1.
informal meeting; discussion forum; roundtable; get-together
A relatively informal gathering where participants discuss matters in a relaxed setting. Common in school, business, and community contexts. Despite being called 'informal,' it is still organized and purposeful.
保護者懇談会に出席した。
I attended the parent-teacher meeting.
地域の懇談会で防災について話し合った。
We discussed disaster preparedness at a community meeting.
市長と市民の懇談会が来週開かれる予定だ。
A roundtable between the mayor and citizens is scheduled for next week.
While 懇談 means friendly or informal talk, 懇談会 as a compound refers to an organized event — not a casual chat. Very common in school settings (保護者懇談会, parent-teacher meetings) and in government or business contexts (roundtables, forums).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 保護者懇談会: parent-teacher meeting
- 懇談会を開く: to hold an informal meeting
- 懇談会に出席する: to attend a meeting
- 地域懇談会: community discussion forum
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 会議: meeting — more formal and structured, with an agenda
- 座談会: roundtable discussion — often published or recorded, with a moderator
- 懇親会: social gathering — focused on socializing and networking, often with food and drink