저는 ~입니다.
1057
I am ~.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential, polite way to introduce your name, job, or nationality in professional or formal Korean settings.
- Means: 'I am [Noun]' in a respectful, humble way.
- Used in: Job interviews, meeting elders, or public speaking.
- Don't confuse: Use '저는' (humble) with '입니다', never '나는' (casual).
Explanation at your level:
意味
Introducing oneself by stating one's name or occupation.
文化的背景
The first meeting is crucial. Using '입니다' while presenting your business card with two hands is the standard professional greeting. In companies, you often introduce yourself by your title rather than just your name to show your place in the hierarchy. In the military, '입니다' is the only allowed ending. Using '해요' style can lead to disciplinary action. When students introduce themselves to professors, '입니다' is used to show deep respect for the teacher's knowledge and status.
The 'No-Space' Rule
Always remember that '입니다' is like a sticker—it sticks directly to the noun. No space allowed!
Don't Mix Levels
Never use '나' (casual I) with '입니다'. It makes you sound like you're trying to be bossy and polite at the same time.
意味
Introducing oneself by stating one's name or occupation.
The 'No-Space' Rule
Always remember that '입니다' is like a sticker—it sticks directly to the noun. No space allowed!
Don't Mix Levels
Never use '나' (casual I) with '입니다'. It makes you sound like you're trying to be bossy and polite at the same time.
The Bow
When saying '저는 ~입니다' for the first time, a small 15-30 degree bow makes it 100% more natural.
Question Form
To ask someone else, just change it to '~입니까?' (Are you...?). It's the perfect pair.
自分をテスト
Fill in the blank with the correct formal introduction ending.
저는 {의사|醫師}______.
Since the sentence starts with the humble '저는', the formal ending '입니다' is the most appropriate match.
Which sentence is written with correct spacing?
Choose the correct one:
There should be a space after the topic marker '는', but NO space between the noun '학생' and the ending '입니다'.
Complete the dialogue for a job interview.
면접관: 성함이 어떻게 되십니까? 지원자: 네, ______ 김민수입니다.
In a formal interview, you must use the humble pronoun '저는' to introduce yourself.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Where would you most likely hear '저는 박준형입니다'?
The '입니다' form is specifically for formal, public, or professional contexts.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
Formal vs Polite Introduction
よくある質問
14 問It's better not to. It sounds too stiff and formal. Use '나는 ~이야' or '저는 ~예요' instead.
'이다' is the dictionary form. '입니다' is the conjugated formal polite form.
In a first introduction, yes. In later sentences, you can drop it if the context is clear.
'입니다' is for formal/public situations; '예요' is for polite/private situations.
You use '저는 ~이/가 아닙니다'.
Both! You can use it for name, job, nationality, and even your role in a family.
Yes, it is completely gender-neutral.
This is a rule in Korean phonology where 'ㅂ' becomes 'ㅁ' before 'ㄴ'.
Yes, it is the standard for formal or business emails.
It doesn't matter. '입니다' stays the same for all nouns.
Yes, '저' is the humble version of 'I'.
No, it would sound very strange. Use '나는 ~이야'.
Yes, but their intonation and some vocabulary might differ slightly.
Putting a space before '입니다' or using '나는' instead of '저는'.
関連フレーズ
제 이름은 ~입니다
similarMy name is...
저는 ~라고 합니다
specialized formI am called...
처음 뵙겠습니다
builds onNice to meet you (for the first time)
잘 부탁드립니다
builds onPlease look after me / I look forward to working with you
저는 ~예요
similarI am (Polite)
どこで使う？
Job Interview
Interviewer: 자기소개를 해 보세요. (Please introduce yourself.)
Applicant: 네, 저는 김철수입니다. {회계|會計}를 {전공|專攻}했습니다. (Yes, I am Kim Cheol-su. I majored in accounting.)
Meeting In-laws
Father-in-law: 이름이 무엇인가? (What is your name?)
