Japanese - Meeting New People

___と呼んでください。

___ to yonde kudasai.

Please call me ___.

Meaning: Please call me ___.

When to use: Use this to tell someone the name or nickname you prefer. Put the name in the blank before と. This is polite and friendly when meeting people.

Tip: Don't forget と before 呼んでください; saying 名前を呼んでください sounds like 'please call the name' without specifying which.

この辺に住んでいますか。

Kono hen ni sunde imasu ka.

Do you live around here?

Meaning: Do you live around here?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know if someone lives nearby. Natural at local events, cafés, or while walking around the neighborhood.

Tip: Sometimes learners say ここに住んでいますか which suggests the exact spot; この辺に is more natural for 'around here.'

この辺に住んでいます。

Kono hen ni sunde imasu.

I live near here.

Meaning: I live near here.

When to use: Use to tell someone you live nearby. Polite and useful in small talk about commuting or local events.

___のために来ました。

___ no tame ni kimashita.

I'm here for ___.

Meaning: I'm here for ___.

When to use: State your reason for being at a place or event. Put the purpose (like a meetup, work, or study) in the blank before のために来ました.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use に来ました without clarifying purpose; のために emphasizes the reason. For events, ～に来ました can also be used.

どんなお仕事をしていますか。

Donna oshigoto o shite imasu ka.

What do you do?

Meaning: What do you do?

When to use: Ask about someone's job or main activity. Polite way to learn someone's profession; for students, you can instead ask 学生ですか.

ここは初めてですか。

Koko wa hajimete desu ka.

Is this your first time here?

Meaning: Is this your first time here?

When to use: Ask at a place or event when you want to know if someone is new to it. Use to offer tips if they are visiting for the first time.

これからも連絡を取り合いましょう。

Kore kara mo renraku o toriaimashō.

Let's keep in touch.

Meaning: Let's keep in touch.

When to use: Say this after meeting someone when you want to exchange contact and stay connected. Polite and friendly.

今日はどうしてこちらに来たんですか。

Kyō wa dōshite kochira ni kita n desu ka.

What brings you here?

Meaning: What brings you here?

When to use: A friendly way to ask someone's reason for attending an event or being at a place. Use instead of 何で来ましたか which can mean 'how did you get here?'

___さんの友だちです。

___-san no tomodachi desu.

I'm a friend of ___.

Meaning: I'm a friend of ___.

When to use: Use this to explain your connection to someone else. Put the person's name in the blank before さんの友だちです.

Tip: Don't drop さん after the name in polite introductions; using just the name can sound too casual.