What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the greeting こんにちは (konnichiwa), which literally means 'as for today' or 'today is' but functions as 'hello' or 'good day', followed by the name カミラ (Kamira). The name is written in Katakana, the script used for foreign names and loanwords. The phrase ends with です (desu), which is the copula meaning 'is' or 'am'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The use of です at the end of the sentence makes this introduction polite and suitable for meeting people for the first time in most social settings. For a more formal way to say 'my name is', you can use と申します. Conversely, if you want to greet someone casually, you might use the informal やあ for 'Hi' or 'Hey'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this introduction, the particle です functions as the copula 'to be' and is used to mean 'am' in the context of 'I am Camila'. When using the form カミラだよ, the particle だよ is used to add emphasis to the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
konnichiwa, kamira desu
Did you know?
- In Japanese introductions, it is common to omit the word for 'I' entirely. Unlike English, the subject is implied by the context, so saying カミラです is more natural than adding a word for 'I'.
- In Japanese business culture, it is common to bow slightly while saying your name, as the physical gesture is considered just as important as the words themselves.
- If you use the formal version と申します, you are using a humble form of the verb 'to say'. This literally frames your name as something you are humbly reporting to the other person.
Examples in context
- はじめまして、私の名前はカミラです。Nice to meet you, my name is Camila.
- やあ、カミラだよ。Hey, I'm Camila.
- はじめまして。こんにちは、カミラです。Hajimemashite. Konnichiwa, Kamira desu.Nice to meet you. Hi, my name is Camila.
- こんにちは、カミラです。よろしくお願いします。Konnichiwa, Kamira desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Hi, my name is Camila. Pleased to meet you.
Example conversation
Two students meeting for the first time in a classroom.
- 美咲 Misakiこんにちは、カミラです。Konnichiwa, Kamira desu.Hi, my name is Camila.
- 陽太 Yotaこんにちは。僕は陽太です。Konnichiwa. Boku wa Yōta desu.Hi. I'm Yota.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さん、よろしくお願いします。Yōta-san, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Yota, it's nice to meet you.
- 陽太 Yotaこちらこそよろしくお願いします。Kochira koso yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Nice to meet you too.
