Lesson 7: Meeting & Late (待ち合わせ)
Getting lost and running a little late
This lesson focuses on making arrangements to meet someone, discussing meeting times and places, and communicating when you're running late. You'll learn how to suggest meeting times, change plans politely, and explain reasons for delays.
Key topics:
- ・Asking and understanding meeting times and places
- ・Discussing and deciding on meeting arrangements
- ・Reading and understanding delay messages
- ・Topic 4: Writing messages about being late
- ・Understanding Japanese punctuality culture
- ・Dealing with train delays and disruptions
Vocabulary
1
しゅうごうする
shūgōsuru
集合する
to assemble
Example
ここで集合します.
Koko de shūgō shimasu.
We assemble here.
2
あんないする
annai suru
案内する
to show / to guide
Example
せんせいが案内します.
Sensei ga annai shimasu.
The teacher will guide us.
3
まちあわせする
machiawase suru
待ち合わせする
to meet (each other)
Example
ともだちと待ち合わせします.
Tomodachi to machiawase shimasu.
I meet up with my friend.
4
はじまる
hajimaru
始まる
to start
Example
しごとが始まります.
Shigoto ga hajimarimasu.
Work will start.
5
はじめる
hajimeru
始める
to start
Example
しごとを始めます.
Shigoto o hajimemasu.
I start work.
6
とまる
tomaru
止まる
to stop
Example
事故で電車が止まりました.
Ziko de densha ga tomarimasuta.
The train stopped due to an accident.
7
まつ
matsu
待つ
to wait
Example
ここで待ちます.
Koko de machimasu.
I'll wait here.
8
いそぐ
isogu
急ぐ
to hurry
Example
でんしゃにのるので急ぎます.
Densha ni noru node isogimasu.
I hurry to catch the train.
9
おくれる
okureru
遅れる
to be late
Example
道に迷って、ちょっとおくれます.
michi ni mayottechotto okuremasu.
I got lost, so I will be a little late
10
つく
tsuku
着く
to arrive
Example
もうすぐ着きます.
Mō sugu tsukimasu.
I'll arrive soon.
11
れんらくする
renraku suru
連絡する
to contact
Example
あとで連絡します.
Ato de renraku shimasu.
I'll contact you later.
12
ねぼうする
nebō suru
寝坊する
to oversleep
Example
ねぼう して、いま起きました.
nebō shite, ima okimasuta.
I overslept and just woke up.
13
みちにまよう
michi ni mayou
道に迷う
to get lost
Example
道に迷って、ちょっとおくれます.
michi ni mayotte chotto okuremasu.
I got lost, so I will be a little late
14
まちがえる
machigaeru
間違える
to misunderstand
Example
ばしょを間違えました.
Basho o machigaemashita.
I went to the wrong place.
15
まちあわせ
machiawase
待ち合わせ
meeting up (at a certain time and place)
Example
これが待ち合わせです.
Kore ga machiawase desu.
This is the meeting point.
16
イベント
ibento
-
event
Example
あしたイベントがあります.
Ashita ibento ga arimasu.
There is an event tomorrow.
17
スタッフ
sutaffu
-
staff
Example
わたしはスタッフです.
Watashi wa sutaffu desu.
I am staff.
18
へいわ
heiwa
平和
peace
Example
せかいの平和をねがいます.
Sekai no heiwa o negaimasu.
I wish for world peace.
19
とり
tori
鳥
bird
Example
鳥がとびます.
Tori ga tobimasu.
The bird flies.
20
ぞう
zō
像
statue
Example
ここに像があります.
Koko ni zō ga arimasu.
There is a statue here.
21
じこ
jiko
事故
accident
Example
事故で電車が止まりました.
Ziko de densha ga tomarimasuta.
The train stopped due to an accident.
22
じかん
jikan
時間
time
Example
時間がありません.
Jikan ga arimasen.
I don't have time.
23
まえ
mae
前
before/in front of
Example
しちじ前です.
Shichiji mae desu.
It's before 7 o'clock.
24
さんじゅっぷんまえ
sanjuppun mae
三十分前
30 minutes before
Example
じゅうじ三十分前です.
Jūji sanjuppun mae desu.
It's 30 minutes before 10 o'clock.
25
カフェ
kafe
-
café
Example
あのカフェはにぎやかです.
Ano kafe wa nigiyaka desu.
That café is lively.
26
では
dewa
-
so / then
Example
では、いきます.
Dewa, ikimasu.
Then, I'll go.
27
いまから
ima kara
今から
from now on
Example
今からはじめます.
Ima kara hajimemasu.
I'll start from now.
28
さきに
saki ni
先に
before/first
Example
先に始めてください
saki ni hajimete kudasai.
