In this workshop you will practice a short, polite introduction in Japanese. You will present someone, say that the person is your friend, add one simple detail, and respond when someone asks a follow-up question. You can practice both roles: the person introducing and the person responding. Listen to each recorded line, repeat it, and then use it in the tasks below.
Presenting Someone Politely
When you introduce a friend in person, you can use a polite opening. The line «こちらは私の友達のサムです。» means 'This is my friend Sam.' The word kochira is a polite way to say 'this person' or 'this side,' and it works well in many situations. A slightly more direct version is «この人は私の友達のサムです。», which means 'This person is my friend Sam.' The word kono hito literally means 'this person.' It is clear and common, especially among friends and classmates. Both lines use watashi no tomodachi, which means 'my friend.' After the name, desu makes the sentence polite. Practice saying each line slowly, then at a natural speed. Pay attention to the rhythm: kochira wa / watashi no tomodachi no / Samu desu.
Adding a Simple Detail
After you introduce someone, you can add one short detail. To say where your friend came from, use the pattern in «サムはアメリカから来ました。»: 'Sam came from America.' The word kara means 'from,' and kimashita is the polite past form of 'came.' You can replace the country with the correct one for your friend. To say your friend is a student, use «サムは学生です。»: 'Sam is a student.' In Japanese, you do not need 'a' or 'an' before gakusei. The word gakusei already means 'student.' Keep your detail short and clear. One detail is enough for a beginner introduction.
Answering a Follow-Up Question
When you introduce someone, the other person may respond. In the recorded exchange, speaker A says «こちらは私の友達のサムです。», which is the same polite introduction: 'This is my friend Sam.' Speaker B replies with «はじめまして。サムさんですね。»: 'Nice to meet you. You're Sam, right?' The ending ne invites agreement, like 'right?' Then speaker A confirms and adds a detail with «はい。サムはアメリカから来ました。»: 'Yes. Sam came from America.' Speaker B responds with «そうですか。サムさんは学生ですか。»: 'I see. Is Sam a student?' This is a polite question using desu ka. Notice that the question uses Sam-san, adding san after the name. When you answer, you can use the student line from «サムは学生です。». Practice both roles: first as the person introducing, then as the person asking the follow-up question.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
こちらは私の友達のサムです。
This is my friend Sam.
ko-chi-ra wa wa-ta-shi no to-mo-da-chi no Sa-mu de-su
この人は私の友達のサムです。
This person is my friend Sam.
ko-no hi-to wa wa-ta-shi no to-mo-da-chi no Sa-mu de-su
サムはアメリカから来ました。
Sam came from America.
Sa-mu wa A-me-ri-ka ka-ra ki-ma-shi-ta
サムは学生です。
Sam is a student.
Sa-mu wa ga-ku-se-i de-su
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
こちらは私の友達のサムです。
This is my friend Sam.はじめまして。サムさんですね。
Nice to meet you. You're Sam, right?はい。サムはアメリカから来ました。
Yes. Sam came from America.そうですか。サムさんは学生ですか。
I see. Is Sam a student?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Introduction Exchange
Imagine you are introducing your friend Sam to a classmate. You will play both roles. First, listen to the recorded lines and repeat them. Then say your part aloud.
Your task: Say the polite introduction line from «こちらは私の友達のサムです。» aloud. Then imagine your classmate replies with the line from «はじめまして。サムさんですね。». After that, confirm and add the detail from «はい。サムはアメリカから来ました。». Finally, imagine your classmate asks the question from «そうですか。サムさんは学生ですか。», and answer using the line from «サムは学生です。».
Choose the Right Reply
In this task you will hear or read a line and choose the best response from the recorded options. Imagine a simple conversation between two people.
Your task: Read or listen to «はじめまして。サムさんですね。»: 'Nice to meet you. You're Sam, right?' Which recorded line is the best reply: «はい。サムはアメリカから来ました。» or «サムは学生です。»? Say your choice aloud. Then read or listen to «そうですか。サムさんは学生ですか。»: 'I see. Is Sam a student?' Which recorded line answers this question: «サムは学生です。» or «サムはアメリカから来ました。»? Say your choice aloud.
Recall and Role Swap
Now practice from memory. Imagine the same introduction scene, but you will start as the person responding, then switch to the person introducing.
Your task: First, play the responder. Say the line from «はじめまして。サムさんですね。» aloud. Then play the introducer and say «こちらは私の友達のサムです。» and «はい。サムはアメリカから来ました。». Next, play the responder again and ask the question from «そうですか。サムさんは学生ですか。». Finally, play the introducer and answer with «サムは学生です。». Try to do this without reading the lines.
Common questions
What is the difference between kochira and kono hito?
Both can introduce someone, but kochira is more polite and means 'this person' or 'this side.' Kono hito literally means 'this person' and is clear and common, especially among friends and classmates. You can use «こちらは私の友達のサムです。» for a polite introduction and «この人は私の友達のサムです。» for a slightly more direct one.
How do I answer when someone asks if my friend is a student?
You can answer with the line from «サムは学生です。», which says 'Sam is a student.' If the question is «そうですか。サムさんは学生ですか。», 'Is Sam a student?', then «サムは学生です。» is a direct and polite answer. You can also add the detail from «サムはアメリカから来ました。» if you want to say where your friend came from.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: introduce friends to each otherChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Japanese into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr