What does it mean word for word?
The term 出身 (shusshin) literally means "one's origin" or "the place one comes from".
Which one should you use?
While シンガポール出身です (shingapōru shusshin desu) focuses on your origin/identity, the phrase シンガポールから来ました (shingapōru kara kimashita) focuses on the action of having arrived from Singapore.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more casual and conversational tone, you can replace the polite copula です (desu) with the particle だよ (da yo) to say シンガポール出身だよ. For formal situations, you can also use Watashi wa Shingapōru kara kimashita. or Watashi wa Singapōru-jin desu. to mean "I am a Singaporean.". There are several informal options depending on the speaker: Boku wa Shingapōru kara kita. is used by males, while Ore wa Singapōru shusshin da. is a masculine and informal way to express the same idea.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Boku wa Singapōru no shusshin da. is another way to express being from Singapore.
How do you pronounce it?
shingapōru shusshin desu
Did you know?
- The word 出身 (shusshin) is often used to discuss one's alma mater or the university one graduated from, not just one's hometown.
- The word 出身 (shusshin) is composed of two characters meaning 'to leave' and 'origin', conceptually describing the act of emerging from a place.
- In Japanese, you can omit the subject 'I' entirely and simply say シンガポール出身です (shingapōru shusshin desu) without sounding rude.
Examples in context
- オレは元々シンガポール出身なんだけど、とてもきれいな場所ですよ。I am originally from Singapore, and it's a very beautiful place.
- そうなんですか？ オレもシンガポール出身です。Oh, really? I'm also from Singapore.
- シンガポール出身です。Shingapōru shusshin desu.I am from Singapore.
- 実は、シンガポール出身です。Jitsu wa, Shingapōru shusshin desu.Actually, I am from Singapore.
- 私はシンガポール出身です。よろしくお願いします。Watashi wa Shingapōru shusshin desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.I am from Singapore. Nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Two people are introducing themselves at a language class.
- 大翔 Hirotoこんにちは。どこから来ましたか？Konnichiwa. Doko kara kimashita ka?Hello. Where are you from?
- 陽葵 Himariこんにちは。私はシンガポール出身です。Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Singapōru shusshin desu.Hello. I am from Singapore.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうなんですね！いいところですね。Sō nan desu ne! Ii tokoro desu ne.I see! That is a nice place.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
