初めまして

Japanese

Kanji in this term
初
はじ Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
始めまして

Japanese phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) はじめま​して [hàjímémáꜜshìtè] (Nakadaka – [4])
• IPA^(key): [ha̠ʑime̞ma̠ɕi̥te̞]

• Audio

  (file)

Phrase

初(はじ)めまして • (hajimemashite) 

1. pleased to meet you; nice to meet you; how do you do
   • 2003 August 31 [2001 December 24], Reiko Shimizu, “秘密　THE TOP SECRET(トップ・シークレット)　1999(いっせんきゅうはち
     きゅうじゅうきゅう) [The Top Secret 1999]”, in 秘密　THE TOP SECRET(トップ・シークレット) [The Top Secret], 12th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Hakusensha, →ISBN, page 12:

     はじめまして　「大統領閣下(ミスタープレジデント)」

     Hajimemashite “Misutā Purejidento”

     I am glad to meet you, “Mr. President”

Synonyms

• (more formal) お初(はつ)にお目(め)にかかります (o-hatsu ni o-me ni kakarimasu)

Noun

初(はじ)めまして • (hajimemashite) 

1. (colloquial) meeting and greeting for the first time