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Nice to Meet You in Japanese ๐Ÿ‘‹ First Impression Count!

Learn How to Say “Nice to Meet You” in Japanese // Formal & Informal Phrases

It’s true what they say – you only get one shot at a first impression!

Unfortunately, many people may find greetings in Japanese to be very difficult, as they vary widely depending on the situation and the relationship with the other party.

In this article, we will introduce Japanese greetings you can use when meeting someone for the first time.

The good news is that compared to other situations, first-meeting greetings are not that complicated.

๐Ÿ‘‰ The Japanese language has an all-purpose word, ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashite. If you remember this, it will be useful in many situations.

Unlike in Western cultures, Japanese people rarely make physical contact with each other, such as shaking hands or hugging. This is true in both casual and business situations.

Recently, handshaking has become more common in business situations, but it should still be considered uncommon in general.

Instead, it is most common to nod or bow while making (some) eye contact in Japan.

Nice to Meet You in Japanese || Orthodox Greetings

Nice to Meet You in Japanese || Examples

Nice to Meet You in Japanese || Expressions for advanced learners

Nice to Meet You in Japanese || FAQs

Nice to Meet You in Japanese || Orthodox Greetings

 In Japanese, almost 100% of the time you only say ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashite when meeting someone for the first time.

There are of course several variations, but the phrase ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashite is the foundation of the phrase, so it is most important to remember this.

Whether the person you are meeting is older or younger, the situation is business or casual, you are supposed to say โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashiteโ€ at a first meeting.

Hajimemashite, douzo yoroshiku onnegai shimasu.

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใฉใ†ใžใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

Nice to meet you.
Doumo hajimemashite, jon to moushi masu.

ใฉใ†ใ‚‚ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใ‚ธใƒงใƒณใจ็”ณใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

Nice to meet you, my name is John.

The phrase โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashiteโ€ literally means โ€œThis is the first time I have met you.โ€

By saying this, you can show your respect to the other person and the opportunity to engage. Essentially, as long as you declare โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashite,โ€ you are free to start a conversation.

Basic Phrases in Japanese // Learn 32 Essential Phrases (With Flashcards & FREE Quiz) Thumbnail

Basic Phrases in Japanese // Learn 32 Essential Phrases (With Flashcards & FREE Quiz)

Basic Phrases in Japanese // Learn these phrases to make your first steps when learning Japanese. We teach you how to get by when speaking basic Japanese.

Nice to Meet You in Japanese || Examples

 Letโ€™s see how the phrase is used in examples.

Example 1: Business situations

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€A็คพใฎไฝ่—คใจ็”ณใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€Aใ—ใ‚ƒใฎใ•ใจใ†ใจใ‚‚ใ†ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠใญใŒใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

Hajimemashite, A sha no Satou to moushimasu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Nice to meet you, Iโ€™m Sato from Company A.

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€B็คพใฎ็”ฐไธญใจ็”ณใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ„ใŸใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€Bใ—ใ‚ƒใฎใŸใชใ‹ใจ็”ณใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠใญใŒใ„ใ„ใŸใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

Hajimemashite, B sha no Tanaka to moushimasu. Kochira koso yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.

Nice to meet you too, Iโ€™m Tanaka from Company B.

One point to note is that Japanese people usually tell the organization to which they belong first when they give their name. This applies to both students and working people.

This may seem strange to English speakers, but it is one manifestation of Japanese culture’s emphasis on organization and order.

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ๆฑไบฌๅคงๅญฆ1ๅนด็”ŸใฎไผŠ่—คใจ็”ณใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใจใ†ใใ‚‡ใ†ใ ใ„ใŒใใ„ใกใญใ‚“ใ›ใ„ใฎใ„ใจใ†ใจใ‚‚ใ†ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

Hajimemashite, toukyou daigaku ichinensei no Itou to moushimasu.

Nice to meet you, Iโ€™m Ito, a freshman at the University of Tokyo. 

