Learn Japanese with Ichitaro Suzuki: What Does “Noun + de + Noun + no” Mean? – Contemporary Artist TEDx Talk (N5)

Sculptor and contemporary artist Ichitaro Suzuki is introducing himself.

1. 鈴木一太郎: 皆さん、初めまして。私は、彫刻家で現代アーティストの鈴木一太郎といいます。

• Noun: 皆さん (Minasan – Everyone): A polite word used to address a group of people, such as ‘everyone’ or ‘ladies and gentlemen.’
• Interjection / Set Greeting: 初めまして (Hajimemashite – Nice to meet you): Used when meeting someone for the first time. It comes from the verb 始める (hajimeru – to begin), expressing the polite intention of starting a new relationship.
• Noun & Particles: 私は (Watashi wa – I / As for me): Noun 私 (watashi – I) + Topic marker particle は (wa). The particle は (wa) marks 私 (watashi) as the topic of the sentence. It tells the listener, ‘Speaking of me…’
• Part of speech & Connection: 彫刻家で現代アーティストの (Choukokuka de gendai aatisuto no – A sculptor and contemporary artist): 彫刻家 (Choukokuka – sculptor) + particle で (de) + 現代アーティスト (gendai aatisuto – contemporary artist) + particle の (no) + Noun (Suzuki Ichitaro). The particle で (de) here is the te-form of the copula だ/です (da/desu). It connects two nouns (Noun 1 で Noun 2) that describe the same person or thing, meaning ‘being Noun 1 and Noun 2.’ The particle の (no) is a noun-modifying particle that links the combined description to the proper noun ‘Suzuki Ichitaro.’
• Part of speech & Connection: 鈴木一太郎といいます (Suzuki Ichitaro to iimasu – I am called Ichitaro Suzuki): Proper Noun + Quotative particle と (to) + Polite Verb いいます (iimasu). The particle と (to) acts as a quotation marker, indicating the content that is being said or named. 言います (iimasu) is the polite form (ます form) of 言う (iu – to say). The expression 〜といいます (~ to iimasu) means ‘I am called ~’ or ‘My name is ~,’ which is a standard, polite way to introduce your name.

Fill in the blanks ( ) to complete the natural conversation.

A: 初めまして。パン屋の佐藤です。
B: 初めまして。日本語教師（ ）Webデザイナーの田中です。

1: と

2: に

3: で