O-namae wa,
​nan desu ka.
What's your name?
 Asking someone their name / Saying our names : : Simple version
おなまえ  は？
  • What is your name?
GIRLS OR BOYS:
わたし  は  ジョン  です。
  • I am John.​​
わたし  は  あやか  です。
  • I am Ayaka.
JUST FOR BOYS:
ぼく  は  ジョン  です。
  • I am John.
　＊The 'u' sound at the end of 'desu' is not pronounced.
　＊Boys can use 'boku' instead of 'watashi' if they prefer.
 Asking someone their name / Saying our names : : Full sentence version
おなまえ  は  なん  です  か。
  • What is your name?
ぼく  の  なまえ は
​ジョン  です。
  • My name is John
わたし  の  なまえ  は
​あやか  です。
  • My name is Ayaka.
 Introducing someone else:
Use the word "kochira" when you introduce someone else. "Kochira" is a polite way of saying "this". Remember to add "san" after their name, to show respect.
  • (The exception is when we introduce someone from our own family - to show that we are humble about our family, we don't add "san" to our family members' names when introducing them.)
こちら  は  アリスさん  です。
  • This is Alice.
こちら  は  ボブさん  です。
  • This is Bob.
こちら  は  モナリサさん  です。
  • This is Mona Lisa.
Picture
Practise introducing yourself and others on Quizlet.
 Should we say 'namae' or 'o-namae'?
  • It's polite to say 'o-namae' when we are asking about someone else's name. The 'o' in 'o-namae' is honorific. (A way of showing respect to others.) 
  • We say just 'namae' when we talk about our own name, (We don't use honorifics for ourselves!)
Some interesting facts about Japanese names...
SURNAMES COME BEFORE 'FIRST' NAMES
  • In Nihon (Japan), the group is traditionally considered to be more important than the individual. This thinking is reflected in the fact that the family name (surname) always comes first, followed by the given name (what we would call the first name, except that it's not first in Japanese!)
  • John Smith is Sumisu Jon in Nihongo (Japanese).
  • How would you say your name in Nihongo (Japanese)?
WE ALWAYS USE TITLES WITH PEOPLE'S NAMES
  • The general title for people of all ages is 'San'.
  • Sensei is the title for doctors and teachers.
  • Mr Smith is Sumisu San.
  • Mrs Evans (a teacher) is Ebanzu Sensei.
  • Titles are used with first names and surnames.
  • John is Jyon San.
  • Even babies and little children get a title! It's Chan.
  • If a little baby's name is Maki, we call them Maki Chan.
  • Hello Kitty is called Kitty Chan​ in Japan
MANY JAPANESE SURNAMES ARE DERIVED FROM THE LAND AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES
  • Suzuki
  • Kawamura
  • Nishikawa
  • Takahashi
  • Honda
  • Kawasaki
  • Ishibashi
  • 鈴木
  • 川村
  • 西川
  • 高橋
  • 本田
  • 川崎
  • 石橋
  • Bell Tree
  • River Village
  • West River
  • High Bridge
  • Main Field
  • River Slope
  • Stone Bridge (Reverse this and you get 'Bridgestone', the Japanese tyre company, whose founder was Shoujirou Ishibashi!)