N57 sentences
Meeting for the First Time
- 1こんにちは。
こんにちは。
Hello.
- 2こんにちは、はじめまして。
こんにちは、はじめまして。
Hello, nice to meet you.
- 3はじめまして、わたしはたけしです。
はじめまして、わたしはたけしです。
Nice to meet you, I'm Takeshi.
- 4わたしはあゆみです。
わたしはあゆみです。
I'm Ayumi.
- 5どちらからきましたか？
どちらからきましたか？
Where are you from?
- 6とうきょうからきました
とうきょうからきました
I'm from Tokyo.
- 7おお、とうきょうですか。いいですね。
おお、とうきょうですか。いいですね。
Oh, Tokyo? That's nice.
Coaching notes
This is a simple and polite first-time meeting between two people, Takeshi and Ayumi, exchanging introductions and origins.
Pronunciation focus
- こんにちは — Ensure the ん is slightly nasal.
- はじめまして — Pronounce はじ as ha-ji, not ha-zi.
- たけし — Accent on the first syllable: TA-ke-shi.
- どちら — Smooth transition between ど and ち.
- とうきょう — Keep the long vowel in とう clear.
Rhythm & pacing
The sentences are short with a friendly, even pace, making it suitable to shadow each sentence separately.
Key grammar
- 〜から = indicating origin or beginning point.
- は after わたし = identifying oneself.
- 〜です = polite sentence ending.
- 〜いいですね = expressing approval or positivity.
Natural speech features
- The pause between sentences is short, typical of Japanese to maintain flow.
- The は in こんにちは is pronounced as wa, blending smoothly into the greeting.
Practice strategy
Listen twice before shadowing. Pay close attention to natural pauses and the polite tone. Practice each sentence slowly before attempting at normal speed.
Common mistakes
- Mispronouncing はじめまして as hajimemashde.
- Overlooking the nasal ん in こんにちは.
- Blurring とうきょう as quick single sound.
- Not clearly differentiating あゆみ and たけし name sounds.
Practice shadowing on the go
The Kanji 360 app adds recording, playback comparison, and dozens more shadowing clips with stroke-order kanji and SRS review.