Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初めまして | hajimemashite | [ha̠ʑime̞ma̠ɕi̥te̞] (narrow) | |
| 始めてお目にかかります | hajimete o-me ni kakarimasu | formal | |
| 御機嫌よう | |||
| ご機嫌よう | gokigen yō | [ɡo̞kʲiɡe̞ɰ̃ jo̞ː] (narrow) |
初めまして is the standard way to say 'Nice to meet you' or 'How do you do' when being introduced to someone for the first time. While the English 'How do you do' can sometimes function as a question, 初めまして is a greeting used exclusively at the very beginning of a first-time encounter.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 初めまして literally means 'It is the first time', referring to the fact that you are meeting this person for the first time.
Which one should you use?
初めまして is the standard greeting for a first encounter. For much higher levels of politeness, such as in very respectful or professional settings, you may use 始めてお目にかかります. Additionally, 御機嫌よう and ご機嫌よう are extremely polite, somewhat old-fashioned greetings that function more like 'Good day' or 'I hope you are well' rather than a standard introduction.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
初めまして is appropriate for formal or business settings. For even greater formality, use 始めてお目にかかります. In contrast, in casual situations, you can say Yoroshiku to mean 'Nice to meet you' or 'Please treat me well'.
How do you pronounce it?
hajimemashite
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 初めまして to ask 'How are you?' It is strictly used for the initial introduction and cannot be used to ask about someone's current well-being.
When do people say it?
When introducing yourself in Japanese culture, it is respectful to use a person's last name. Additionally, you may encounter the expression 'Yoroshiku onegaishimasu', which translates to 'Please treat me well' or 'Nice to meet you'.
Did you know?
- The word 'kigen' (機嫌) in the phrase ご機嫌よう is etymologically related to the idea of a machine's mechanism or working order, implying a well-functioning state.
- While 初めまして marks the start of a conversation, it is traditionally paired with a bow, where the depth and duration of the bend signal the relative social status of the two people.
- In a professional introduction, 初めまして is almost always followed by よろしくお願いします, which essentially asks the other person to look favorably upon the speaker in their future relationship.
Examples in context
- 初めまして。Hajimemashite.How do you do.
- 初めまして、よろしくお願いします。Hajimemashite, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.How do you do, nice to meet you.
- 初めまして、田中です。Hajimemashite, Tanaka desu.How do you do, I am Tanaka.
Example conversation
Hinata and Hinata meet for the first time at a community event.
- 陽葵 Himari初めまして、陽葵です。Hajimemashite, Himari desu.How do you do, I am Himari.
- 陽太 Yota初めまして、陽太です。Hajimemashite, Hinata desu.How do you do, I am Hinata.
- 陽葵 Himariお会いできて嬉しいです。Oai dekite ureshii desu.I am happy to meet you.
- 陽太 Yotaこちらこそ。Kochira koso.Likewise.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how do you do” translations and entries 初めまして, ご機嫌よう, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ご機嫌よう, CC BY-SA 4.0.
