A2 noun #3,000 most common 5 min read

ミーティング

A meeting is a gathering of people to discuss something.

Explanation at your level:

Hello! ミーティング is a word from English that means a time when people get together to talk. Imagine you and your friends decide to meet at the park to play. That's like a meeting! In Japan, people use this word when they plan to see each other to discuss something, maybe about school or work. It’s a way for people to share ideas and make plans together. So, when you hear ミーティング, think of a planned chat with a group of people.

The word ミーティング is a loanword from English, meaning a planned gathering of people. You'll often hear it used in work or school environments. For example, colleagues might have a ミーティング to discuss a project, or students might have one to plan an event. It's a common way to communicate and make decisions as a group. Think of it as a more formal way to 'get together' than just meeting a friend casually. It implies a purpose for the gathering, like sharing information or solving a problem.

ミーティング, borrowed from English, refers to a scheduled assembly of individuals for a specific purpose, such as discussion, decision-making, or information sharing. It's a versatile term used in both professional and sometimes social contexts in Japan. For instance, a company might hold a ミーティング to review quarterly results, or a club might organize one to plan upcoming activities. The key is that it's a structured interaction, often with an agenda, distinguishing it from a spontaneous encounter. Understanding common collocations like ミーティングをする (to have a meeting) or ミーティングを設定する (to set up a meeting) is helpful.

The term ミーティング, a loanword from English 'meeting', denotes a formal or semi-formal gathering convened for deliberation, problem-solving, or strategic planning. In Japanese business culture, it's a ubiquitous concept, encompassing everything from brief 'stand-up' meetings to extensive board sessions. Its usage highlights the increasing globalization of business practices. When discussing ミーティング, consider the context: a 社内ミーティング (internal meeting) might differ in formality from an 取引先とのミーティング (meeting with a client). Recognizing its English origin also helps in understanding potential nuances or related English expressions that might be used in international settings.

ミーティング, a direct English loanword, signifies a structured convergence of individuals, typically for the purpose of collaborative discourse, strategic alignment, or consensus building. Its prevalence in contemporary Japanese, particularly within corporate and academic spheres, underscores the influence of globalized communication norms. The semantic range of ミーティング can encompass various formats, from informal brainstorming sessions to formal presentations and decision-making forums. Understanding its etymological roots in English 'meeting' allows for a deeper appreciation of its functional role in facilitating organized group interaction and project progression within modern Japanese society.

The Japanese term ミーティング, adopted from the English 'meeting', represents a formalized or ad-hoc assembly of participants convened to engage in discourse, strategize, or resolve issues. Its widespread adoption reflects a broader trend of linguistic borrowing driven by international business and technological exchange. While functionally equivalent to its English source, its usage within Japanese contexts may carry specific cultural connotations related to workplace hierarchy and communication styles. Analyzing the contexts in which ミーティング is employed—from project kick-offs to crisis management sessions—reveals its critical role in the operational dynamics of contemporary Japanese organizations and its significance as a linguistic marker of global integration.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • ミーティング is a Japanese loanword for 'meeting'.
  • Used for planned gatherings to discuss, decide, or share information.
  • Common in business, but can be used socially.
  • Pronunciation: 'mee-ting', stress on first syllable.

Hey there! Let's dive into the word ミーティング, which is the Japanese way of saying 'meeting'. You'll hear this word a lot in both business and social contexts. Think of it as a planned get-together where people gather to chat about something important, share ideas, or make plans. It’s a super common way to get things done, whether it's a quick chat with your coworkers about a project or a bigger event with lots of people.

The core idea behind a meeting is collaboration and communication. It’s where different minds come together to achieve a common goal. Sometimes meetings are super formal, with agendas and minutes, while other times they're more casual, like a quick huddle to brainstorm. No matter the style, the purpose is usually to move forward on something, solve a problem, or simply stay informed. It’s a fundamental part of how groups work together effectively!

The word ミーティング is a direct loanword from the English word 'meeting'. Isn't it fascinating how languages borrow words from each other? This happened because as Japan modernized and its business and social interactions became more globalized, especially after World War II, English terms were adopted to describe new concepts or practices. 'Meeting' itself comes from the Old English word 'mēting', which referred to an assembling or coming together.

The evolution of the 'meeting' concept is as old as human society itself. Early humans likely held 'meetings' around campfires to plan hunts or share news. Over centuries, as societies became more complex, so did the nature of meetings. We went from tribal councils to parliamentary sessions, from town hall gatherings to corporate boardrooms. The Japanese adoption of ミーティング reflects this global trend of using a common international term for this essential collaborative activity. It’s a testament to how interconnected our world has become, with words traveling across borders just like people and ideas!

