Translation guide
The English word 'chair' refers to a piece of furniture for sitting, but also has meanings like a person presiding over a meeting or an academic position. This guide covers the most common Japanese equivalents for these uses.
A seat with a back, for one person
The standard word for 'chair' in Japanese. Covers most types of chairs.
この椅子はとても座り心地がいい。
This chair is very comfortable to sit in.
Please prepare three chairs.
Refers to a sofa or couch, which is a larger, upholstered seat for multiple people. Not a direct equivalent of 'chair', but often used when English speakers might say 'chair' for a soft seat.
I put a new sofa in the living room.
Means 'seat' in a general sense, often used for seating in theaters, trains, or events. More formal than 椅子.
Please check your reserved seat number.
The person in charge of a meeting or committee
The chairperson of a formal meeting, committee, or assembly. Commonly used in business and political contexts.
The chair facilitated the meeting.
He was elected chair of the committee.
Refers to the person who acts as the master of ceremonies or moderator, often for events, panels, or less formal gatherings.
Used for the chairperson of a specific committee, research group, or symposium. More common in academic or specialized settings.
A professorship or endowed position at a university
While 'chair' can mean a person in English, 椅子 (いす) only refers to the furniture. Using it for a person will cause confusion.
議長 (ぎちょう) implies authority and formal decision-making power, while 司会者 (しかいしゃ) focuses on facilitating discussion and keeping order. Use 議長 for official committees and 司会者 for events or panels.
司会者がパネルディスカッションを進めた。
The chair moderated the panel discussion.
The chair summarized the Q&A session of the research presentation.
She is the professor of the Japanese Literature chair.