Greetings and names: a Japanese dialogue

The idea

The exchange happens in the morning. おはようございます is a polite morning greeting; 私は … です introduces a name. よろしくお願いします accompanies a first introduction.

Read the text

Examples

• 朝あさ、佐藤さとうさんは田中たなかさんに会あいます。In the morning Sato meets Tanaka.
• 佐藤さとうさんは「おはようございます」と言いいます。Sato says “Good morning.”
• 田中たなかさんも「おはようございます」と言いいます。Tanaka also says “Good morning.”
• 私わたしは佐藤さとうです。I am Sato.
• 私わたしは田中たなかです。I am Tanaka.
• よろしくお願ねがいします。Nice to meet you; I look forward to getting along.

Watch out

Both speakers use the same greeting. Listen for the name after は instead of assuming the first speaker is the person named second.

Try it yourself

1. What is the morning greeting? 「おはようございます／こんばんは」

   Show answer or example answer

   おはようございます

   The relevant line means: Sato says “Good morning.”

2. What is the second speaker’s name? 「田中（たなか）／佐藤（さとう）」

   Show answer or example answer

   田中

   The relevant line means: I am Tanaka.

3. Which phrase is said at the end? 「よろしくお願（ねが）いします／おやすみなさい」

   Show answer or example answer

   よろしくお願いします

   The relevant line means: Nice to meet you; I look forward to getting along.

Use it today

Use the transcript to retell the exchange, then say it aloud with a partner.