You'll find ミーティング used in a wide variety of situations in Japan. In a business setting, it's almost unavoidable! People talk about scheduling meetings (ミーティングをセットする - miitingu o setto suru), attending meetings (ミーティングに出る - miitingu ni deru), or having a meeting (ミーティングをする - miitingu o suru). It can refer to anything from a brief stand-up chat to a lengthy strategy session.

Outside of work, ミーティング can also describe social gatherings, like a club meeting or a group planning an event. The formality can vary greatly. A 社内ミーティング (shanai miitingu - internal company meeting) might be quite formal, while a 友達とのミーティング (tomodachi to no miitingu - meeting with friends) would likely be very casual. It's a versatile word that fits many contexts, making it a staple in everyday conversation. Remember, while it’s a loanword, it’s fully integrated into Japanese, so don't hesitate to use it!

While ミーティング itself is a loanword and doesn't have many traditional Japanese idioms directly attached to it, the concept of 'meeting' in English has spawned quite a few expressions. These can sometimes be understood or adapted in Japanese contexts, especially in international business environments.

Here are a few related concepts:

  • 'Meet halfway': This means to compromise or find a middle ground. Example: 'We need to meet halfway on the budget.'
  • 'Meet your match': To encounter someone as good as you are, often in a competition. Example: 'The champion finally met her match.'
  • 'Meet the deadline': To finish a task by the required time. Example: 'We're working hard to meet the deadline.'
  • 'Hit the ground running': To start something (like a new job or project) with great energy and immediately be effective, often implying you've prepared beforehand or are joining an ongoing effort. Example: 'She's new to the team but she's hitting the ground running.'
  • 'Face-to-face meeting': A meeting where people are physically present in the same location, as opposed to a virtual one. Example: 'Let's schedule a face-to-face meeting to discuss this in detail.'

Understanding these English expressions can add nuance when discussing collaborative efforts, even if the direct Japanese equivalent isn't a set idiom.

Let's break down the pronunciation and grammar of ミーティング. In Japanese, it's pronounced 'mi-i-tin-gu'. The 'ii' sound is a bit longer than a single 'i', and the 'ng' at the end is similar to the 'ng' in 'sing'. Phonetically, it's represented as /miːtɪŋ/. It's a loanword, so it follows Japanese pronunciation rules, elongating vowels and adding a vowel sound (like 'u') to the final consonant cluster.

Grammatically, ミーティング functions as a noun. It's typically used as an uncountable noun, much like its English counterpart. You wouldn't usually say 'two meetings' in Japanese using this word; instead, you might say 'two meeting sessions' or specify the number of people involved. When discussing multiple meetings, context usually clarifies this, or you might use counters like 'kai' (回) for sessions, e.g., 'kaigi' (会議) which is a more traditional Japanese word for meeting/conference, is countable. For ミーティング, it's often treated as a singular concept, referring to the activity itself. Articles like 'a' or 'the' don't exist in Japanese, so you don't need to worry about those!

Fun Fact

The concept of 'meeting' is ancient, but the specific word 'meeting' gained prominence in English around the 14th century. Its adoption into Japanese reflects post-WWII modernization and globalization.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈmiːtɪŋ/

Sounds like 'MEE-ting', with the stress on the first syllable and a clear 't' sound.

US /ˈmiːtɪŋ/

Identical to British pronunciation, 'MEE-ting', stressed on the first syllable.

Common Errors

  • Pronouncing the 'g' as a hard 'g' sound (like in 'go') instead of the 'ng' sound (like in 'sing').
  • Not elongating the 'ee' sound sufficiently.
  • Adding an incorrect vowel sound after the 't' or 'g'.

Rhymes With

greeting seating eating meeting fleeting

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Loanword, easily recognizable, but understanding nuanced usage takes practice.

Writing 2/5

Straightforward to write, but correct collocation and context are key.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation is relatively easy, but natural usage in context is important.

Listening 2/5

Commonly heard, especially in business contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

はい (hai - yes) いいえ (iie - no) 今日 (kyou - today) 明日 (ashita - tomorrow) 時間 (jikan - time) 場所 (basho - place) 話す (hanasu - to speak)

Learn Next

会議 (kaigi) 打ち合わせ (uchiawase) スケジュール (sukejuuru - schedule) アジェンダ (ajenda - agenda) 参加者 (sankasha - participant)

Advanced

ファシリテーション (fashiritēshon - facilitation) コンセンサス (konsensasu - consensus) アジャイル (ajairu - agile) 意思決定 (ishi kettei - decision-making)

Grammar to Know

Particles に (ni) and で (de) for location/time

会議室<strong>で</strong>ミーティングをする。(To have a meeting <strong>in</strong> the conference room.) 明日<strong>に</strong>ミーティングがある。(There is a meeting <strong>on</strong> tomorrow.)

