Lesson 1: Introduction

Introduction

Situation: Mr. Smith introduces himself. 

はじめまして。    
 Hajimemashite.
スミスです。          
Smith desu.

どうぞよろしく。  
douzo yoroshiku.

May I introduce myself. 

I am Smith. My name is Smith.

Nice to meet you.

Situation: Mr. Smith introduces himself and say where he comes from. 

スミスです。                      
Smith desu.

イギリスから来ました。　
Igirisu kara kimashita.

よろしくお願いします。  
yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

My name is Smith. / I am Smith.

I am from England.

Nice to meet you.

Description

はじめまして。        Hajimemashite.

literally means "it is the first time". It can be used as a Greeting for meeting someone the first time. It can also be translated as "nice to meet you."

どうぞよろしく。    douzo yoroshiku.

Means "nice to meet you", but with the intetention of getting along from now on.

よろしくお願いします。    yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

a more polite version of  "douzo yoroshiku".

Situation: Mr. Smith introduces himself to Ms. Mori. 

スミス:スミスと申します。
Smith to moushimasu.

どうぞよろしく。　　　　
Douzo yoroshiku.

森: 森です。 　　　　　　
Mori desu.

こちらこそ（よろしく）。
Kochira koso (yoroshiku).

Smith: My name is Smith. 

Nice to meet you.

Mori: I am Mori.

Likewise.

Situation: Mr. Smith asks Ms. Mori for her name.

スミス:お名前は。                      
O-namae wa.

森: 森です。                                  
Mori desu.

ハーン:わたくしはスミスです。
Watakushi wa Smith desu.

Smith: Your name is?

Mori: I am Mori.

Smith: My name is Smith.

Description

お名前は。 O-namae wa.

the "o" begore namae indicates a formal way of adressing something related to the other person. In this case his or her name. The "wa" is accentuated at the end to indicate a question.

わたくし watakushi

A more formal way of the word watashi. It shares the same Kanji as watashi 私.