おなまえはなんですか
onamae wa nan desu kapolite
In hiragana, the polite way to ask "what is your name" is おなまえはなんですか (onamae wa nan desu ka). It is also called なまえはなに (namae wa nani).
Meaning: asking someone's name (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| おなまえはなんですか | onamae wa nan desu ka | polite |
| なまえはなに | namae wa nani | casual |
The お (o) before なまえ (namae) shows respect for the other person's name. The final か (ka) turns the sentence into a question.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
With friends and children, the plain form なまえはなに (namae wa nani) is fine. With adults and strangers, keep the polite version.
How does it change in a sentence?
Japanese speakers rarely use a word for "you" here. The context shows whose name you mean.
Did you know?
- Japanese introductions usually start with はじめまして (hajimemashite), which is used only the first time you meet.
Examples in context
- なまえはなに。Namae wa nani.What's your name?
- わたしのなまえはゆきです。Watashi no namae wa Yuki desu.My name is Yuki.
Example conversation
Aoi meets a new classmate named Ben on the first day of an English club.
- Aoiはじめまして。おなまえはなんですか。Hajimemashite. Onamae wa nan desu ka.Nice to meet you. What is your name?
- Benベンです。よろしくおねがいします。Ben desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.I am Ben. Pleased to meet you.
- Aoiアオイです。こちらこそ。Aoi desu. Kochira koso.I am Aoi. The pleasure is mine.