Verb conjugations: masu-form and te-form

ミーティングに参加し<strong>ます</strong>。(I will attend the meeting.) ミーティングに参加<strong>して</strong>ください。(Please attend the meeting.)

Using counters for frequency

ミーティングが3<strong>回</strong>ありました。(There were 3 meetings.)

Examples by Level

1

明日、ミーティングがあります。

Tomorrow, meeting have.

があります (ga arimasu) means 'there is/are'.

2

ミーティングはどこですか?

Meeting is where?

どこ (doko) means 'where'.

3

ミーティングで話しましょう。

Meeting at talk let's.

~ましょう (mashou) is used to suggest doing something together.

4

短いミーティングです。

Short meeting is.

です (desu) is a polite copula (like 'is' or 'am').

5

ミーティングは午後3時です。

Meeting is afternoon 3 o'clock.

午後 (gogo) means 'PM' or 'afternoon'.

6

新しいプロジェクトのミーティング。

New project's meeting.

の (no) is a particle often used to show possession or connection.

7

ミーティングが終わりました。

Meeting finished.

終わりました (owarimashita) is the past tense of 'to finish'.

8

みんなでミーティングをします。

Everyone with meeting will do.

~をします (o shimasu) means 'to do ~'.

1

来週、新しい企画についてのミーティングがあります。

Next week, new plan about meeting will be.

~について (ni tsuite) means 'about' or 'regarding'.

2

会議室で午前10時にミーティングをしましょう。

Conference room at 10 AM meeting let's do.

~で (de) indicates the location of an action.

3

このミーティングには誰が参加しますか?

This meeting to who will participate?

参加します (sankashimasu) means 'to participate' or 'to attend'.

4

ミーティングの資料を準備してください。

Meeting's materials please prepare.

~てください (te kudasai) is a polite request form.

5

今日のミーティングは予定より長引きました。

Today's meeting was longer than scheduled.

長引きました (nagabikimashita) means 'it dragged on' or 'lasted longer than expected'.

6

オンラインで簡単なミーティングをしました。

Online simple meeting did.

オンラインで (onrain de) means 'online'.

7

次のミーティングまでに、このレポートを読んでおいてください。

Next meeting by, this report please read and keep.

~ておく (te oku) implies doing something in advance.

8

ミーティングの議事録を作成します。

Meeting's minutes will create.

議事録 (gijiroku) means 'minutes of a meeting'.

1

プロジェクトの進捗を確認するため、定期的なミーティングが設定されています。

Project's progress to confirm, regular meetings are set.

進捗 (shinchoku) means 'progress'. 定期的 (teikiteki) means 'regular'.

2

今回のミーティングでは、新しいマーケティング戦略について集中的に議論する予定です。

This time's meeting in, new marketing strategy about intensively discuss plan is.

集中的に (shuuchuուteki ni) means 'intensively' or 'focusedly'.

3

もし都合が悪ければ、別のミーティング日時を調整しましょう。

If convenient is bad, another meeting date/time adjust let's.

都合が悪い (tsugou ga warui) means 'inconvenient'. 調整する (chousei suru) means 'to adjust'.

4

アジェンダに沿って効率的にミーティングを進めることが重要です。

Agenda along efficiently meeting proceed to do is important.

アジェンダ (ajenda) is a loanword for 'agenda'. 効率的に (kouritsuteki ni) means 'efficiently'.

5

リモートワークの普及により、オンラインミーティングの回数が増加しています。

Remote work's spread due to, online meeting's number is increasing.

普及 (fukyuu) means 'spread' or 'prevalence'. 回数 (kaisuu) means 'number of times'.

6

このミーティングの目的は、リスク要因を特定し、対策を講じることです。

This meeting's purpose is, risk factors identify, countermeasures take is.

リスク要因 (risuku youin) means 'risk factors'. 対策を講じる (taisaku o koureru) means 'to take countermeasures'.

7

参加者全員の意見を反映させるため、ブレインストーミング形式のミーティングを取り入れました。

Participants all's opinions reflect for, brainstorming style meeting incorporated.

反映させる (han'ei saseru) means 'to reflect' or 'to incorporate'. 取り入れる (toriireru) means 'to adopt' or 'to incorporate'.

