Formal — to stranger
Cultural · Greeting
はじめまして。○○と申します。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 — Nice to meet you. My name is [your name]. I look forward to getting to know you. (Cultural · Greeting, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N5)
You
はじめまして。○○と申します。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
はじめまして。○○ともうします。どうぞよろしくおねがいいたします。
Nice to meet you. My name is [your name]. I look forward to getting to know you.
Romaji: Hajimemashite. [name] to moushimasu. Douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. / Reply Romaji: Kochirakoso, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Reply
こちらこそ、よろしくお願いいたします。
こちらこそ、よろしくおねがいいたします。
The pleasure is mine. I look forward to it as well.
Gesture & etiquette
Stand upright, feet together, bow from the waist at 30 degrees. Keep eyes downward during the bow, hands flat against your thighs (men) or clasped in front (women). Wait for the other person to straighten before you do.
Bow at roughly 30 degrees when saying this phrase — a 15-degree nod is for casual greetings; 30 degrees shows genuine respect at a first meeting. Keep the bow until the other person begins to straighten; whoever rises first is seen as less respectful.