Translation guide
A trade fair is a large event where companies in a specific industry showcase and demonstrate their products and services. In Japanese, the most common and natural term is 展示会 (てんじかい), but other terms like 見本市 (みほんいち) and トレードフェア (とれーどふぇあ) are also used depending on context.
To refer to a general trade fair, exhibition, or trade show where companies display products.
The most common and versatile term for a trade fair or exhibition. It can be used for events of any scale and in most industries.
来月、東京で大きな展示会があります。
There will be a big trade fair in Tokyo next month.
この展示会には多くの企業が出展します。
Many companies will exhibit at this trade fair.
Literally 'sample market', this term is often used for trade fairs focused on a specific industry, especially manufacturing or B2B. It has a slightly more traditional or formal nuance.
国際見本市に出展する予定です。
We plan to exhibit at the international trade fair.
A direct loanword from English. It is understood but less common than 展示会. Used mainly in international business contexts or when the event name itself is in English.
来週のトレードフェアに参加します。
I will attend the trade fair next week.
To refer to a trade fair focused on a particular industry, such as electronics, food, or books.
Attach 展 (てん) to the industry name to create a specific fair name. This is very common for named events.
東京モーターショーは自動車展の一種です。
The Tokyo Motor Show is a type of automobile trade fair.
食品展で新商品を発表しました。
We launched a new product at the food trade fair.
Using フェア (fair) is also common, especially for consumer-oriented events or when the English name is used.
グルメフェアに行ってきました。
I went to a gourmet food fair.
展示会 is the safest and most widely used term for any trade fair or exhibition. 見本市 is more traditional and often used for B2B industrial fairs. トレードフェア is a direct loanword and less common, but may appear in event names.
展示会の準備で忙しい。
I'm busy preparing for the trade fair.
見本市で新しい取引先を見つけた。
I found a new business partner at the trade fair.
When referring to a specific, named trade fair, it is common to use the pattern [industry/theme] + 展. For example, 東京おもちゃ展 (Tokyo Toy Fair). This is more natural than using 展示会 in the name itself.
明日、展示会に行きます。
I'm going to a trade fair tomorrow.
当社は展示会にブースを出展します。
Our company will have a booth at the trade fair.