8

ミーティングの最後に、次回の宿題と締め切りを確認しました。

Meeting's end at, next time's homework and deadline confirmed.

締め切り (shimekiri) means 'deadline'.

1

グローバルチームとの連携を強化するため、定期的なビデオミーティングの導入を検討しています。

Global team with cooperation to strengthen, regular video meetings' introduction considering.

連携 (renkei) means 'cooperation' or 'collaboration'. 導入 (dounyuu) means 'introduction' or 'implementation'.

2

このミーティングの成果を最大化するには、事前の情報共有と積極的な参加が不可欠です。

This meeting's outcome to maximize, prior information sharing and active participation is essential.

成果 (seika) means 'results' or 'outcome'. 不可欠 (fukaketsu) means 'essential' or 'indispensable'.

3

アジャイル開発手法では、デイリースタンドアップミーティングを通じて進捗を迅速に共有します。

Agile development methods in, daily stand-up meetings through progress quickly share.

アジャイル開発 (ajairu kaihatsu) is 'Agile development'. 迅速に (jinsoku ni) means 'swiftly' or 'rapidly'.

4

異文化間のコミュニケーションギャップを埋めるために、よりインクルーシブなミーティングファシリテーションが求められています。

Cross-cultural communication gaps to fill for, more inclusive meeting facilitation is being sought.

インクルーシブ (inkuruushibu) is 'inclusive'. ファシリテーション (fashiritēshon) is 'facilitation'.

5

今回のミーティングでは、コンセンサス形成を最優先課題とし、建設的な意見交換を促しました。

This time's meeting in, consensus formation as top priority, constructive opinion exchange encouraged.

コンセンサス形成 (konsensasu keisei) means 'consensus building'. 建設的 (kensetsuteki) means 'constructive'.

6

プロジェクトの遅延リスクを軽減するため、リスク評価に関する緊急ミーティングが招集されました。

Project's delay risk to mitigate for, risk assessment regarding emergency meeting was convened.

軽減する (keigen suru) means 'to mitigate' or 'to reduce'. 招集される (shoushuu sareru) means 'to be convened' or 'to be summoned'.

7

ミーティングの議事録は、決定事項と担当者を明確に記載し、後日関係者全員に配布されます。

Meeting's minutes are, decisions and responsible persons clearly stating, later all concerned parties will be distributed.

決定事項 (kettei jikou) means 'decided matters'. 配布される (haifu sareru) means 'to be distributed'.

8

ブレインストーミングセッションでは、批判を避け、自由な発想を奨励する雰囲気作りが重要です。

Brainstorming sessions in, criticism avoiding, free ideas encouraging atmosphere creation is important.

発想 (hassou) means 'idea' or 'conception'. 奨励する (shourei suru) means 'to encourage'.

1

異業種間のコラボレーションを促進するため、定期的なナレッジシェアミーティングを企画しています。

Different industry sectors' collaboration to promote, regular knowledge-sharing meetings are planning.

異業種間 (i-gyoushu kan) means 'inter-industry'. ナレッジシェア (naredji shea) is 'knowledge sharing'.

2

この戦略的ミーティングの目的は、市場の変動に対応するための柔軟な事業計画を策定することにあります。

This strategic meeting's purpose is, market fluctuations respond to for flexible business plan to formulate is.

変動 (hendou) means 'fluctuation'. 策定する (sakutei suru) means 'to formulate' or 'to draw up'.

3

ファシリテーターは、ミーティングの目的達成に向けて、参加者のエンゲージメントを巧みに引き出す必要があります。

The facilitator, meeting's objective achievement towards, participants' engagement skillfully draw out needs to.

エンゲージメント (enjīmento) is 'engagement'. 巧みに (takumi ni) means 'skillfully' or 'adroitly'.

4

デシジョンメイキングプロセスを合理化するため、意思決定権限を持つ主要メンバーのみで構成される小規模ミーティングを導入しました。

Decision-making process to streamline for, decision-making authority possess key members only composed small-scale meetings introduced.

合理化する (gourika suru) means 'to streamline'. 意思決定権限 (ishi kettei kengen) means 'decision-making authority'.

5

パンデミック以降、ハイブリッド形式のミーティングが常態化し、テクノロジーを活用した円滑なコミュニケーションが求められています。

Pandemic since, hybrid format meetings have become normal, technology utilizing smooth communication is being demanded.

常態化する (joutaika suru) means 'to become normalized'. 円滑な (enkatsu na) means 'smooth'.

