How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese Using JLPT N5 Grammar
Self-introduction is one of the first things many Japanese learners want to do. At the JLPT N5 level, simple Japanese is enough. In this guide, you will learn how to say your name, talk about things you like, and describe your hobbies using わたしは〜です (watashi wa 〜 desu), 〜がすきです (〜 ga suki desu), and しゅみは〜ことです (shumi wa 〜 koto desu).
Written by Chiho Kamioka
How to Say Your Name with わたしは〜です
わたしは〜です (watashi wa 〜 desu) is one of the most basic JLPT N5 grammar patterns. You can use it to say your name or nationality.
Form: わたしは + noun + です
Romaji: watashi wa + noun + desu
Example: わたしは ジョンです。 / アメリカじんです。
Conversation Example
A: はじめまして。おなまえは？
hajimemashite. onamae wa?
Nice to meet you. What is your name?
B: はじめまして。わたしは ジョンです。アメリカじんです。
hajimemashite. watashi wa John desu. amerika-jin desu.
Nice to meet you. I am John. I am American.
A: ジョンさんですね。よろしく おねがいします。
John-san desu ne. yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
John, right? Nice to meet you.
B: よろしく おねがいします。
yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Nice to meet you, too.
Useful Vocabulary
アメリカじん
amerika-jin
American
イギリスじん
igirisu-jin
British
カナダじん
kanada-jin
Canadian
フランスじん
furansu-jin
French
オーストラリアじん
oosutoraria-jin
Australian
にほんじん
nihon-jin
Japanese
How to Talk About Things You Like with 〜がすきです
〜がすきです (〜 ga suki desu) means “I like 〜.” This is useful in a Japanese self-introduction because it helps you talk about your interests and personality.
Form: Noun + が + すきです
Romaji: noun + ga + suki desu
Example: にほんごが すきです。 / コーヒーが すきです。
Conversation Example
A: ジョンさんは なにが すきですか。
John-san wa nani ga suki desu ka.
What do you like, John?
B: にほんの アニメが すきです。
nihon no anime ga suki desu.
I like Japanese anime.
A: そうですか。いいですね。
sou desu ka. ii desu ne.
I see. That is nice.
Useful Vocabulary
ラーメン
raamen
ramen
にほんご
nihongo
Japanese
コーヒー
koohii
coffee
おんがく
ongaku
music
えいが
eiga
movies
ねこ
neko
cats
How to Talk About Hobbies with しゅみは〜ことです
しゅみは〜ことです (shumi wa 〜 koto desu) means “My hobby is doing 〜.” This pattern is a small challenge for beginner learners, but it helps you add one more natural sentence to your Japanese self-introduction. In Japonin’s Beginner 1 lessons, you can practice this pattern with your own hobbies and learn how to say it naturally.
Form: しゅみは + verb dictionary form + ことです
Romaji: shumi wa + verb dictionary form + koto desu
Example: おんがくをきく → しゅみは おんがくを きくことです。
Conversation Example
A: しゅみは なんですか。
shumi wa nan desu ka.
What is your hobby?
B: おんがくを きくことです。
ongaku o kiku koto desu.
My hobby is listening to music.
A: いいですね。どんな おんがくが すきですか。
ii desu ne. donna ongaku ga suki desu ka.
That’s nice. What kind of music do you like?
B: ジャズが すきです。
jazu ga suki desu.
I like jazz.
Useful Vocabulary
えいがを みる
eiga o miru
watch movies
ほんを よむ
hon o yomu
read books
りょうりを する
ryouri o suru
cook
しゃしんを とる
shashin o toru
take photos
ゲームを する
geemu o suru
play games
おんがくを きく
ongaku o kiku
listen to music
A Simple Japanese Self-Introduction Example
Now let’s put the N5 grammar patterns together. This example is short, simple, and natural for beginner Japanese learners.
Example Self-Introduction
はじめまして。
hajimemashite.
Nice to meet you.
わたしは ジョンです。
watashi wa John desu.
I am John.
アメリカじんです。
amerika-jin desu.
I am American.
にほんの アニメが すきです。
nihon no anime ga suki desu.
I like Japanese anime.
どうぞ よろしく おねがいします。
douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Make Your Own Self-Introduction
はじめまして。
hajimemashite.
わたしは＿＿＿＿です。
watashi wa ＿＿＿＿ desu.
＿＿＿＿じんです。
＿＿＿＿-jin desu.
＿＿＿＿が すきです。
＿＿＿＿ ga suki desu.
どうぞ よろしく おねがいします。
douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Quick Summary: Japanese Self-Introduction with N5 Grammar
Here is a quick review of the three N5 grammar patterns introduced in this guide.
わたしは〜です (watashi wa 〜 desu) is used to say your name, nationality, job, or status.
〜がすきです (suki desu) is used to talk about things you like.
しゅみは〜ことです (shumi wa 〜 koto desu) is used to talk about your hobbies.
Simple idea: Start with your name and add one thing you like. You can also talk about your hobby when the conversation continues.
Practice N5-Level Grammar in Beginner and Survival Japanese Lessons
At Japonin, beginner learners study basic Japanese step by step with professional teachers. In our Beginner 1 Conversation lessons, you can practice simple grammar patterns that also appear at the JLPT N5 level through can-do based conversation practice.
If you want to start using Japanese in everyday situations right away, our Survival Japanese lessons are also a good option. They are perfect for tourists, exchange students, short-term visitors, or professionals new to Japan.
Meet Our Japanese Teachers
Japonin teachers are experienced Japanese-language professionals who help students understand grammar patterns, practice basic sentence forms, and use Japanese more naturally in real communication.
SOMEYA Sachiko
- 14+ years of total teaching experience
- Experience as a Japanese language teaching assistant at a public school in New Zealand
ISHIBASHI Kaori
- 20+ years of total teaching experience
- Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test
OOSAWA Miki
- 14+ years of total teaching experience
- Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test
Japanese Self-Introduction FAQ
What is a simple Japanese self-introduction?
A simple Japanese self-introduction usually includes a greeting, your name, where you are from, something you like, and a closing phrase such as どうぞ よろしく おねがいします.
How do you say “My name is...” in Japanese?
A natural beginner sentence is わたしは〜です (watashi wa 〜 desu), which means “I am 〜.” For example, わたしはエマです means “I am Emma.”
How do you say “I like...” in Japanese?
Use 〜がすきです (suki desu). For example, にほんごが すきです means “I like Japanese,” and コーヒーが すきです means “I like coffee.”
How do you talk about your hobbies in Japanese?
Use しゅみは〜ことです (shumi wa 〜 koto desu). For example, しゅみは おんがくを きくことです means “My hobby is listening to music.” Use the dictionary form of the verb before ことです.
How can I practice introducing myself in Japanese?
Start with a short self-introduction using N5 grammar. Then practice answering simple follow-up questions, such as なにが すきですか, しゅみは なんですか, and どこから きましたか. In Japonin lessons, teachers can help you practice speaking naturally.
Since 2006, Japonin has helped over 6,000 learners worldwide study Japanese online with support from our experienced Japanese language teachers.
Written by Chiho Kamioka Founder of Japonin JLPT Guide Editor
For many beginners, self-introduction is the first time they try to speak Japanese as themselves. I wrote this guide to help learners use simple N5 grammar to say their name, where they are from, and what they like with more confidence.
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