会う vs 面会する
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 会う
Listen to 面会する
| 会う | 面会する |
|---|---|
A-u (a-u) verb | めんかいする verb |
| to meet; to see (a person) | to have a formal meeting or visit (e.g., visiting a patient, an inmate, or an official interview) |
How they differ
面会する is more formal and specifically implies an arranged or institutional visit (hospital, prison, office), whereas 会う is a general-purpose verb for meeting people in everyday situations.
When to use each
When to use 会う: Use 会う for ordinary, casual, or neutral meetings between people.
When to use 面会する: Use 面会する when referring to formal or official visits and appointments, such as visiting someone in a hospital, meeting with an official, or scheduled interviews.
Side-by-side examples
- 午後に先生に会います。
(I'll meet the teacher this afternoon.) - 病院で父に面会した。
(I visited my father in the hospital.)
Register & nuance: 面会する is formal and typically used in institutional or official contexts; 会う is neutral and used in everyday conversation.