Translation guide
The English word 'chair' refers to a piece of furniture for sitting, but also has meanings like a person presiding over a meeting or an academic position. This guide covers the most common Japanese equivalents for these uses.
A seat with a back, for one person
The standard word for 'chair' in Japanese. Covers most types of chairs.
The person in charge of a meeting or committee
The chairperson of a formal meeting, committee, or assembly. Commonly used in business and political contexts.
A professorship or endowed position at a university
Refers to a professorship or chair in an academic department. Often used when talking about holding a specific named chair.
彼は文学部の教授職に就いている。
He holds a chair in the Faculty of Letters.
While 'chair' can mean a person in English, 椅子 (いす) only refers to the furniture. Using it for a person will cause confusion.
議長 (ぎちょう) implies authority and formal decision-making power, while 司会者 (しかいしゃ) focuses on facilitating discussion and keeping order. Use 議長 for official committees and 司会者 for events or panels.
この椅子はとても座り心地がいい。
This chair is very comfortable to sit in.
椅子を三つ用意してください。
Please prepare three chairs.
Refers to a sofa or couch, which is a larger, upholstered seat for multiple people. Not a direct equivalent of 'chair', but often used when English speakers might say 'chair' for a soft seat.
リビングに新しいソファを置いた。
I put a new sofa in the living room.
Means 'seat' in a general sense, often used for seating in theaters, trains, or events. More formal than 椅子.
指定席の座席番号を確認してください。
Please check your reserved seat number.
議長が会議の進行を務めた。
The chair facilitated the meeting.
彼は委員会の議長に選ばれた。
He was elected chair of the committee.
Refers to the person who acts as the master of ceremonies or moderator, often for events, panels, or less formal gatherings.
司会者がパネルディスカッションを進めた。
The chair moderated the panel discussion.
Used for the chairperson of a specific committee, research group, or symposium. More common in academic or specialized settings.
座長が研究発表の質疑応答をまとめた。
The chair summarized the Q&A session of the research presentation.
Pattern meaning 'professor of the ~ chair'. Used with a specific field or endowed chair name.
彼女は日本文学講座の教授だ。
She is the professor of the Japanese Literature chair.