Meeting someone for the first time means greeting the other person and introducing yourself. Really, this is just general courtesy, whether you're a girl or a boy. But what if you are in another country without knowing the local language? This can be quite difficult, to say the least. Fortunately, there are common phrases you can try to learn before visiting a foreign country so that you can at least introduce yourself.
If you decide to travel to Japan just for a new life experience, you should also learn some Japanese phrases. Because although the public signs in the Land of the Sun have their own English translation, not all citizens of the country speak English. In fact, there are few people in Japan who fully understand the English language, as citizens generally love their own language.
"Watashi wa... desu.": Apresente-se pelo nome e explique-se.
Being in another country can be both exciting and intimidating, especially if you don't understand the local language. One of the basics to learn when visiting Japan is how to introduce yourself. The basic words to know are "watashi wa..." which means "I am..." in the English language. This is the easiest and most common way to introduce yourself. The best way to learn this is to make new friends in the field.
If you want to be more specific, you can say "Watashi no namae wa ___ desu", which basically translates to "My name is ___". For example, if someone's name is Anna Miyazaki, the phrase is Watashi no namae wa Miyazaki Anna desu. This is a formal approach to introducing yourself. However, most Japanese people don't use the word "watashi". If you want to sound more like a local, just say "Anna desu". This has exactly the same meaning as the formal approach.
To better understand the phrase "watashi wa", the easiest way is to separate the two words. The Japanese term "watashi" means "I" in English, which refers to oneself. On the other hand, the Japanese term "wa" represents the subject of the sentence being pronounced. So saying "watashi wa" means the sentence is about itself. However, it's not as common among locals to say the full sentence unless you're trying to separate yourself from another person in context. It is important to note that people in the Japanese language rarely use pronouns, instead they use humble honorifics to explain who is doing what.
In addition to entering someone's name, you can also use the phrase "watashi" to explain yourself. That is, the phrase can be used to describe itself. This description may include age, occupation or nationality. An example of this is when someone wants to say that they are of a certain nationality. You can say: "Watashi wa Amerikajin desu". It means "I am American" in the English language. Another example would be "Watashi wa juugosai desu". Translated, this means "I'm fifteen."
However, when you meet someone for the first time, you don't trigger the idea just by saying their name. It is common for Japanese people to say the phrase "hajimemashite" first when meeting someone. If the other person responds with the same greeting, now is the time to introduce yourself. This introduction usually ends with the phrase "yoroshiku", which roughly translates to "Please be nice to me". This is commonly done by transfer students at schools in Japan.
The order in which you introduce yourself (using kanji characters)
When you introduce yourself to a stranger in Japan, there is a typical sequence of how the introduction would go. The first step would be to say "konnichi wa (こんにちは)" which means "hello" in English, or "hajimemashite (初めまして)" which means "nice to meet you" in English. "Konnichi wa" is a typical Japanese greeting, while "hajimemashite" is a common Japanese phrase used when meeting another person for the first time.
The second step would be to introduce yourself. During this time, one can say: "Watashi wa (name) desu. (私は (name) です。)" This translates to "My name is (name)". To tell someone where you're from, you can say: "(place) kara kimashita. ((place) からきました。)" This translates to "I'm from (place)". person about their nationality. One can say "(nationality) desu" which simply means "I am (nationality)".
Other information that can be provided is age and occupation. To tell someone your age, you can say: "Watashi wa (age) sai desu". This translates to "I am (age) years old". Regarding profession, one can say: "Watashi wa (position) desu". ' If one is a student, the Japanese translation would be: 'Watashi wa gakusei desu'. (I am a student)". Let's say someone's job is to program, you can simply say: "Watashi no shigoto wa puroguramingu desu". It simply means: "My job is to program".
If someone is a foreigner, the local will probably be surprised that someone can speak the Japanese language. The next question would be how long someone has studied the Japanese language and for what reason. wa (time) kan nihongo ou benkyou shiteimasu.” This would mean: “I have been learning Japanese for (time)”. Suppose someone has learned Japanese for a year, you might say: "Watashi wa ichi nen kan nihongo O benkyou shiteimasu".
