How to Talk About Your Nationality - Examples and Variations

Master how to talk about your nationality with the key pattern

Also Appears In: Can Introduce Yourself Level 1.1 Can Do Japanese

Lesson Notes

Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.

Select your level

Or sign up using Facebook

By clicking Join Now, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and to receive our email communications, which you may opt out at any time.

Already a Member?

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

にほんじんです。 (Nihon-jin desu.)

アメリカじんです。 (Amerika-jin desu.)

オーストラリアじんです。 (Ōsutoraria-jin desu.)

イギリスじんです。 (Igirisu-jin desu.)

ちゅうごくから　きました。 (Chūgoku kara kimashita.)

Did you notice how the last speaker uses a different pattern?

ちゅうごくから　きました。 (Chūgoku kara kimashita.)

"I'm from China."

First is ちゅうごく (Chūgoku). "China." ちゅ-う-ご-く. ちゅうごく.

Next is から (kara). "From." か-ら. から.

After this is きました (kimashita). "Came," as in "[I] came." き-ま-し-た. きました.

Note: the "I" is understood through context.

きました is from the verb くる (kuru), meaning "to come." くる.

All together, it's ちゅうごくから　きました。 (Chūgoku kara kimashita.) This literally means "China from [I] came," but it translates as "I'm from China."

ちゅうごくから　きました。 (Chūgoku kara kimashita.)

This pattern is

{HOME COUNTRY}から　きました。 (kara kimashita.)

I'm from {HOME COUNTRY}.

{HOME COUNTRY}から　きました。

You should be aware of this, but for this lesson, we'll use the pattern.

{NATION} じんです。 (-jin desu.)

I'm {NATIONALITY}.

{NATION} じんです。

Hide