A first meeting is a good occasion to start with polite speech and adjust as the relationship develops.
The idea
Begin with はじめまして, give your name with です or the more formal と申します, and close with よろしくお願いします. Use さん after the other person’s name and です／ます endings for polite conversation.
Examples
- はじめまして。田中です。Nice to meet you. I’m Tanaka.
- 私はマリアと申します。My name is Maria.
- どうぞよろしくお願いします。I look forward to getting along with you.
- 田中さんは先生ですか。Are you a teacher, Tanaka?
- 日本語を勉強しています。I’m studying Japanese.
- お会いできて、うれしいです。I’m pleased to meet you.
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Watch out
Do not attach さん to your own name. よろしくお願いします expresses goodwill toward a future relationship; it is not a literal request for a specific action.
Try it yourself
（はじめまして／おやすみなさい）。田中です。
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はじめまして
はじめまして is the greeting for a first meeting; おやすみなさい is said at bedtime.
マリアと（申します／申す）。
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申します
申します is the polite humble form used here to give your own name; 申す is plain.
どうぞよろしくお（願いします／願いする）。
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願いします
願いします completes the polite expression よろしくお願いします; 願いする is not its polite ending.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
（はじめまして／おやすみなさい）。田中です。
マリアと（申します／申す）。
どうぞよろしくお（願いします／願いする）。
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Introduce yourself to a new colleague, then ask politely whether Tanaka is a teacher.