Introduce yourself and ask for help
Use a name, a polite introduction, and phrases that keep a conversation going.
Give a simple introduction.
Hear the lesson phrases
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback.
Read the audio transcript
はじめまして。あきです。
Start with a name and です
A name followed by です is a polite way to identify yourself: サムです. You can omit “I” when everyone knows who you mean. はじめまして is used when meeting someone for the first time.
よろしくお願いします is a social phrase used in introductions and other situations. Its function here is to establish a friendly relationship; it is not a word-for-word equivalent of one fixed English sentence. Do not add さん to your own name.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- サムsamuSamForeign names are commonly written in katakana.
- です。desuam / is / are (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- よろしくおねがいします。yoroshikuonegaishimasua polite expression of goodwill when meeting or working with someoneLearn the expression as a whole. Its natural English wording changes with the situation.
Ask for help as a complete phrase
すみません gets attention or apologizes in many everyday situations. わかりません means “I do not understand” here. Learn もう一度お願いします as a whole phrase for asking someone to repeat.
ゆっくりお願いします asks for slower speech in context. The written kana line preserves normal spellings, including particles; listen to the complete phrase as you practice.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- すみません。sumimasensorry / excuse me
- わかりません。wakarimasendo not understand (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- もういちどmouichidoonce moreもう means “again/more” here, and 一度 means “one time”.
- おねがいします。onegaishimasuplease (polite request)
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ゆっくりyukkurislowly
- おねがいします。onegaishimasuplease (polite request)
Lesson vocabulary
Read each word aloud, then test your recall of its meaning.
| はじめまして はじめまして | nice to meet you (first meeting) | |
| 名前 なまえ | name | |
| すみません すみません | excuse me / sorry | |
| 少し すこし | a little | |
| もう一度 もういちど | once more | |
| ゆっくり ゆっくり | slowly |
Practice questions
Answer the questions and read the explanations. You can repeat the exercises.
Say when you do not understand.