JIKOSHOUKAI (SELF INTRODUCTION)

MODULE OVERVIEW

In this lesson, we will learn about the easy steps in introducing names in Japanese
(JIKOSHOUKAI). More specifically, the following are the information you need to introduce:
a. Name b. Age c. Address
d. Birthday e. Nationality f. Language
g. Profession h. Hobby

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After studying this module, you should be able to:

a. Introduce oneself in Japanese Language;
b. Ask someone’s personal information using Japanese Language.

LEARNING CONTENTS

じこしょうかい
Jikoshoukai 自 己 紹 介 is the Japanese word for "self-introduction."

Instruction:
Introduce yourself:
Jikoshoukaishite kudasai.
Jikoshoukai onegaishimasu.

初めまして（はじめまして）HAJIMEMASHITE
HOW DO YOU DO?

 はじめまして。
 How do you do?

はじ はじ
The set phrase hajimemashite 初 め ま し て either comes from the verb hajimeru 始 め る , which means "to
はじ め
start," or it's a shortened form of 初 め て お 目にかかりまして. Though etymologists aren't sure of the word's
true origin, hajimemashite implies beginning or doing something for the first time. Most people think of it as
saying "How do you do?" or "Nice to meet you."

A. INTRODUCING YOUR NAME

QUESTION:
Onamae wa nan desu ka?

申す（もうす）MOUSU
TO BE CALLED

わたし もう
 私 は [name] と 申 し ま す 。
 My name is [name].

WATASHI WA (LAST NAME, FIRST NAME) TO MOUSHIMASU.

The breakdown of this sentence is easier than it looks. It has three parts:

わたし
1. 私 は - The first word 私 means "I" or "me." It's followed by the particle は which indicates the topic
of the sentence. In this case, 私 is the topic.
2. [name] - Your name.
もう
3. と 申 し ま す - One meaning of the verb 申す is "to be called." It's paired with the particle と and
conjugated to 申します。 This is a polite phrase, so it's safe to use in almost any situation.

NOTE:
* Minasan means everybody
* Use Hajimemashite only when you meet the person/s for the first time.
* In English, people usually introduce themselves by their first names or full names. When you give
your full name, the first name comes first and the family name afterward. In Japanese, people usually
introduce themselves by their family names or full names. When they introduce their full name, the
family name comes first and the first name comes second.

B. TELLING YOUR AGE

How to tell your age? ( number + sai )
18 years old – juuhassai
19 years old – juukyuu sai
20 years old – nijuu sai / hatachi
21 years old – nijuu issai
22 years old – nijuuni sai
23 years old – nijuusan sai
24 years old – nijuuyon sai
25 years old – nijuugo sai
26 years old – nijuuroku sai
27 years old – nijuunana sai
28 years old – nijuuhassai
29 years old – nijuukyuu sai
 QUESTION:

Oikutsu desu ka.

Nansai desu ka.
Two ways of telling your age:
1. Watashi wa age desu.
2. Age desu.
Age Ending with numbers 1, 8, 0
-Ages ending with one (1) always end with, “issai”
-Ages ending with eight (8) always end with, “hassai”
-Ages ending with zero (0) always end with, “jussai”
-Hatachi is an exception for 20 years old.
English Kanji Hiragana Romaji

January 一月 いちがつ ichigatsu

February 二月 にがつ nigatsu

March 三月 さんがつ sangatsu

April 四月 しがつ shigatsu

May 五月 ごがつ gogatsu

June 六月 ろくがつ rokugatsu

July 七月 しちがつ shichigatsu

August 八月 はちがつ hachigatsu

September 九月 くがつ kugatsu

October 十月 じゅうがつ juugatsu

November 十一月 じゅういちがつ juuichigatsu

December 十二月 じゅうにがつ juunigatsu

C. TELLING YOUR BIRTHDAY

Here’s the format:

 My Birthday is (Month) (Day).

 Watashi no tanjoubi wa (Month) no (Day) desu.
 Tanjoubi wa (Year) no (Month) (Day) desu
Example: My Birthday is June 5th
 Watashi no tanjoubi wa Rokugatsu no itsuka.
Day Japanese Romaji Day Japanese Romaji Day Japanese Romaji

1 Tsuitachi 11 じゅういち Juuichi nichi 21 にじゅうい nijuuichi nichi

ついたち にち ちにち

2 Futsuka 12 じゅうにに juuni nichi 22 にじゅうに nijuuni nichi

ふつか ち にち

3 Mikka 13 じゅうさん juusan nichi 23 にじゅうさ nijuusan nichi

みっか にち んにち

4 Yokka 14 じゅうよっ juuyokka 24 にじゅう nijuuyokka

よっか か よっか

5 Itsuka 15 じゅうごに juugo nichi 25 にじゅうご nijuugo nichi

いつか ち にち

じゅうろく juuroku にじゅうろ

6 むいか Muika 16 26 nijuuroku nichi
にち nichi くにち

juushichi
nijuushichi
じゅうしち nichi/ にじゅうし
7 なのか Nanoka 17 27 nichi/
にち juunana ちにち
nijuunana nichi
nichi

じゅうはち juuhachi にじゅうは nijuuhachi

8 ようか Youka 18 28
にち nichi ちにち nichi

9 Kokonoka 19 じゅうくに juuku nichi 29 にじゅうく nijuuku nichi

ここのか ち にち

10 Tooka 20 hatsuka 30 さんじゅう sanjuu nichi

とおか はつか にち

さんじゅう sanjuuichi
31
いちにち nichi

D. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

QUESTION:
Doko kara kimashita ka.
How to tell the address?
1. Watashi wa address kara kimashita
2. Address kara kimashishita.