The reason for learning the Japanese language can be answered: Watashi wa (reason) da/kara, nihongo or benkyoushiteimasu. )" This simply means: "I am learning the Japanese language because (reason)". Suppose someone has learned the Japanese language because he is interested in Japan, he can simply say: "Watashi wa nihon ni kyoumi ga aru kara, nihongo o benyoishiteimasu . (I'm learning Japanese because I'm interested in Japan)."
Finally, the last part of each introduction done for the first time is the phrase "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. (よろしくお願いします。)" This simply means "Please be nice to me" or "Please take good care of me". This phrase isn't exactly a popular phrase, but it's a common one when finishing the intro for the first time. For a more relaxed tone, just say "yoroshiku".
Introduction to Japanese Etiquette
Even if someone is talking about themselves when saying the words "watashi wa", there are still some labels that someone will adhere to when introducing themselves. Firstly, you must provide your last name before providing your first name. This is different from the West, where people give their first name first, followed by their last name. Given the culture and history of families and clans in Japan, it is not surprising that it is customary to put the surname first.
The second piece of advice would be if you provide information about your own profession. In the West, it is customary to name the job and briefly describe what you do for a living. However, in Japan, the usual response would be to simply say the words "会社員かいしゃいんです。". It simply means someone works for a company or is an office worker. It is not necessary to go into detail about the work itself. On the other hand, when presenting in a business setting, it is acceptable to mention your company as part of the presentation. After all, it would be good for business to publicize the company's name.
Another piece of advice would be not to talk too much about yourself. It is typical of Japanese people to say a few words of self-deprecation as a sign of humility, although this is usually followed by a few positive words. This doesn't have to apply to every conversation, but suffice it to say that the Japanese are humble people and value modesty. So it's typical for locals to keep their strengths to themselves. That way, no one feels like they're being challenged by someone else's strengths. It would not bode well to talk and brag too much about yourself.
A common Japanese practice for introducing yourself or getting to know someone is to bow. While shaking hands is typical in the West, this is not the case in Japan. This is especially true when you meet another person of a higher level or position. Either that or the person you meet is older. Shaking hands in Japan is only for people of equal status, so it is considered impolite to shake hands with a person of higher rank. The safe way would be to bow at the beginning and end of the introduction.
Another thing to keep in mind when bowing is that you shouldn't do it while you're speaking. It's just confusing and rude to the person you're talking to. The correct way to do this is to bow after introducing yourself and before saying the phrase "yoroshiku onegaishimasu". You also don't have to lean so far into the first performance. A half bow would suffice for normal people, while a full bow to show full respect would be great when meeting people in a high position.
The last piece of advice would be not to keep your hands behind your back. The Japanese see this act as a sign of their importance to someone else. Unless the person has a high position or status, keeping your hands behind your back can make the person appear content. When you're not, you can also come across as cocky or arrogant. The recommended posture would be to place your hands in front of you with your left hand on top of your right hand. Either that, or place your hands at your sides. Also, don't get stiff and just relax your muscles. With this, a pose would look confident enough but still humble, which is a principle valued by the Japanese.
Watashi wa anata o aishiteimasu: Decir "te amo" em japonês
The most common phrase known to translate the words "I love you" in Japanese is "Aishiteru". However, another translation could be "Watashi wa anata o aishiteimasu". To dissect this sentence: "watashi" means "I", "wa" is the subject of the sentence, "anata" means "you", "wo" is the particle that marks the object, and "aishite imasu" is the Japanese verb. . for love". However, due to the construction of this sentence, it sounds polite and formal. To better express the love one feels, it is recommended to simply say the words "Aishiteru". For a lighter form of affection, one can simply say "Sukidesi" or "Sukidayo", both of which mean "I like you".
Of course, there are many more words and phrases that can be learned in the Japanese language. If you visit Japan at any time of the year, like January or October, these phrases will come in handy, especially when it comes to meeting the locals. It would also come in handy when traveling from one city to another in Japan, as not everyone in the country understands or speaks the English language. These phrases would not only put a smile on a Japanese person's face, but would also show how much effort goes into learning the language and culture of Japan. It would make them feel better and make them more hospitable, welcoming and happy to welcome foreign guests to their home country.