6

このプロジェクトにおける潜在的なボトルネックを特定するため、関係部署間の連携強化を目的としたワークショップミーティングを開催します。

This project's potential bottlenecks to identify for, related departments' cooperation strengthening purpose workshop meetings will hold.

ボトルネック (botorunekku) is 'bottleneck'. 連携強化 (renkei kyouka) means 'strengthening cooperation'.

7

ミーティングの場では、多様な視点からの意見を尊重し、創造的な解決策へと昇華させることが肝要です。

Meeting's setting in, diverse perspectives from opinions respect, creative solutions into elevate is crucial.

昇華させる (shouka saseru) means 'to sublimate' or 'to elevate'. 肝要 (kan'you) means 'crucial' or 'essential'.

8

成果主義の導入に伴い、個々の貢献度を評価するためのパフォーマンスレビューミーティングが不可欠となっています。

Performance-based system's introduction accompanying, individual contributions to evaluate for performance review meetings have become indispensable.

成果主義 (seika shugi) means 'meritocracy' or 'performance-based system'. 貢献度 (kouken do) means 'degree of contribution'.

1

ポストモダン社会における組織論的観点から見ると、ミーティングは単なる情報伝達の場に留まらず、権力関係やアイデンティティ形成の表象空間としての性格を帯びています。

Postmodern society's organizational perspective from viewing, meetings are mere information transmission's place not limited to, power relations and identity formation's symbolic space as character carries.

表象空間 (hyoushou kuukan) means 'representational space' or 'symbolic space'. 帯びる (obiru) means 'to carry' or 'to have (a quality)'.

2

グローバリゼーションの進展に伴い、言語的・文化的な障壁を乗り越えた効果的なミーティング運営が、国際的なプロジェクトの成否を左右する重要なファクターとなっています。

Globalization's progression accompanying, linguistic and cultural barriers overcome effective meeting management is, international projects' success or failure influence important factor has become.

成否 (seishi) means 'success or failure'. 左右する (sayuu suru) means 'to influence' or 'to control'.

3

組織心理学の観点からは、ミーティングにおける集団力学(グループダイナミクス)の理解が、生産性の向上のみならず、メンバーの心理的安全性の確保にも寄与するとされています。

Organizational psychology's perspective from, meetings' group dynamics' understanding is, productivity's improvement only not, members' psychological safety's assurance also contributes is said.

集団力学 (shuudan rikigaku) means 'group dynamics'. 心理的安全性 (shinriteki anzen sei) means 'psychological safety'.

4

デジタル・トランスフォーメーションの潮流の中で、仮想現実(VR)や拡張現実(AR)技術を活用した没入型ミーティング空間の創出が、次世代のコラボレーションのあり方として注目されています。

Digital transformation's trend within, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology utilizing immersive meeting spaces' creation is, next generation's collaboration's way of being as attention is being paid.

没入型 (botsunyuu gata) means 'immersive'. 潮流 (chouryuu) means 'trend' or 'current'.

5

ミーティングにおけるアジェンダ設定の巧みさ、論点整理の明晰さ、そして合意形成への導き方は、ファシリテーターの高度な専門性と経験を如実に物語っています。

Meetings' agenda setting's skillfulness, point organization's clarity, and consensus building's guidance method, facilitator's high-level expertise and experience clearly tells.

如実に (nyojitsu ni) means 'clearly' or 'vividly'. 物語っています (monogataratte imasu) means 'tells the story of' or 'embodies'.

6

現代のビジネス環境においては、形式的なミーティングの数を削減し、非同期コミュニケーションツールを効果的に活用することで、より迅速かつ柔軟な意思決定を目指す動きが加速しています。

Modern business environment in, formal meetings' number reducing, asynchronous communication tools effectively utilizing by, more swift and flexible decision-making aiming movement is accelerating.

非同期 (hidouki) means 'asynchronous'. 意思決定 (ishi kettei) means 'decision-making'.

7

ミーティングの成果を定量的に評価するため、参加者の満足度調査、決定事項の実行率、そして目標達成度といった多角的な指標が用いられるようになっています。

Meetings' outcomes quantitatively evaluate for, participants' satisfaction survey, decided matters' execution rate, and goal achievement level like multifaceted indicators are being used.

多角的 (takakuteki) means 'multifaceted'. 指標 (shihyou) means 'indicator' or 'metric'.

8

組織文化の変容を促す上で、トップダウンで指示される一方的なミーティングから、ボトムアップで意見が吸い上げられる双方向的な対話の場へと移行することが、イノベーション創出の鍵となります。

Organizational culture's transformation to promote in, top-down instructed one-sided meetings from, bottom-up opinions are gathered interactive dialogue's place towards transition becoming, innovation creation's key becomes.

