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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!"…
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!
Tuesdays, 12:00pm (UK time) | Online Group Course
Starts 5th Jan 2027 | Two 12-week terms (24 weeks)
Is this course right for you?
Sakura is a practical, supportive course for beginners who have already started learning Japanese and want to build a solid foundation.
It's ideal if you want to develop your confidence, learn useful everyday Japanese and start communicating in simple situations.
You should already be able to:
Recognise some hiragana characters, or be actively learning them.
Build on what you've already learned, step by step.
By the end of these two terms, you'll be able to:
Say what you like and dislike.
Order food and drinks in a restaurant.
Ask and answer simple questions about accommodation.
Describe where people and things are located.
Read hiragana with increasing confidence and begin learning katakana.
Start recognising common kanji.
The focus is on practical Japanese you can use in everyday situations, with a step-by-step approach to building your skills and confidence.
Course details
Duration: 24 weeks (two 12-week terms)
Day/time: Tuesdays, 12pm (UK time), 55-minute lessons
Textbook: Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan - Starter, starting from Lesson 5 (free online)
New to Japanese?
If you are starting from zero, I recommend taking some 1:1 lessons before joining this class. Get in touch to arrange one-to-one lessons.
If you're new to hiragana, download my free Hiragana Starter Pack, which includes a link to my free on-demand Udemy course. I'll teach you the first 46 basic hiragana characters.
Not sure if Sakura is right for you?
Book a free 30-minute Zoom consultation or email me for advice.
Get my newsletter:
Updated 10th August 2021
Six Ways To Say "Happy Birthday" In Japanese
So you want to wish your Japanese-speaking friends "happy birthday" in Japanese.
Whether you're sending a birthday card, or just writing a message, here are six different ways to share the love.
First of all, let's say “Happy Birthday”:
Help launch something new! Join our pilot round and be among the first to master Hiragana with our course.
So you want to wish your Japanese-speaking friends "happy birthday" in Japanese.
Whether you're sending a birthday card, or just writing a message, here are six different ways to share the love.
First of all, let's say “Happy Birthday”:
1) お誕生日おめでとう！ o-tanjoubi omedetou
Simple and classic, this one means "happy birthday", or literally "congratulations on your birthday".
2) お誕生日おめでとうございます。 o-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu
Stick a "gozaimasu" on the end to make it more polite.
Good for people older than you, people you know less well, and definitely good for your boss.
3) ハッピーバースデー！happii baasudee!
This one is actually one of my favourites - a Japan-ified version of the English phrase “happy birthday”.
If you're writing a message, it's good to follow up after the birthday greeting by also wishing the person well:
1) 楽しんでください tanoshinde kudasai
"Have fun!"
e.g. お誕生日おめでとう！楽しんでください ^ ^
"Happy birthday! Have fun :)"
2) 素敵な一日を sutekina ichinichi o
"Have a great day."
e.g. お誕生日おめでとう！素敵な一日を〜
"Happy birthday! Have a great day."
3) 素晴らしい１年になりますように subarashii ichinen ni narimasu you ni
"I hope it's a wonderful year for you."
e.g. お誕生日おめでとうございます。素晴らしい１年になりますように。
"Happy birthday. I hope you have a wonderful year."
As you may have noticed, birthday messages wishing someone well for the year are kind of similar to a New Years' Greeting in Japanese.
それじゃ、素敵な一日を！ sutekina ichinichi o!
And with that, I hope you have a wonderful day!
Learn beginner Japanese:
Tuesdays, 12:00pm (UK time) | Online Group Course
Starts 5th Jan 2027 | Two 12-week terms (24 weeks)
Is this course right for you?
Sakura is a practical, supportive course for beginners who have already started learning Japanese and want to build a solid foundation.
It's ideal if you want to develop your confidence, learn useful everyday Japanese and start communicating in simple situations.
You should already be able to:
Recognise some hiragana characters, or be actively learning them.
Build on what you've already learned, step by step.
By the end of these two terms, you'll be able to:
Say what you like and dislike.
Order food and drinks in a restaurant.
Ask and answer simple questions about accommodation.
Describe where people and things are located.
Read hiragana with increasing confidence and begin learning katakana.
Start recognising common kanji.
The focus is on practical Japanese you can use in everyday situations, with a step-by-step approach to building your skills and confidence.
Course details
Duration: 24 weeks (two 12-week terms)
Day/time: Tuesdays, 12pm (UK time), 55-minute lessons
Textbook: Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan - Starter, starting from Lesson 5 (free online)
New to Japanese?
If you are starting from zero, I recommend taking some 1:1 lessons before joining this class. Get in touch to arrange one-to-one lessons.
If you're new to hiragana, download my free Hiragana Starter Pack, which includes a link to my free on-demand Udemy course. I'll teach you the first 46 basic hiragana characters.
Not sure if Sakura is right for you?
Book a free 30-minute Zoom consultation or email me for advice.
Get my newsletter:
Updated 10th August 2021
Like many people in the UK, I studied French in school. I liked French. I thought it was really fun to speak another language, to talk with people, and to try and listen to what was going on in a new country. (Still do!)
When I was 14 we went on a school exchange to the city of Reims, in northeastern France. I was paired with a boy, which I’m sure some 14-year-olds would find very exciting but which I found unbearably awkward. He was very sweet and we completely ignored each other.
That was nearly 20 years ago, and I didn’t learn or use any more French until, at some point in lockdown, I decided on a whim to take some one-to-one lessons with online teachers. Here are some things I learned about French, about language learning, and about myself.