Japanese I
Lesson 2 of 3 8 min +55 XP

Greetings & Introductions

Say hello and introduce yourself.

What you'll learn

  • Use common greetings
  • Introduce yourself simply
  • Understand politeness levels
The bow and the name

A Japanese introduction pairs a greeting with 'watashi wa... desu' — I am... . Learning to greet and introduce yourself is the polite doorway into every first meeting.

First words

Japanese greetings change with the time of day and the situation. 'Konnichiwa' (good afternoon/hello), 'ohayō gozaimasu' (good morning, polite), and 'konbanwa' (good evening) are essentials. To introduce yourself: 'Watashi wa [name] desu' — 'I am [name].'

Simulation · Vocabulary flashcards
card 1 / 6

Flip through the cards to drill vocabulary — front to back and back again.

Lab · Introduce yourself
  1. Greet someone with 'konnichiwa'.
  2. Say 'Watashi wa … desu' with your name.
  3. Close politely with 'yoroshiku onegaishimasu' (nice to meet you).

What you should see: You can now open a conversation: greet, state your name with 'wa … desu', and close politely — a complete first introduction.

Knowledge Check

+15 XP / correct

1. 'Konnichiwa' means…

2. To say 'I am Sam', you'd say…