双方向的 (souhoukouteki) means 'interactive' or 'two-way'. 吸い上げられる (suiagerareru) means 'to be absorbed' or 'to be collected'.

Common Collocations

ミーティングを設定する (miitingu o settei suru)
ミーティングに参加する (miitingu ni sanka suru)
ミーティングを欠席する (miitingu o kesseki suru)
ミーティングの議事録 (miitingu no gijiroku)
オンラインミーティング (onrain miitingu)
定例ミーティング (teirei miitingu)
緊急ミーティング (kinkyuu miitingu)
ミーティングの準備をする (miitingu no junbi o suru)
ミーティングを延期する (miitingu o enki suru)
ミーティングの目的 (miitingu no mokuteki)
ミーティングを招集する (miitingu o shoushuu suru)

Idioms & Expressions

"ブレインストーミングミーティング (bureinsutōmingu miitingu)"

A meeting specifically designed for generating ideas freely without criticism.

新しい商品のアイデアを出すために、ブレインストーミングミーティングを開きました。

neutral

"スタンドアップミーティング (standoappu miitingu)"

A short, often daily, meeting where participants stand to keep it brief, typically used in agile development.

毎朝のスタンドアップミーティングで、今日のタスクを確認します。

neutral

"キックオフミーティング (kikkuofu miitingu)"

The initial meeting held at the start of a project to define goals, roles, and plans.

新しいプロジェクトのキックオフミーティングが来週行われます。

neutral

"アジェンダミーティング (ajenda miitingu)"

A meeting focused on discussing and finalizing the agenda for a larger upcoming meeting or event.

明日の全体会議に備え、アジェンダミーティングで内容を詰めました。

neutral

"ウォーミングアップミーティング (wōminguappu miitingu)"

A preliminary meeting to get participants comfortable and focused before a main session.

本番のプレゼンテーションの前に、ウォーミングアップミーティングで最終確認をしました。

neutral

"デブリーフィングミーティング (deburiifingu miitingu)"

A meeting held after an event or project completion to review performance, discuss outcomes, and identify lessons learned.

プロジェクト完了後、デブリーフィングミーティングで成功点と改善点を洗い出した。

neutral

Easily Confused

ミーティング vs 会議 (kaigi)

Both refer to a gathering for discussion.

会議 is generally more formal and traditional Japanese. ミーティング is a loanword, often used for modern business contexts and can sometimes feel less formal or more specific (e.g., project meetings).

重要な会議が開かれた。(A formal conference was held.) vs. プロジェクトのミーティングに参加した。(I attended the project meeting.)

ミーティング vs 打ち合わせ (uchiawase)

Both involve discussion and planning.

打ち合わせ is typically for coordination, aligning details, or less formal discussions. ミーティング can be broader and include more formal decision-making or presentations.

クライアントとの打ち合わせで詳細を確認した。(Confirmed details during coordination with the client.) vs. 新戦略に関するミーティングで決定を下した。(Made a decision at the meeting regarding the new strategy.)

ミーティング vs 集まり (atsumari)

Both refer to people gathering.

集まり is a very general term for any gathering, often informal or social. ミーティング implies a specific purpose, agenda, or structure.

週末に友達が集まりがある。(There's a gathering of friends on the weekend.) vs. 明日は重要なミーティングがある。(There's an important meeting tomorrow.)

ミーティング vs Discussion (ディスカッション - disukasshon)

Both involve talking about a topic.

ディスカッション is another loanword, specifically meaning 'discussion'. A ミーティング is the event *where* a discussion might take place. You can have a discussion *during* a meeting.

ミーティングで活発なディスカッションが行われた。(A lively discussion took place during the meeting.)

Sentence Patterns

A2

Noun + を + 設定する (settei suru)

明日、会議室でミーティングを設定しました。

A2

Noun + に + 参加する (sanka suru)

私はその重要なミーティングに参加しなければなりませんでした。

B1

Noun + を + 行う (okonau)

来週、新しいプロジェクトのミーティングを行います。

B1

Noun + を + 欠席する (kesseki suru)

急病のため、ミーティングを欠席することをお詫び申し上げます。

B2

Noun + の + 議事録 (gijiroku)

ミーティングの議事録を作成し、関係者に配布してください。

Word Family

Nouns

会議 (kaigi) meeting, conference (more traditional Japanese)
会合 (kaigou) gathering, assembly (formal)
打ち合わせ (uchiawase) meeting, coordination (less formal)

Verbs

会う (au) to meet (general)
集合する (shuugou suru) to assemble, to gather

Related

discussion Synonym for the activity within a meeting.
conference Often a larger, more formal meeting.
assembly A gathering of people, can be formal or informal.

