1.
meeting face-to-face, in-person meeting
The act of meeting someone in person, especially for the first time or after a long separation. Also used as a modifier to mean 'in-person' as opposed to online.
初めての対面だった。
It was our first face-to-face meeting.
対面での授業が再開された。
In-person classes resumed.
何年もオンラインだけでやりとりしていたが、やっと対面で会うことができた。
After years of only communicating online, we finally met in person.
USAGE AS SURU-VERB: 対面する means "to meet face-to-face." Example: 長年会えなかった父と対面した。(I met with my father, whom I hadn't seen for years.)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 対面する: to meet face-to-face
- 対面での〜: in-person ~ (classes, meetings, etc.)
- 初対面: first meeting
- 感動の対面: an emotional reunion
MODERN USAGE: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 対面 has become widely used as a modifier meaning "in-person" as opposed to オンライン (online), as in 対面授業 (in-person classes) vs. オンライン授業 (online classes).