Self-Introduction & Personal Information
Lesson 1: Saying Your Name
なまえのいいかた — How to Say Your Name
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
Saying your name is the very first step in every Japanese conversation. In this lesson, you’ll learn three ways to say your name — from simple to polite — and how to ask someone else’s name.
What you’ll learn:
- Say your name — わたしは〇〇です
- Say your name naturally — 〇〇です
- Say your name politely — 〇〇と申します
- Ask someone’s name — お名前は何ですか
- Ask for a full name — フルネームでお願いします
- Choose polite or casual expressions by situation
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
2. Three Ways to Say Your Name ／ なまえの3つのいいかた
There are three common ways to say your name in Japanese. Each one fits a different situation.
① Beginner / Clear
② Natural / Everyday
③ Polite / Formal
💡 For beginners, わたしは〇〇です and 〇〇です are both good. Use 〇〇と申します in formal or business situations.
3. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
Don’t confuse わたしは〇〇です (I am 〇〇 — stating your name) and 〇〇から来ました (I came from 〇〇 — stating where you are from). They look similar but have different meanings.
4. Polite & Casual ／ ていねい・カジュアル
| Polite | Casual / Simple | English |
|---|---|---|
| 〇〇と申します。 | 〇〇です。 | My name is 〇〇. |
| お名前は何ですか。 | 名前は？ | What is your name? |
| お名前を教えてください。 | 名前を教えて。 | Please tell me your name. |
Use POLITE with:
Use CASUAL with:
💡 For beginners, polite Japanese is always the safe choice.
5. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Saying Your Name
💬 Conversation 2 — Full Name
💬 Conversation 3 — Formal Introduction
💬 Conversation 4 — Writing Your Name
6. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| わたし | watashi | I / me |
| 名前 | namae | name |
| お名前 | onamae | name (polite) |
| 苗字 | myooji | last name / family name |
| フルネーム | furu neemu | full name |
| 申します | mooshimasu | am called / say (humble form) |
| 何 | nan / nani | what |
| 書いてください | kaite kudasai | please write |
| 教えてください | oshiete kudasai | please tell me |
| ここ | koko | here |
7. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. The answer and explanation are shown below each one.
Q1. What does 「わたしはマリアです」 mean?
わたしは = I am. 〇〇です = am 〇〇. Together: “I am Maria.”
Q2. Which phrase is more formal?
〇〇と申します is the humble/polite form. Use it in formal situations, business, or with people in authority. だよ (C) is casual/friendly.
Q3. What does 「お名前は何ですか」 mean?
お名前 = name (polite). は何ですか = what is? Together: “What is your name?”
8. Match the Phrase ／ れんしゅう
Match each Japanese phrase with its correct English meaning. Check your answers below.
9. Choose the Best Response ／ れんしゅう
Choose the best response for each situation. Answers are shown below each one.
Q1. A city hall staff member asks, 「お名前は何ですか。」
When asked your name, reply with your name. マリアです = “I am Maria.” You could also say マリア・サントスと申します for a more formal response.
Q2. A staff member says, 「名前を書いてください。」
わかりました = I understand. After instructions like “please write your name,” always reply with わかりました.
Q3. You are introducing yourself formally for the first time.
〇〇と申します is the polite, humble form for formal introductions. だよ (B) is too casual, and C has incorrect grammar.
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Say your name in Japanese in three ways.
Try saying:
＿＿＿＿＿ です。
＿＿＿＿＿ と申します。
Practice with your teacher, a classmate, a friend, or yourself in front of a mirror.
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson, you learned three ways to say your name in Japanese. The most important patterns are:
〇〇と申します。(polite / formal)
💡 Use 〇〇です in daily life. Use 〇〇と申します when you want to sound polite — at city hall, hospitals, job interviews, or with people you’ve just met formally.
FAQ
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
The best way to make your name introduction feel natural is to say it to a real person. Practice with a professional teacher — start with a free trial lesson and introduce yourself in Japanese with confidence.
Online or in-person — both available on request.