Example 2: Casual situations

Hajimemashite, Yamada desu. douzo yoroshiku.

ย ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ๅฑฑ็”ฐใงใ™ใ€‚ใฉใ†ใžใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใ€‚

Nice to meet you, Iโ€™m Yamada.
Satou desu. Kochira koso yoroshiku.

ไฝ่—คใงใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใ€‚

Iโ€™m Sato, nice to meet you too.

 As you can see, โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashiteโ€ doesnโ€™t change. Rather, politeness depends on whether you add โ€œใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™[ใญใŒ]โ€ to โ€œใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใ yoroshiku.โ€

When you respond to โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ Hajimemashite,โ€ you repeat the same phrase, adding ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใ kochira koso.โ€ 

ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใ kochirakoso, which is translated into โ€œsame hereโ€, is also a useful expression in greetings. 

JAPANESE & ROMAJIENGLISH
ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚
arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you
ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใใ€ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚
kochirakoso arigatou gozaimashita
Thank you too.
ใฉใ†ใ‚‚ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใงใ—ใŸใ€‚
doumo sumimasen deshita.
Iโ€™m sorry.
ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใใ€ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใงใ—ใŸใ€‚
kochirakoso, sumimasen deshita.
Iโ€™m sorry too.

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ไฝ่—คใงใ™ใ€‚ใŠๅๅ‰ใ‚’ใŠไผบใ„ใ—ใฆใ‚‚ใ„ใ„ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใ•ใจใ†ใงใ™ใ€‚ใŠใชใพใˆใ‚’ใŠใ†ใ‹ใŒใ„ใ—ใฆใ‚‚ใ„ใ„ใงใ™ใ‹?

Hajimemashite, Satou desu. Onamae wo oukagai shitemo ii desuka?

Nice to meet you, Iโ€™m Sato. May I ask your name?โ€

 You can use โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashiteโ€ as a starter for a conversation. 

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ๅ—ไป˜ใฏใ“ใกใ‚‰ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใ†ใ‘ใคใ‘ใฏใ“ใกใ‚‰ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ

Hajimemashite, uketsuke ha kochira desuka?

Nice to meet you, is the reception desk here?

In situations like meeting up in a crowded place, you can say like this:

Sumimasen, Tanaka san desuka?

ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€็”ฐไธญใ•ใ‚“ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ

Excuse me, are you Mr.Tanaka?
ย  Hai, soudesu.

ใฏใ„ใ€ใใ†ใงใ™ใ€‚

Yes, I am.
Hajimemashite, Satou desu.

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ไฝ่—คใงใ™

Nice to meet you, Iโ€™m Sato.
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Nice to Meet You in Japanese || Expressions for Advanced Learners

 As we have seen above, there is not much variation in the phrase โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashiteโ€ in Japanese, and a wide variety of expressions can be created by adding various things to this base.

Letโ€™s see such variations.

JAPANESE & ROMAJIENGLISH
ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใŠไผšใ„ใงใใฆๅ…‰ๆ „ใงใ™ใ€‚
ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใŠใ‚ใ„ใงใใฆใ“ใ†ใˆใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚
hajimemashite, oai dekite kouei desu.
Nice to meet you, it’s an honor to meet you.
ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใ”้ซ˜ๅใฏใ‹ใญใŒใญใ†ใ‹ใŒใฃใฆใŠใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚
ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€ใ”ใ“ใ†ใ‚ใ„ใฏใ‹ใญใŒใญใ†ใ‹ใŒใฃใฆใŠใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚
Hajimemashite, gokoumei ha kanegane ukagatte orimasu.
Nice to meet you, I’ve heard of your fame. [Similar to ‘Your reputation precedes you’].
ใŠๅˆใซใŠ็›ฎใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚
ใŠใฏใคใซใŠใ‚ใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚
Ohatsu ni omeni kakarimasu.
Nice to meet you.

