Translation guide
Expressing the idea of meeting someone in person, rather than communicating remotely. Japanese offers several natural expressions depending on formality and context.
To say that you met or will meet someone directly, face-to-face.
The most straightforward and common way to say 'meet face-to-face'. '直接' means 'directly'.
昨日、彼と直接会って話しました。
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.
久しぶりに顔を合わせた。
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.
面と向かって言えなかった。
I couldn't say it to his face.
To contrast an in-person meeting with a virtual one, such as online or by phone.
Uses the loanword 'offline' to clearly distinguish from online meetings. Common in modern contexts.
オンラインではなく、オフラインで会いましょう。
Let's meet offline, not online.
'Actually meet' – emphasizes the physical reality of the meeting, often used when contrasting with remote communication.
メールだけじゃなくて、実際に会って話したい。
I want to meet in person and talk, not just by email.
To refer to a scheduled, often formal, face-to-face meeting in a professional context.
A formal term for a face-to-face interview or consultation, often used in business or educational settings.
来週、上司と面談します。
I have a face-to-face meeting with my boss next week.
'Meet in person' with a formal tone. '対面' means 'face-to-face', often used in business or official contexts.
対面での会議を設定しました。
I set up a face-to-face meeting.
「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.
直接会って話そう。
Let's meet in person and talk.
彼とはあまり顔を合わせたくない。
I don't really want to see him face-to-face.