Konnichiwa everyone!!
When meeting someone for the first time in Japan, asking polite and friendly questions can help you start a good conversation. Here are some basic Japanese phrases you can use when getting to know someone.
Can-do
Ask basic questions to know the people you do not know
1. Introducing Your Family (自分の家族を紹介する - Jibun no kazoku o shōkai suru)1. Introducing Yourself (自己紹介 - Jikoshōkai)
Before asking questions, it’s polite to introduce yourself first. You can say:
🗣 「はじめまして。○○です。」
( Hajimemashite. ○○ desu. )
➡ Nice to meet you. I’m ○○.
🗣 「○○から来ました。」
( ○○ kara kimashita. )
➡ I’m from ○○.
After introducing yourself, you can ask simple questions to learn more about the other person.
2. Asking About Someone’s Name (名前を聞く - Namae o kiku)
If you want to ask someone’s name, use this phrase:
🗣 「お名前は何ですか？」
( Onamae wa nan desu ka? )
➡ What’s your name?
For a more casual situation, you can say:
🗣 「名前は？」
( Namae wa? )
➡ Your name? (This is informal, so use it with people your age or younger.)
3. Asking About Someone’s Nationality (国籍を聞く - Kokuseki o kiku)
To ask where someone is from, you can say:
🗣 「どちらから来ましたか？」
( Dochira kara kimashita ka? )
➡ Where are you from? (Polite)
A more casual way to ask:
🗣 「どこ出身ですか？」
( Doko shusshin desu ka? )
➡ Where are you from?
If you want to reply, you can say:
🗣 「アメリカから来ました。」
( Amerika kara kimashita. )
➡ I’m from the U.S.
🗣 「カナダ出身です。」
( Kanada shusshin desu. )
➡ I’m from Canada.
4. Asking About Someone’s Job (仕事を聞く - Shigoto o kiku)
If you want to ask what someone does for work, say:
🗣 「お仕事は何ですか？」
( Oshigoto wa nan desu ka? )
➡ What do you do for work?
If you’re talking casually, you can ask:
🗣 「仕事は？」
( Shigoto wa? )
➡ What’s your job?
To answer, you can say:
🗣 「教師です。」
( Kyōshi desu. )
➡ I’m a teacher.
🗣 「エンジニアです。」
( Enjinia desu. )
➡ I’m an engineer.
5. Asking About Interests (趣味を聞く - Shumi o kiku)
If you want to ask about someone’s hobbies, try:
🗣 「趣味は何ですか？」
( Shumi wa nan desu ka? )
➡ What are your hobbies?
A more casual way to ask:
🗣 「趣味は？」
( Shumi wa? )
➡ Hobbies?
To answer, you can say:
🗣 「読書が好きです。」
( Dokusho ga suki desu. )
➡ I like reading.
🗣 「スポーツが趣味です。」
( Supōtsu ga shumi desu. )
➡ My hobby is sports.
6. Asking About Favorite Things (好きなものを聞く - Sukina mono o kiku)
To ask what someone likes, use:
🗣 「好きな食べ物は何ですか？」
( Sukina tabemono wa nan desu ka? )
➡ What’s your favorite food?
🗣 「好きな映画は？」
( Sukina eiga wa? )
➡ What’s your favorite movie? (Casual)
To answer, you can say:
🗣 「寿司が好きです。」
( Sushi ga suki desu. )
➡ I like sushi.
🗣 「アクション映画が好きです。」
( Akushon eiga ga suki desu. )
➡ I like action movies.
Conclusion
These simple questions and phrases will help you start conversations with Japanese people in a natural way. Don’t be afraid to try them out! The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become.
📝 Challenge: Try using one of these phrases the next time you meet a Japanese person!
Those who want to know more about how to introduce themselves in Japanese, please check it out!
