Dictionary / Japanese / Nice to meet you
How to Say "Nice to meet you" in Japanese
はじめまして
hajimemashite
Literally: It is the first time
Polite or casual
A full introduction is はじめまして, then your name, then よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu). With friends of friends, よろしく on its own is fine.
The mistake to avoid. はじめまして only works the first time you meet someone, at the start of the conversation. The part that means "I look forward to getting on with you" is よろしくお願いします. Leaving it out makes an introduction feel unfinished.
In context
はじめまして、エマです。
Hajimemashite, Ema desu.
Nice to meet you, I'm Emma.
はじめまして。よろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.
こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。
Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Likewise, nice to meet you.