Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'interviewer' depends on the context: a job interviewer, a media interviewer, or a researcher conducting interviews. The most common term is 面接官 (mensetsukan) for job interviews, while インタビュアー (intabyuā) is used for media. For academic or survey contexts, 調査員 (chōsain) or 聞き手 (kikite) may be used. Often, the role is implied by the situation, and a specific title may not be needed.
The person who conducts a job or admission interview.
The standard term for an interviewer in a job or school admission context. It specifically refers to the person conducting the interview.
面接官が部屋に入ってきた。
The interviewer entered the room.
面接官の質問に答える。
Answer the interviewer's questions.
A loanword from English, used for interviewers in various contexts, but less common for formal job interviews. It can sound more casual or media-oriented.
インタビュアーが履歴書を見ながら質問した。
The interviewer asked questions while looking at the resume.
A person who interviews someone for TV, radio, newspaper, or magazine.
The most common term for a media interviewer. It is widely understood and used in journalism and broadcasting.
インタビュアーが有名人に質問をした。
The interviewer asked the celebrity questions.
彼はテレビのインタビュアーとして働いている。
He works as a TV interviewer.
Refers to a reporter or journalist who gathers information, including conducting interviews. It emphasizes the news-gathering aspect.
取材者が事件の詳細を聞き出した。
The interviewer/reporter got the details of the incident.
Literally 'listener', used in contexts like radio or podcast interviews to refer to the person asking questions. It can also mean 'audience'.
A person who conducts interviews for academic research, market research, or surveys.
A general term for a surveyor or investigator, often used for people who conduct field interviews for research or statistics.
調査員が街頭でアンケートを取っている。
The interviewer is conducting a survey on the street.
Can mean 'interviewer' in a research setting, but more commonly means 'interviewee'. Context is needed to avoid confusion.
Often ambiguous; 面接者 can also mean 'interviewee'. Use 面接官 or 調査員 to be clear.
When the role of interviewer is clear from context, a specific word may be omitted or replaced by a title.
In Japanese, it's common to refer to the interviewer by their name with a title (e.g., 田中さん, 先生) or by their role (e.g., 担当者) rather than using a generic word for 'interviewer'.
田中さんが質問を始めた。
The interviewer, Mr. Tanaka, started asking questions.
担当者が面接を行った。
The person in charge conducted the interview.
If the interviewer is obvious from context, Japanese often omits the subject altogether.
質問に答えてください。
Please answer the (interviewer's) questions.
面接官 is specifically for formal interviews like job or school admissions. インタビュアー is a general loanword used in media, research, and casual contexts. Using 面接官 for a TV interviewer would sound odd.
面接官：就職の面接で使う。
面接官: Used in job interviews.
インタビュアー：テレビや雑誌の取材で使う。
インタビュアー: Used in TV or magazine interviews.
Directly translating 'interviewer' as インタビュアー in a job interview context may sound unnatural or overly casual. Stick to 面接官 for formal settings.
× インタビュアーに履歴書を渡す。
Unnatural: Handing a resume to an 'interviewer' (using インタビュアー).
○ 面接官に履歴書を渡す。
Natural: Handing a resume to the interviewer.
The radio interviewer talks to the guest.
Also used in research contexts, especially when the interview is in-depth or qualitative.
研究のため、インタビュアーが参加者に話を聞いた。
For the research, the interviewer talked to the participants.
面接者が対象者に質問する。
The interviewer asks the subject questions.