Q&A for How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

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Can I also say, "Watashi wa (your name) to iimasu"?

Phạm Thành Công

Community Answer

You can, but there is a more polite version of "to iimasu" which is "to moushimasu." I would use that instead.

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How do I say "friend"?

Community Answer

友達 "to-mo-da-chi" means "friend."

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Question

How do I say, "Excuse me, please?"

Community Answer

"Sumimasen" すみません. This means excuse me, pardon me, and I'm sorry, but it can also be used as thank you. It's very common to use when asking for directions to a random person on the street.

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Question

How do I say "I'm 13 years old" in Japanese?

Community Answer

"Watashi wa jū san saides" (jū san can also be replaced by "13") 私は13歳ですヽ(^。^)丿

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Question

Do I need to use honorifics when referring to someone else?

Community Answer

As much as possible, yes, but if you need to refer to family members, it's a different case. For example, when you refer to your elder sister, you need to say "Ane" (Polite) or "Aneki" (Casual).

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Question

What's the best way to start learning Japanese?

Community Answer

Try learning one word at a time, starting with simple phrases like "please", "thank you" and "excuse me". Once you've mastered some conversational basis, then moved onto connecting words like "is" and "am".

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Question

What would be the best way to master Japanese?

Community Answer

There are many ways to learn Japanese, but in my opinion, the best way to learn is to use to online website/app called 'Education Perfect'. You can learn formal Japanese and casual Japanese.

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Question

How do I say "goodbye" in Japanese?

Community Answer

"Sayonara" ("さよなら"). This means "until next time." This phrase has an air of finality to it, so if you want something more casual you can use "matane" ("またね"), because this means "see you again."

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Question

How do I say "I love you"?

Community Answer

In Japanese, it is "Anata o aishiteiru", being "あなたお愛している". But you don't really have to say the "Anata o" part: if you're just speaking to one person, then simply saying "Aishiteiru" is fine.

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Question

How do I spell "Suzuki san?"

Community Answer

It depends on the kanji. 鈴木さん is the most common way, the first two characters being Suzuki, and the last two being "san".

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Question

How do I say my best friend?

Community Answer

There are many different words for "friend" in Japanese. Here are a few of them: 親友 - Shinyu, 友人 - Yujin, 友達 - Tomodachi, 相棒 - Aibo (more meant to sound like the word comrade/partner. It isn't used often.) and 仲間 - Nakama.

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Question

How do I say "life" in Japanese?

Community Answer

The word for 'life' is 'seikatsu' or '生活'.

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Question

How do I say "I am Jack?"

Community Answer

It depends on the formality. The full sentence would be ”私の名前はジャクです。” This is read as "watashi no namae wa Jack desu." You could shorten this by taking out the "watashi no namae wa."

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Question

How do I say "Please don't hurt me" in Japanese?

Community Answer

"Watashi o Kizutsukenaide kudasai", which is "私お傷つけないでください".

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Question

How would I tell someone that I am learning how to play piano in this semester?

Community Answer

In Japanese, you would say "今学期にピアノを弾く方法をべんきょうしています" (Ima gakki ni piano wo hiku hoho wo benkyoushiteimasu).

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Question

How do I spell a name in Japanese?

Community Answer

Japanese is made of three scripts - Hiragana, katakana and Kanji. If the name is Japanese, then it can be spelled by using Hiragana or Kanji. If the name is non-Japanese (e.g. "John") then it can be spelled using Katakana. Similar to English alphabets, proper combination of the relevant script letters can help you form the name.

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Question

How do I translate Japanese to English?

Community Answer

Use Google Translate to translate Japanese to English, or pay someone who speaks both languages to translate for you.

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Question

How do I say "I am English" in Japanese?

Community Answer

You would say "Watashi wa Igirisu desu" ("私はイギリス人です").

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Question

What if I want to mention my nationality if, for example, I am Chinese-American?

Community Answer

I am Chinese- American: "Watashi wa Chūgoku-kei amerikahitodesu." 私は中国系アメリカ人です。

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Question

How can I ask someone how old they are?

Community Answer

A casual way to ask this would be "あなたは何歳ですか?" which is pronounced "Anata wa nansai desuka?" You can also use "あなたはおいくつですか?" which is pronounced "Anata wa oikutsu desuka?"

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Question

What is the right degree of bowing when introducing myself?

Community Answer

At least 30 degrees. If it's someone of higher status than you or someone you do not know, try to bow a little lower than the other person to show respect.

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Question

How do I say "Have a nice day" in Japanese?

Community Answer

良い一日を過ごしてください - Yoiichinichiwo sugoshite kudasai.

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Question

How do I say "I am Priyanka"?

Community Answer

The most basic way would be "Watashi wa Priyankadesu." The more advanced or polite way would be "Watashi no namae wa Priyankadesu."

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Question

How do I say "sister" in Japanese?

Community Answer

The names would be different depending on whether she is older or younger than you. If it's a younger sister, it's "Onee-Chan", and if it's an older sister, it would be "Onee- San".

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Question

How do I say "brother" in Japanese?

Community Answer

Younger brother would be "otouto." Older brother would be "otoutosan." The polite forms (respectively) would be "ani" and "oniisan."

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Question

How do I say "Good night mother" in Japanese?

Community Answer

"Oyasuminasai" is good night. Mother is "okaa-san" or "okaa-chan" (more casual), but you don't really have to add that when saying good night. If you really want to though, you can say "Oyasuminasai, okaa-san."

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Question

How do I say "Hello, my name is Elise B---. I can speak both Japanese and English. Nice to meet you all!" in Japanese?

Nina Zhan

Community Answer

It would be something like: Kon'nichiwa, watashinonamaeha erīze B---desu. Watashi wa nihongo to eigo no ryōhō o hanasu koto ga dekimasu. Hajimemashite!' Nihongode? Do this on English to Japanese and listen to the recording say it. Just for fun: This is how you actually write it:こんにちは、私の名前はElise B---です。私は日本語と英語の両方を話すことができます。はじめまして！」日本語で ?

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Question

How do I say "I am from Gampaha" in Japanese?

Community Answer

"Shiri Lanka no Gampaha no shusshin desu". Literally meaning "I am from Gampaha in Shri Lanka."

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Question

What is the counting system in Japanese until 20?

M2005

Community Answer

In Japanese, zero through ten is the following: zero, ichi, ni, san, shi/yo, go, roku, shichi/nana, hachi, kyuu, jyuu. For eleven through twenty, you just say jyuu plus the number (eleven is jyuuichi, twelve is jyuuni, etc.).

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Question

How do I say "My hobby is playing badminton" in Japanese?

Community Answer

Try this basic way to say it in Japanese: "Watashi no shuumi wa badaminton desu."

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