How to Use It

Formality Scale

Formal (e.g., board meetings, client presentations) Semi-formal (e.g., team project meetings, departmental updates) Casual (e.g., informal project check-ins, quick chats) Slang (Not applicable for this word)

Common Mistakes

Using ミーティング for very casual get-togethers. Use 集まり (atsumari) or just say 'let's meet up'.
ミーティング implies a more planned or formal purpose than just hanging out.
Treating ミーティング as a countable noun like '3 meetings'. Use 会議 (kaigi) when counting, or use counters like 回 (kai) with ミーティング if necessary, e.g., '3回のミーティング'.
Loanwords often retain some grammatical flexibility, but 会議 is the standard countable term.
Forgetting to specify the purpose of the meeting. Always clarify why the meeting is happening, e.g., 'プロジェクトの進捗確認ミーティング' (Project progress check meeting).
Clarity avoids confusion and ensures participants are prepared.
Using overly casual language in a formal meeting. Maintain a polite and professional tone, using appropriate keigo (polite language).
Formality is crucial in Japanese business culture.
Not preparing an agenda for important meetings. Always create and distribute an agenda beforehand.
An agenda helps structure the discussion and keeps the meeting on track.

Tips

💡

Link to English

Since ミーティング is a direct loanword, remember its English origin. Visualize the English word 'meeting' and how it sounds similar to ミーティング.

🌍

Punctuality Matters!

In Japan, being on time for a ミーティング is extremely important. Aim to arrive a few minutes early to show respect for others' time.

💡

Counting Meetings

If you need to count multiple meetings, consider using the word 会議 (kaigi) which is naturally countable, or add the counter 回 (kai) after ミーティング (e.g., 3回のミーティング).

💡

Master the 'NG' sound

Practice the final 'ng' sound (/ŋ/) as in 'sing', not the hard 'g' sound. Listen to native speakers and mimic the sound.

💡

Avoid Over-Casual Use

While versatile, avoid using ミーティング for very informal social gatherings where words like 集まり (atsumari) might be more appropriate.

💡

Global Business Term

ミーティング is a global term. Understanding it helps in international business and communication, reflecting Japan's integration into the global economy.

💡

Listen and Repeat

Watch Japanese dramas or business videos and actively listen for how ミーティング is used in different contexts. Pause and repeat the sentences to improve fluency and pronunciation.

💡

Common Verb Pairings

Memorize key verb combinations like ミーティングを設定する (to set up), ミーティングに参加する (to attend), and ミーティングを欠席する (to be absent).

💡

No Articles Needed

Remember that Japanese doesn't use articles like 'a', 'an', or 'the', so you don't need to worry about them when using ミーティング.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'MEET-ING' - you are 'meeting' people to 'eat' (though not always!) and 'ING' suggests an ongoing activity.

Visual Association

Imagine a group of people around a table, actively discussing and gesturing, perhaps with a whiteboard full of ideas.

Word Web

Planning Discussion Collaboration Agenda Office Teamwork Decision-making Schedule

Challenge

Try to use 'ミーティング' in a sentence about your daily plans today. For example, 'I have a short ミーティング about homework.'

Word Origin

English

Original meaning: The act of coming together or encountering.

Cultural Context

In Japan, the structure and etiquette of meetings (like who speaks when, use of honorifics) are important. Being punctual is highly valued. Interrupting is generally frowned upon unless it's a very informal setting.

In English-speaking cultures, meetings can vary widely in formality. Business meetings often follow structured agendas, while social meetings are more relaxed. The rise of remote work has led to a proliferation of virtual meetings.

The concept is central to countless business books and films about corporate life. Specific types like 'stand-up meetings' are popularized by Agile methodologies. The phrase 'meeting of the minds' signifies mutual understanding.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Workplace/Office

  • 定例ミーティング (regular meeting)
  • プロジェクトミーティング (project meeting)
  • 課長とのミーティング (meeting with the section chief)

Online Communication

  • オンラインミーティング (online meeting)
  • Zoomミーティング (Zoom meeting)
  • リモートミーティング (remote meeting)

Project Management

  • キックオフミーティング (kick-off meeting)
  • 進捗確認ミーティング (progress check meeting)
  • ミーティングのアジェンダ (meeting agenda)

Scheduling

  • ミーティングを設定する (to set up a meeting)
  • ミーティングの日程を調整する (to adjust the meeting schedule)
  • ミーティングの時間を変更する (to change the meeting time)

Conversation Starters

"What's the main topic for today's meeting?"

