1.
the other party (honorific); the other side
A respectful way to refer to the other person or party in a business or formal interaction. Used in polite speech when referring to clients, business partners, or the person one is dealing with.
先方様にご連絡ください。
Please contact the other party.
先方様のご都合に合わせます。
We will accommodate the other party's schedule.
先方様から返事がまだ届いていないので、もう一度確認していただけますか。
We haven't received a reply from the other party yet, so could you please check again?
A keigo (polite language) term used primarily in business settings. The base word 先方 means "the other party" and is already polite; adding 様 makes it more honorific. This form is standard in business email, phone conversations, and internal discussions when referring to a client, partner, or counterpart.
USAGE:
- Used when speaking about (not to) the other party in the third person
- Appropriate in business emails, memos, and internal meetings
- More formal than simply saying 相手 (the other person)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 先方様のご意向 — the other party's wishes
- 先方様にお伝えする — to convey to the other party
- 先方様のご要望 — the other party's request
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 先方 — the other party (less formal, without 様)
- 相手方 — the other side (legal or formal contexts)
- お客様 — customer (when the other party is specifically a client)