マリアです
Maria desu
The phrase 'my name is maria' in Japanese is expressed as マリアです (Maria desu).
The phrase マリアです is the standard way to introduce yourself when meeting someone for the first time in a neutral or polite setting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase マリアです literally translates to 'is Maria', where desu acts as the copula 'to be'.
Which one should you use?
While the grammatically complete phrase 私の名前はマリアです (Watashi no namae wa Maria desu) exists, simply saying マリアです is much more common and natural in standard social introductions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The more formal and complete version of the phrase is 私の名前はマリアです (Watashi no namae wa Maria desu).
How do you pronounce it?
Maria desu
Did you know?
- In Japan, the order of information in an introduction is often reversed compared to English. People often state their affiliation, such as their company or school, before even stating their name to provide social context.
- If you want to ask someone else their name after saying マリアです, avoid asking お名前は何ですか? (O-namae wa nan desu ka?) as it can sound too direct or even interrogative. Instead, people use more indirect, polite phrases to invite the other person to speak.
- When introducing yourself in a formal group, it is customary to accompany your name with a slight bow. The depth of the bow often signals the level of respect you are showing to the person you are meeting.
Examples in context
- こんにちは！私の名前は、マリアです。２３歳、ベルリンから来ました。Hello! My name is Maria. I'm 23 years old and I come from Berlin.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of マリアです within a full self-introduction.Tatoeba #10949757 by small_snow, translation #3255135 by Hybrid
- 初めまして、私の名前はマリアです。Nice to meet you, my name is Maria.
- あ、マリアです。よろしくお願いします。A, Maria desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Oh, I'm Maria. Pleased to meet you.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto meet for the first time at a party.
- 結衣 Yuiはじめまして。結衣です。Hajimemashite. Yui desu.Nice to meet you. I'm Yui.
- 大翔 Hirotoこんにちは。大翔です。Konnichiwa. Hiroto desu.Hello. I'm Hiroto.
- 結衣 Yuiあの方は誰ですか？Ano kata wa dare desu ka?Who is that person over there?
- 大翔 Hiroto彼女はマリアです。Kanojo wa Maria desu.She is Maria.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