Partner: 저는 마이클입니다. 처음 뵙겠습니다. (I am Michael. Nice to meet you for the first time.)
First Day at School
Teacher: 새 학생인가요? (Are you a new student?)
Student: 네, 저는 {미국|美國}에서 온 {교환|交換} {학생|學生} 제인입니다. (Yes, I am Jane, an exchange student from America.)
Business Networking
Person A: 어느 {회사|會社}에서 오셨습니까? (Which company are you from?)
Person B: 저는 ABC {소프트웨어|software}의 {개발자|開發者} 이영희입니다. (I am Lee Young-hee, a developer at ABC Software.)
Immigration/Customs
Officer: 방문 {목적|目的}이 무엇입니까? (What is the purpose of your visit?)
Traveler: 저는 {관광객|觀光客}입니다. (I am a tourist.)
Ordering at a Fancy Restaurant
Server: 예약하셨습니까? (Did you make a reservation?)
Customer: 네, 저는 7시에 예약한 박지민입니다. (Yes, I am Park Ji-min, who reserved for 7 o'clock.)
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Imnida' as 'I'm neat-ah'—you use it when you want to look neat and professional in a suit.
Visual Association
Imagine yourself wearing a sharp business suit or a traditional Hanbok, bowing slightly while handing over a business card. The word '입니다' is written on the card in bold, clean letters.
Rhyme
When meeting someone new and grand, '입니다' is the best in the land.
Story
You walk into a high-end office in Seoul. You see a sign that says 'Formal Zone'. To pass the guard, you must say your name followed by '입니다'. If you say '예요', the guard shakes his head. You say '저는 [Name]입니다', and the golden doors open to your new job.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Go to a mirror and introduce yourself 5 times as 5 different people (a doctor, a student, a pilot, etc.) using '저는 ~입니다' with a slight bow each time.
In Other Languages
Yo soy...
Spanish doesn't have a built-in 'formal' verb ending specifically for introductions like '입니다'.
Je suis...
Korean formality is embedded in the verb ending, not just the pronoun.
Ich bin...
Korean is SOV/Copula-final, placing the 'am' at the very end.
私は〜です (Watashi wa ~ desu)
Japanese 'desu' is used in both polite and formal settings, while Korean splits these into '해요체' and '합쇼체'.
أنا... (Ana...)
Arabic lacks an explicit present tense copula like '입니다'.
我是... (Wǒ shì...)
Chinese grammar is much simpler and lacks the 'humble' vs 'neutral' pronoun distinction in common speech.
저는 ~입니다 vs 저는 ~예요
'입니다' is 'stiff/respectful' while '예요' is 'soft/friendly'.
Eu sou...
Korean '입니다' covers all types of 'being' (identity, location, state) in formal speech.
Easily Confused
Learners often mix the casual '나' with the formal '이다' or '입니다'.
Remember: '저' goes with '입니다' (Formal), and '나' goes with '이야' (Informal).
Confusing '저' (I) with '제' (My).
Use '저는' for 'I am' and '제 [Noun]은' for 'My [Noun] is'.
よくある質問 (14)
It's better not to. It sounds too stiff and formal. Use '나는 ~이야' or '저는 ~예요' instead.
'이다' is the dictionary form. '입니다' is the conjugated formal polite form.
In a first introduction, yes. In later sentences, you can drop it if the context is clear.
'입니다' is for formal/public situations; '예요' is for polite/private situations.
You use '저는 ~이/가 아닙니다'.
Both! You can use it for name, job, nationality, and even your role in a family.
Yes, it is completely gender-neutral.
This is a rule in Korean phonology where 'ㅂ' becomes 'ㅁ' before 'ㄴ'.
Yes, it is the standard for formal or business emails.
It doesn't matter. '입니다' stays the same for all nouns.
Yes, '저' is the humble version of 'I'.
No, it would sound very strange. Use '나는 ~이야'.
Yes, but their intonation and some vocabulary might differ slightly.
Putting a space before '입니다' or using '나는' instead of '저는'.
