Translation guide
Expressing the idea of meeting someone in person, rather than communicating remotely. Japanese offers several natural expressions depending on formality and context.
Yesterday, I met him face-to-face and talked.
Meeting in person is the quickest.
Literally 'to bring faces together'. Implies meeting someone, often with a nuance of seeing them in person, sometimes used when there is some tension or formality.
We met face-to-face for the first time in a while.
Literally 'face and face'. Emphasizes being directly opposite someone, often in a confrontational or serious context.
I couldn't say it to his face.
To contrast an in-person meeting with a virtual one, such as online or by phone.
To refer to a scheduled, often formal, face-to-face meeting in a professional context.
「直接会う」 is neutral and simply means meeting in person. 「顔を合わせる」 often implies a meeting that might be awkward or formal, or simply the act of seeing someone's face. Use 「直接会う」 for general statements.
Let's meet in person and talk.
I don't really want to see him face-to-face.
I want to meet in person and talk, not just by email.
I set up a face-to-face meeting.