自己紹介して
jikoshōkai shite
To introduce yourself in Japanese, use 自己紹介して (jikoshōkai shite).
The phrase is used to tell a group or person your name and basic information about yourself. In Japanese culture, a jikoshōkai (self-introduction) is a formal ritual performed at the start of meetings or classes, where an individual states their name, affiliation and often a brief polite greeting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 自己紹介して is a casual command or a request used with a friend or subordinate. If you want to show respect to a guest or a superior, use the highly polite form 自己紹介していただけますか.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 自己紹介して is the te-form of the verb, which allows it to function as a casual command or request.
How do you pronounce it?
jikoshōkai shite
When do people say it?
When performing a formal introduction, it is customary to start with はじめまして (Nice to meet you). After this, you can state your name formally using the phrase [Your Name] と申します. To conclude the introduction, it is common to say よろしくお願いします, which can be translated as 'Please treat me well'.
Did you know?
- When someone is asked to 自己紹介して, they may use 謙譲語 (kenjōgo), a special type of humble language that lowers their own status to show respect to the listener.
- In some modern Japanese business settings, a 自己紹介 is replaced by the exchange of 名刺 (meishi) or business cards, where the physical card acts as a proxy for the spoken introduction.
- In some very traditional or highly formal business settings, a 自己紹介 might actually be performed by having your company representative introduce you first, rather than you speaking for yourself.
Examples in context
- 自己紹介していただけますか。Would you introduce yourself?This is useful for asking someone to introduce themselves politely.Tatoeba #150127 by KK_kaku_, translation #264430 by CK
- 立って自己紹介してください。Stand up and introduce yourself, please.This is useful for asking someone to stand up and introduce themselves.Tatoeba #9458137 by small_snow, translation #3086094 by Ricardo14
- 自己紹介してください。Please introduce yourself.This is useful for a standard polite request to introduce oneself.Tatoeba #13198796 by atitarev, translation #13198784 by atitarev
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are meeting for the first time at a club.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くん、まず自己紹介して。Daito-kun, mazu jiko shoukai shite.Daito, please introduce yourself first.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい。大翔です。よろしくお願いします。Hai. Daito desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Okay. I'm Daito. Nice to meet you.
- 陽葵 Himariよろしくね。私は陽葵です。Yoroshiku ne. Watashi wa Himari desu.Nice to meet you too. I'm Himari.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さん、よろしくね。Himari-san, yoroshiku ne.Nice to meet you, Himari.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
