(しょたいめん)

しょたいめん
noun
first meeting; first time meeting someone
1. first meeting; first encounter
The first time meeting someone face to face.
初対面(しょたいめん)(ひと)(はな)すのは緊張(きんちょう)する。
I get nervous talking to people I'm meeting for the first time.
初対面(しょたいめん)なのに(した)しく(はな)してくれた。
Even though it was our first meeting, they talked to me in a friendly way.
初対面(しょたいめん)では敬語(けいご)使(つか)うのが普通(ふつう)だ。
It's normal to use polite language when meeting someone for the first time.

WORD FORMATION:
(しょ) (first) + 対面(たいめん) (meeting face to face) → first face-to-face meeting

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 初対面(しょたいめん)(ひと) - a person you're meeting for the first time
  • 初対面(しょたいめん)なのに - even though it's the first meeting
  • 初対面(しょたいめん)では - at a first meeting

CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japanese culture, 初対面(しょたいめん) situations typically call for more formal language and behavior. Using polite speech (敬語(けいご)) and maintaining appropriate distance are expected.