Example

私は田中です。

I am Tanaka.

Words in this phrase

田中

tanaka

[tah-nah-kah]

Tanaka (name)

Part of the school name being stated clearly on the phone.

Example

田中小学校です。

This is Tanaka Elementary School.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

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