The One Million Meanings of Yoroshiku
So, you’ve learned different ways to say "Nice to meet you!" in Japanese. One way to say “nice to meet you” is “yoroshiku onegai shimasu”.
But yoroshiku onegai shimasu isn't just for the first time you meet someone. It has a whole host of different uses.
Let's look at the main different meanings of this magical, multipurpose Japanese word.
1. Yoroshiku means "Please!"
Yoroshiku, as we learned before, can be used when meeting new people, and means "please be kind to me", or "please look favourably upon me":
初めまして。フランです。よろしくお願いします。
"Hajimemashite. Furan desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu."
Nice to meet you. I'm Fran. Please look favourably upon me!
2. Yoroshiku means "Thank you!"
As well as please, yoroshiku can mean thank you. Specifically, it can often mean “thank you in advance”. Said when giving someone work to do:
とじまり、よろしくね。
Tojimari, yoroshiku ne.
"I'll leave you to lock up. Thanks."
娘をよろしくお願いします。
Musume o yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
"Thanks in advance for taking care of my daughter."
Shop “Yoroshiku ne” T-shirts:
3. Yoroshiku means "Hi!"
This is one of my favourites. Yoroshiku can mean "regards", like "send my regards to so-and-so", or "say hi to so-and-so", or even "send my love to so-and-so":
お父さんによろしくお伝えください。
O-tou-san ni yoroshiku o tsutae kudasai.
Please send my best regards to your father.
お姉さんによろしくね。
O-nee-san ni yoroshiku ne.
Say hi to your sister for me.
What's your favourite use of yoroshiku? Did I miss any out? Let me know...yoroshiku ne!
A 12-week course for absolute beginners.
Ideal for anyone starting from scratch or looking to refresh their basic Japanese skills in a friendly, supportive environment.
You’ll learn how to:
Introduce yourself and exchange simple greetings
Ask and answer basic questions when meeting someone for the first time
Talk in simple terms about where you live, and who your family and friends are
Pronounce all the sounds in Japanese
Read some hiragana (one of the basic Japanese scripts)
Start to recognise some simple kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese)
We focus on practical, everyday language to help you communicate clearly and confidently.
Course details:
Duration: 12 weeks (14th April-30th June 2026)
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 12pm (UK time), 55 minute sessions
Textbook: Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan - Starter (starting from Lesson 1)
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After completing this course, continue your learning journey with the next Sakura term in Autumn 2026.
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✓ You’re a complete beginner (or a rusty one!)
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Updated 10th August 2021
