How to Say ‘Nice to meet you.’ in Japanese
よろしくお願いします。
yoroshiku o negai shi masu
[yoh-roh-shee-koo oh neh-guy shee mahss]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the standard polite phrase at the start of an interview, meeting, or first interaction. In a job interview, it sounds much more natural than translating "nice to meet you" directly.
Phrase Breakdown
よろしく
yoroshiku
[yoh-roh-shee-koo]
please treat me favorably
A set phrase used when meeting someone or asking for goodwill.
面接の最初によろしくお願いしますと言います。
At the beginning of the interview, I say 'yoroshiku onegaishimasu.'
お願いします
o negai shi masu
please; I ask for your help/favor
The polite request form of 願う. Together with よろしく, it makes a very common polite phrase meaning “Please take care of this / I look forward to working with you.”
手伝いをお願いします。
Please help me.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix used in respectful expressions.
よろしくお願いしますのおは丁寧さを表します。
The 'o' in yoroshiku onegaishimasu shows politeness.
願い
negai
[neh-guy]
request / wish
Part of お願いします, expressing a request in a polite way.
よろしくお願いしますの願いはお願いの部分です。
The 願い in yoroshiku onegaishimasu is the request part.
し
shi
[shee]
do
From する, helping form the polite request expression.
よろしくお願いしますのしは動詞の一部です。
The 'shi' in yoroshiku onegaishimasu is part of the verb.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite ending
A standard polite ending used in formal Japanese.
よろしくお願いしますのますで丁寧になります。
The 'masu' makes yoroshiku onegaishimasu polite.
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