"Do you have the agenda for the upcoming meeting?"

"When is the best time to schedule a meeting about the new proposal?"

"Was the meeting productive?"

"How can we make our meetings more efficient?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a recent meeting you attended. What was its purpose and outcome?

What makes a meeting effective or ineffective in your opinion?

How has the way people have meetings changed over time (e.g., online vs. in-person)?

Imagine you need to organize a meeting. What steps would you take to ensure it's successful?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

Not exactly. While both mean 'meeting', 会議 (kaigi) is a more traditional Japanese word and often implies a more formal or official gathering. ミーティング (miitingu) is a loanword from English and can sometimes feel slightly less formal or more modern, and is very common in business contexts for various types of discussions.

Yes, you can, especially if it's a planned get-together to discuss something specific (like planning a trip or an event). However, for very casual hangouts, words like '集まり (atsumari)' or simply saying '会おう (aou - let's meet)' might be more natural.

Common ways include ミーティングをする (miitingu o suru), ミーティングを行う (miitingu o okonau - slightly more formal), or ミーティングを開く (miitingu o hiraku - to open/hold a meeting).

Generally, it's treated as uncountable, similar to 'information'. If you need to count instances, it's more natural to use the Japanese word 会議 (kaigi) or add a counter like 回 (kai), e.g., '3回のミーティング (san-kai no miitingu)'.

打ち合わせ (uchiawase) usually refers to a less formal coordination or discussion, often to align details or plans. ミーティング can encompass a broader range, including more formal discussions or decision-making sessions.

Yes, absolutely. Like any Japanese word, the politeness level depends on the context and who you are speaking to. Use polite forms (like ~ます, ~です) when speaking to superiors or in formal settings.

Yes, punctuality is crucial. It's also customary to have a clear agenda, listen attentively without interrupting too much, and use polite language (keigo). Decisions are often made by consensus.

Common types include 定例ミーティング (regular meetings), 会議 (formal conferences), 打ち合わせ (coordination meetings), and more recently, オンラインミーティング (online meetings) and stand-up meetings inspired by agile methods.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

明日の ______ は午前10時です。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: ミーティング (miitingu)

The sentence is asking about something happening tomorrow at 10 AM, and 'ミーティング' (meeting) fits the context of a scheduled event.

multiple choice A2

「ミーティング」とは、どのような状況を指しますか? (What kind of situation does 'meeting' refer to?)

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 目的を持って人が集まること (Mokuteki o motte hito ga atsumaru koto - People gathering with a purpose)

A meeting implies a gathering with a specific purpose, like discussion or planning.

true false B1

「ミーティング」は、主に個人的な趣味について話すための集まりを指す。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

While personal topics can be discussed, 'ミーティング' usually implies a more structured purpose, often related to work, projects, or formal coordination, rather than just casual hobby talk.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

These are common phrases and terms associated with meetings.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

The correct order forms the phrase 'プロジェクトの進捗確認ミーティング' (Project progress confirmation meeting).

fill blank B2

この ______ では、新しい戦略について議論します。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: ミーティング (miitingu)

The sentence mentions discussing a new strategy, which is a typical activity for a 'ミーティング' (meeting).

multiple choice C1

「キックオフミーティング」の主な目的は何ですか? (What is the main purpose of a 'kick-off meeting'?)

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: プロジェクトの開始時に目標や計画を確認する (Purojekuto no kaishi-ji ni mokuhyou ya keikaku o kakunin suru - To confirm goals and plans at the start of a project)

A kick-off meeting is the initial meeting to launch a project, setting the stage for its execution.

true false C1

日本語の「ミーティング」は、英語の「meeting」よりも常にフォーマルな場面で使われる。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

While 'ミーティング' can be formal, it's often used in semi-formal or even casual contexts, sometimes more so than the traditional Japanese word '会議 (kaigi)'.

fill blank C2

複雑な問題を解決するため、関係部署合同の ______ が招集された。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: ミーティング (miitingu)

The context of solving complex problems involving multiple departments points to a formal gathering, best described as a 'ミーティング' (meeting).

sentence completion C2

効果的なミーティング運営のためには、アジェンダの事前共有と ______ の促進が不可欠である。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 参加者の積極的な関与 (sankasha no sekkyokuteki na kan'yo) / 建設的な議論 (kensetsuteki na giron) / 意見交換 (iken koukan)

Effective meetings require not only preparation (agenda sharing) but also active participation and constructive discussion from attendees.

Score: /10

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