How to introduce yourself in Japanese

When I lived in Japan long ago, one of my first assignments was to introduce myself to my new students. The problem ? I didn't speak any Japanese ! By now I am fairly PERA PERA in Japanese. That means fluent. However, when I stepped off the plane back in 1997, the only words I knew were :

1. Hello

2. GoodBye

3. Thank You

4. Nice to meet you

5. and yes! I understand!

Unfortunately, I did NOT understand most of what people said around me during my first 3 months living in the INAKA of Japan. (Inaka means countryside).

For our first conversation lesson, students will learn how to ask and answer some basic questions and talk about WHAT THEY LIKE.

Self Introduction;

Questions:

1. NAMAE WA NAN DESU KA?

   1. What’s your name?

2. ANATA WA NAN SAI DESU KA?

   1. How old are you?

3. NANI GA SUKI DESU KA?

   1. What do you like?

1st draft:

HAJIMIMASHITE

WATASHI WA PITA DESU

HACHI SAI DESU

MINNESOTA SHU KARA KIMASHITA

KAIZOKU WA OTOSAN, OCASAN, ANESAN, WATASHI

DOBUTSU TO HON GA SUKI

YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU

Nice to meet you 

I am Peter

I’m 8 years old

I come from Minnesota

My family is my dad, my mom, my big sister, and me.

I like Animals and books.

Please take care of me! Let’s work together.

1st assignment:

Your goal is to write your own Self Introduction....

Questions:

1. NAMAE WA NAN DESU KA?

   1. What’s your name?

2. ANATA WA NAN SAI DESU KA?

   1. How old are you?

3. NANI GA SUKI DESU KA?

   1. What do you like?

1st draft:

HAJIMIMASHITE

WATASHI WA PITA DESU

HACHI SAI DESU

MINNESOTA SHU KARA KIMASHITA

KAIZOKU WA OTOSAN, OCASAN, ANESAN, WATASHI

DOBUTSU TO HON GA SUKI

YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU

Nice to meet you 

I am Peter

I’m 8 years old

I come from Minnesota

My family is my dad, my mom, my big sister, and me.

I like Animals and books.

Please take care of me! Let’s work together.

1st assignment: Please write about the topics below in ENGLISH. Then sensei will help you learn the Japanese words.

1. NANI GA SUKI DESU KA?

   1. What do you like?

      1. Draw and label a poster in English, then Japanese

      2. Use Stencils!

2. KAIZOKU WA DARE DESU KA?

   1. Who is in your family?

   2. DRAW and label your family. (who lives with you or everybody. Do pets count? You decide! What do YOU want to share.)

Let's start with animals, sports, foods, hobbies, etc....

What is your favorite animal?

Names of Animals In Japanese

Take a look at the list of animal names in Japan below and memorize them to expand your Japanese vocabulary skills.

1. Animal in Japanese: Dou butsu (どうぶつ)

2. Macaque in Japanese: Makaku (マカク)

3. Dog in Japanese: Inu (いぬ)

4. Fish in Japanese: Sakana (さかな)

5. Wild Duck in Japanese: Kamo (カモ)

6. Domestic Duck in Japanese: Ahiru (アヒル)

7. Lion in Japanese: Shishi (しし)

8. Insect in Japanese: Mushi (むし)

9. Cat in Japanese: Neko (ねこ)

10. Tiger in Japanese: Tora (トラ)

11. Crane in Japanese: Tsuru (ツル)

12. Shark in Japanese: Same (サメ)

13. Whale in Japanese: Kujira (クジラ)

14. Mouse/Rat in Japanese: Nezumi (ネズミ)

15. Chicken in Japanese: Niwatori (ニワトリ)

16. Bird in Japanese: Tori (とり)

17. Swan in Japanese: Hakuchou (ハクチョウ)

18. Puppy in Japanese: Ko inu (こいぬ)

19. Monkey in Japanese: Saru (サル)

20. Hare in Japanese: Usagi (ウサギ)

21. Rabbit in Japanese: Usagi (ウサギ)

22. Falcon/Hawk in Japanese: Taka (タカ)

23. Squirrel in Japanese: Risu (リス)

24. Horse in Japanese: Uma (ウマ)

25. Zebra in Japanese: Shimauma (シマウマ)

Animal Names continued….