These are very polite and advanced expressions to say โ€œnice to meet youโ€ in Japanese.

The first two expressions are especially effective when the other party is well-known. These expressions politely convey that you already know the person and that he or she has a good reputation.

JAPANESEROMAJIENGLISH
ๅ…‰ๆ „
ใ“ใ†ใˆใ„
koueihonor
้ซ˜ๅ
ใ“ใ†ใ‚ใ„
koumeifame, good reputation
ใ‹ใญใŒใญ kaneganesince long ago
(polite expression)
ใŠๅˆใซ
ใŠใฏใคใซ
ohatsunifor the first time
(old-fashioned expression)
ใŠ็›ฎใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚‹
ใŠใ‚ใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚‹
ome ni kakaruseeing someone
(polite expression)

ใŠๅˆใซใŠ็›ฎใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ™

ใŠใฏใคใซใŠใ‚ใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ™

Ohatsu ni ome ni kakarimasu

This is my first time to see you

This phrase is also literally โ€œthis is my first time to see you,โ€ but only used in limited situations. When used in normal situations, it gives a strange impression of being a samurai. 

When is this expression used? It is an appropriate expression when meeting someone very senior for the first time. When you need to abase yourself and be humble, you can say this instead of โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashite.โ€ 

Another situation is where you and the other person have already communicated with each other online or via mail, but you meet for the first time in real life.

In this case, it is strange to say โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashiteโ€ because you have already known each other, but it is necessary to refer to the fact that this is the first time you meet in real life. In such a case, you can say:

ใŠๅˆใซใŠ็›ฎใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ™

ใŠใฏใคใซใŠใ‚ใซใ‹ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ™[ใฏใค

ohatsu ni ome ni kakarimasu.

It’s nice to meet you.

(This is my first time to meet you)

Derived from this expression is another phrase: ใŠๅˆ ใŠใฏใค ohatsu or ใŠๅˆใงใ™ ใŠใฏใคใงใ™ ohatsu desu on the Internet to say โ€œnice to meet you.โ€ But this is very old-fashioned and sounds like something only the users from the beginning of the Internet would say.

Nevertheless, in anime sometimes these kinds of old-fashioned slang are used as lines. So it wouldn’t be useless to know these obsolete words!

That’s all for this article – if you learn these phrases, you will have no trouble in meeting and greeting Japanese people in real life. Good luck with your studies!

๐ŸŒŽ Studying languages to travel? Find out how to say Nice to Meet You in Spanish too!

Still have any questions on this topic? Ask away here!

Nice to Meet You in Japanese || FAQs

What does “ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashite” literally mean in Japanese?

โ€œใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashiteโ€ literally means โ€œThis is the first time I have met you.โ€

Do Japanese people shake hands when they meet for the first time?

Traditionally, physical contact like handshakes is uncommon in Japanese culture, especially in business settings. Bowing and nodding are more typical forms of greeting.

When should I use “ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™[ใญใŒ] yoroshiku onegai shimasu” after saying “ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajimemashite”?

“ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™[ใญใŒ] yoroshiku onegaishimasuโ€ expresses a desire for good relations in the future and is commonly used soon after “ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆ hajiemashite” to show politeness and respect.

What are some advanced expressions for “Nice to meet you” in Japanese?

Advanced expressions include “ใŠไผšใ„ใงใใฆๅ…‰ๆ „ใงใ™[ใ‚][ใ“ใ†ใˆใ„]oai dekite kouei desuโ€ meaning “It’s an honor to meet you,” and “ใ”้ซ˜ๅใฏใ‹ใญใŒใญใ†ใ‹ใŒใฃใฆใŠใ‚Šใพใ™[ใ“ใ†ใ‚ใ„]gokoumei ha kanegane ukagatte orimasuโ€ indicating respect for someone’s fame or reputation.

Why is stating your affiliation important when introducing yourself in Japan?

In Japanese culture, stating your affiliation (such as company or school) first is a sign of respect on social hierarchy and order.

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