E. NATIONALITY

Nationality ( Country + jin )

Japanese – Nihonjin Turkish – Torukojin

American – Amerikajin Malaysian – Mareeshiajin
Filipino – Firipinjin Thai – Taijin
Korean – Kankokujin Brazilian – Burajirujin
Chinese – Chuugokujin French – Furansujin
Indian – Indojin British – Igirisujin
Australian – Oosutorariajin German - Doitsujin
QUESTION:
Kokuseki wa nan desu ka.
Nanjin desu ka.
How to tell your nationality?
1. Watashi wa nationality desu.
2. Nationality desu.
F. LANGUAGE
Language ( Country + go )
Japanese – Nihongo Turkish – Torukogo
English – Eigo Malaysian – Mareeshiago
Filipino – Firipingo Thai – Taigo
Korean – Kankokugo Brazilian – Porutogarugo
Chinese – Chuugokugo French – Furansugo
Indian – Hindiigo British – Eigo
Australian – Eigo German – Doitsugo

QUESTION:
Donna gengo ga hanasemasu ka.
I can speak…
1. Watashi wa language 1 to language 2 ga hanasemasu.
NOTE: “to” means “and.”
2. Language ga hanasemasu.
G. PROFESSION
Profession ( Shigoto/Shokugyou )
QUESTION:
Oshigoto wa nan desu ka.
I am…(profession).
1. Watashi wa MADA GAKUSEI desu.
 H. HOBBY
Hobbies (shumi)
Reading book – hon o yomu koto Cooking foods – ryouri o suru koto
Eating sweets – okashi o taberu koto Playing basketball – basukettobooru o
Watching movies – eiga o miru koto suru koto
Listening music – ongaku o kiku koto Swimming – oyogu koto
Doing facebook – feisubukku o suru koto Drawing/ Painting – e o kaku koto
Taking pictures – shashin o toru koto Dancing – odoru koto
Singing songs – uta o utau koto Internet Surfing – intaanetto o suru koto
Travelling – ryokou o suru koto
QUESTION:
Shumi wa nan desu ka.
My hobby is /My hobbies are…
1.Watashi no shumi wa _________ desu.
2. Shumi wa _________ desu.

SAMPLE JIKOSHOUKAI:
Minasan konnichiwa!
*Hajimemashite.
Watashiwa wa OPIRASU RESHERU to moushimasu.
Nijuukyuu sai desu.
Tanjoubi wa sen kyuu hyaku kyuu juu san nen no Juu gatsu futsuka desu.
Panganiban, Tayug, Pangasinan kara kimashita.
Firipinjin desu.
Nihongo to Eigo to Firipingo ga hanasemasu.
Nihongo no Sensei desu.
Shumi wa kaimono o suru koto desu.
Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Months (~gatsu) and Dates (~nichi)

 MONTHS IN JAPANESE
English Kanji Hiragana Romaji

January 一月 いちがつ ichigatsu

February 二月 にがつ nigatsu

March 三月 さんがつ sangatsu

April 四月 しがつ shigatsu

May 五月 ごがつ gogatsu

June 六月 ろくがつ rokugatsu

July 七月 しちがつ shichigatsu

August 八月 はちがつ hachigatsu

September 九月 くがつ kugatsu

October 十月 じゅうがつ juugatsu

November 十一月 じゅういちがつ juuichigatsu

December 十二月 じゅうにがつ juunigatsu

RELATIVE TIME:
1. the month before last - *sensengetsu
2. last month - *sengetsu
3. this month - kongetsu
4. next month - raigetsu
5. the month after next - saraigetsu
6. every month - maitsuki

*past tense = deshita

RELATIVE TIME:
1. the day before yesterday - *ototoi
2. yesterday - *kinou
3. today - kyou
4. tomorrow - ashita
5. the day after tomorrow - asatte
6. everyday - mainichi
7. next week - raishuu
8. next next week - saraishuu
9. this week - konshuu
10. every week - maishuu
11. last week - senshuu

*itsu = when

DAYS OF THE WEEK

MONDAY - GETSU YOUBI
TUESDAY - KA YOUBI
WEDNESDAY - SUI YOUBI
THURSDAY - MOKU YOUBI
FRIDAY - KIN YOUBI
SATURDAY - DO YOUBI
SUNDAY - NICHI YOUBI

Monday 月曜日 getsu youbi 月 means moon

Tuesday 火曜日 Ka youbi 火 means fire

Wednesday 水曜日 Sui youbi 水 means water

Thursday 木曜日 Moku youbi 木 means wood

Friday 金曜日 Kin youbi 金 means gold

Saturday 土曜日 Do youbi 土 means earth

Sunday 日曜日 nichi-youbi 日 means sun