26. Sheep in Japanese: Hitsuji (ヒツジ)

27. Goat in Japanese: Yagi (ヤギ)

28. Panda in Japanese: Panda (パンダ)

29. Pig in Japanese: Buta (ブタ)

30. Kangaroo in Japanese: Kangaru- (カンガルー)

31. Giraffe in Japanese: Kirin (キリン)

32. Fox in Japanese: Kitsune (キツネ)

33. Camel in Japanese: Rakuda (ラクダ)

34. Wolf in Japanese: Ookami (オオカミ)

35. Elephant in Japanese: Zou (ゾウ)

36. Snake in Japanese: Hebi (ヘビ)

37. Cuttlefish / Squid in Japanese: Ika (イカ)

38. Abalone in Japanese: Awabi (アワビ)

39. Shrimp in Japanese: Ebi (エビ)

40. Octopus in Japanese: Tako (タコ)

41. Crab in Japanese: Kani (カニ)

42. Penguin in Japanese: Pengin (ペンギン)

43. Dolphin in Japanese: Iruka (イルカ)

44. Spider in Japanese: Kumo (クモ)

45. Firefly in Japanese: Hotaru (ホタル)

46. Fly in Japanese: Hae (ハエ)

47. Cockroach in Japanese: Gokiburi (ゴキブリ)

48. Centipede in Japanese: Mukade (ムカデ)

49. Dragonfly in Japanese: Tonbo (トンボ)

50. Butterfly in Japanese: Chouchou (チョウチョウ)

51. Bee in Japanese: Hachi (ハチ)

52. Caterpillar in Japanese: Kemushi (けむし)

53. Lizard in Japanese: Tokage (トカゲ)

54. Baboon in Japanese: Hihi (ヒヒ)

55. Reindeer in Japanese: Tonakai (トナカイ)

Animal Names continued….

56. Dove / Pigeon in Japanese: Hato (ハト)

57. Cow in Japanese: Ushi (ウシ)

58. Eagle in Japanese: Washi (ワシ)

59. Crow in Japanese: Karasu (カラス)

60. Wild boar in Japanese: Inoshishi (イノシシ)

61. Hippopotamus in Japanese: Kaba (カバ)

62. Bat in Japanese: Koumori (コウモリ)

63. Owl in Japanese: Fukurou (フクロウ)

64. Goldfish in Japanese: Kingyo (きんぎょ)

65. Pheasant in Japanese: Kiji (キジ)

66. Ostrich in Japanese: Dachō (駝鳥)

67. Emu in Japanese: emyū (エミュー)

68. Peacock in Japanese: Kujaku (孔雀)

69. Flamingo in Japanese: Furamingo (フラミンゴ)

70. Jellyfish in Japanese: Kurage (クラゲ)

71. Clownfish in Japanese: Kumanomi (クマノミ)

72. Starfish in Japanese: Hitode (人手)

73. Mackerel in Japanese: Saba (鯖)

74. Stingray in Japanese: Akaei (アカエイ)

75. Shellfish in Japanese: Kai (貝)

76. Oyster in Japanese: Kaki (牡蠣)

77. Pufferfish/Blowfish in Japanese: Fugu (フグ)

78. SeaHorse in Japanese: Tatsu no otoshi go (タツノオトシゴ)

79. Scallop in Japanese: Hotate (ホタテ)

80. Carp in Japanese: Koi (鯉)

81. Raccoon Dogs in Japanese: Tanuki (タヌキ)

Want to know more? Click here:

https://www.japan-academy.in/blog/animal-names-in-japanese/