Translation guide
Expressing the act of seeing someone or something directly, face-to-face, rather than through a medium.
The speaker wants to express that they met or will meet someone in person, as opposed to communicating remotely.
The most common and natural way to say 'meet in person'. 直接 means 'directly' and 会う means 'meet'.
昨日、彼に直接会って話しました。
Yesterday, I met him in person and talked.
The speaker wants to emphasize that they saw something directly, not just in photos or videos.
The standard way to say 'see in person' for objects, places, or events. 実際に means 'actually' or 'in reality'.
富士山を実際に見てみたい。
I want to see Mt. Fuji in person.
The speaker wants to say they were present at an event and saw it happen directly.
Used for seeing performances, sports, or events live, as opposed to on TV or recording.
彼のコンサートを生で見た。
I saw his concert live (in person).
直接会う is the most common and neutral way to say 'meet in person'. 実際に会う adds a nuance of 'actually' meeting, often used when there was prior doubt or it was only a virtual relationship. For objects, use 実際に見る, not 直接見る (which can mean 'look directly at').
The English phrase 'seeing in person' does not have a single direct Japanese equivalent. Translating word-for-word as 人で見る is incorrect. Always use context-appropriate phrases like 直接会う for people or 実際に見る for things.
I want to thank you in person.
Emphasizes the reality of the meeting, often used when contrasting with online or imagined encounters.
ネットで知り合った人に実際に会うのは初めてです。
It's my first time meeting someone I met online in person.
Literally 'to bring faces together', meaning to meet face-to-face. Often used in casual or slightly formal contexts.
久しぶりに顔を合わせて話ができて嬉しかった。
I was happy to be able to talk face-to-face after so long.
Have you ever seen the real Mona Lisa in person?
Literally 'see with one's own eyes', strongly emphasizing direct personal experience.
その景色を自分の目で見て感動した。
I was moved when I saw that scenery with my own eyes.
Means 'see directly' without any intermediary. Slightly more literary or emphatic.
有名な絵を直に見る機会があった。
I had a chance to see the famous painting in person.
Means 'see at the scene/site', often used for news events, accidents, or work situations.
事故の瞬間を現場で見てしまった。
I happened to see the moment of the accident in person.