how to introduce yourself in japanese

[Nathan]

It does when you are just stating "I am X", but not in the full introduction ritual.

[masaegu]

We Japanese try to avoid using pronouns wherever possible.

[Nagoyankee]

This is something that one could write a whole chapter on. But I wll keep it brief because I'm no writer.

Unlike in Indo-European languages, in which the speaker can and probably should use as many pronouns as he pleases, in Japanese one is expected to use as few pronouns as possible. This is all cultural so you cannot really ask why but you must accept what's considered the norm in a particular language, or you will simply sound 'strange' even while being grammatically completely correct.

If I meet someone for the first time and he says "ジョンソンです。", I will know whose name he is telling me. I will not go "Who is Johnson?" So in Japanese, you will omit '私は'. If you don't omit it, you will sound 'unnatural' and 'unecessarily wordy'.

Of course the more formal way to say that is:

ジョンソンと申します。＝　I am Johnson. 申す= もうす

You would be expected to use that form in formal and business situations. In fact, it would be the only form acceptable. DO NOT try to be creative with these set phrases. You will always have a chance to show your creativity later on in the conversation, but not in the greeting/self-introduction part.

Now the two people know each other's names. From now on, use the other person's name instead of the second-person pronoun ('you' in English). Yes, you heard me right. Don't address the other person with any form of 'you' in Japanese. Add さん　or 様（さま） to the name depending on the occasion. If the other person asked you to use his nickname, then use it. If you get to know the other person well over some time, then you might start addressing each other　using second-person pronouns. But this will not happen in the business world.

Let me give you one example of how the difference in the use of pronouns between Japanese and English once shocked me. During the first or second year of my English studies, we had this sentence in our textbook.

"I wish I had more money in my pocket."

I was stunned. That sentence looked out of this world. That's like 'me' thrice in such a short sentence! In Japanese, there will be no pronouns in it.　None!

「ポケットにもっとお金があったらなあと思う。」　

Who could wish that but the speaker himself? Whose pocket could he be referring to but his own? Why I-I-my?? We use no pronouns in that kind of a sentence.

I'd like you to get shocked by these facts just as I was shocked and almost fainted when I saw the then impossible sentence, "I wish I had more money in my pocket". This is none other than culture shock. You can either get over it by practicing or let it stand tall like a wall in front of you forever.

Kanpai to Language!

[Kaede]

Hey Nagoyankee,

That was a very interesting post and explained something I have been puzziling over the last few days. As I am new to Japanese, I am finding it hard to say sentences which seem to omit so much! I am finding it just as unnatural to say things like "kyoo oyogimasu" which is essentially "Today will swim" but really it means "I will swim today" or "I will go swimming today".

Crazy stuff, but very interesting!

[jrocka83]

{Doing the party boy dance.} Hajimashite!!!!! Watashi Hard Gay Desu..... Wooohhhhh..{Grinding persons leg} Genki.. Genki..! {Nohonjin cover face with humiliating laughter, I continue to give them the party boy dance.}

[Kaede]

LOL what does Genki mean?

[jrocka83]

Originally Posted by Kaede

LOL what does Genki mean?

Happy, Hyper, Horny, or full of energy.

[TalnSG]

Originally Posted by Nagoyankee

In my rather long life as a Japanese-speaker, I don't think that I have ever said or heard another Japanese say "Watashi wa (name) desu." That just sounds plain 'foreign' to me.

As student who recently returned from a short stay in Tokyo said that in my Nihongo class the first week of class. We knew from the look on sensai's face that she did not consider it appropriate. She didn't correct him, but went on to remind us that she was teaching us a level of formality to use with strangers and in business dealings.

[SSJup81]

What if you're introducing yourself to a group of people?

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by SSJup81

What if you're introducing yourself to a group of people?

Doesn't matter how many people you are talking to. If you say "（Name）と申します" or "(Name)です", everyone knows whose name it is. When the listener(s) should know who you are referring to, you drop the pronoun.... that is if you want to sound natural (and proper) to the native speaker.

My English looks ok, doesn't it? That's because I'm observing its rules and trying to meet the general expectations of its native speakers. If I started writing English by translating word for word from Japanese, I don't think you would even bother to read my posts. Should I try and write my next post without using pronouns?

So it's the same thing. We won't laugh at you if you use lots of pronouns in Japanese. But you sure will sound 'strange'.