Please start first.
29
だいじょうぶ(な)
daijōbu (na)
大丈夫
fine / OK
Example
わたしは大丈夫です.
Watashi wa daijōbu desu.
I'm fine.
Conversation
1
__ にしますか？
ni shimasu ka?
Shall we make it at __? (time/place)
Example Usage
明日、何時にしますか？
Ashita, nan ji ni shimasu ka?
What time shall we meet tomorrow?
2
__ して、いっしょに行きますか？
shite, issho ni ikimasu ka?
Shall we do __ and go together?
Example Usage
待ち合わせして、いっしょに行きますか？
Machiawase shite, issho ni ikimasu ka?
Shall we meet up and go together?
3
__ の前にしましょう
no mae ni shimashou
Let's meet in front of __
Example Usage
駅の前「平和の鳥」の像の前にしましょう.
Eki no mae 'Heiwa no Tori' no zou no mae ni shimashou.
Let's meet in front of the 'Peace Bird' statue in front of the station.
4
__ で電車が止まりました
de densha ga tomarimashita
The train stopped due to __
Example Usage
すみません.じこで電車が止まりました.
Sumimasen. Jiko de densha ga tomarimashita.
Sorry. The train stopped due to an accident.
5
ねぼうして、いま起きました
Nebou shite, ima okimashita
I overslept and just woke up
Example Usage
ごめん！ねぼうして、いま起きました.
Gomen! Nebou shite, ima okimashita.
Sorry! I overslept and just woke up.
6
それ、なんですか？
Sore, nan desu ka?
What’s that? (asked when you didn't understand what was said)
Example Usage
もういちど、それ、なんですか？
Mō ichido, sore, nan desu ka?
One more time, what's that?
Kanji
1
待つ
to wait
待🎬
wait
Example
ここで待ちます.
Koko de machimasu.
I'll wait here.
2
急ぐ
to hurry
急🎬
hurry, urgent
Example
でんしゃにのるので急ぎます.
Densha ni noru node isogimasu.
I hurry to catch the train.
3
止まる
to stop
止🎬
stop
Example
事故で電車が止まりました.
Ziko de densha ga tomarimasuta.
The train stopped due to an accident.
4
着く
to arrive
着🎬
arrive, wear
Example
もうすぐ着きます.
Mō sugu tsukimasu.
I'll arrive soon.
5
連絡する
to contact
連🎬
connect
絡🎬
entangle
Example
あとで連絡します.
Ato de renraku shimasu.
I'll contact you later.
6
寝坊する
to oversleep
寝🎬
sleep
坊🎬
boy
Example
きょう寝坊しました.
Kyō nebō shimashita.
I overslept today.
7
遅れる
to be late
遅🎬
late
Example
でんしゃが遅れました.
Densha ga okuremashita.
The train was late.
8
時間
time
時🎬
time
間🎬
interval, space
Example
時間がありません.
Jikan ga arimasen.
I don't have time.
9
事故
accident
事🎬
thing, matter
故🎬
reason, cause
Example
こうさてんで事故でした.
Kōsaten de jiko deshita.
There was an accident at the intersection.
10
大丈夫
fine / OK (na-adjective)
大🎬
big
丈🎬
length
夫🎬
man, husband
Example
わたしは大丈夫です.
Watashi wa daijōbu desu.
I'm fine.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Suggesting a time or place
Structure: N + は + どうですか？
This expression suggests a time or place to meet and asks if the other person is okay with it. N is a time or place word. It is a polite way to propose an option.
How to use: Use N + は + どうですか？. The particle は marks the suggestion as the topic. The question form is already どうですか？. A negative response can be ちょっと… or another ～はどうですか？ to suggest a different option. The more formal version is いかがですか？.
💡 Pro Tip: どうですか？ can sound a little direct, but it is polite enough for making plans. Do not use を with this pattern. In casual speech, ～はどう？ is common. The particle は is pronounced wa.
Examples
６時はどうですか？
Roku-ji wa dō desu ka?
→ How about six o'clock?
駅の前はどうですか？
Eki no mae wa dō desu ka?
→ How about in front of the station?
Rule 2: Offering an alternative suggestion
Structure: N + でも + いいですか？
This expression makes another suggestion when the first one may not work. N is a time or place word. It asks whether N is also acceptable.
How to use: Use N + でも + いいですか？. The particle でも here means「 even" or「 also," and いいですか asks about acceptability. A negative answer can be すみません、ちょっと… . To accept, say いいですよ. Related: ～はどうですか？ suggests, while ～でもいいですか？ asks if an alternative is okay.
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse this でも with sentence-initial でも meaning「 but." Here it attaches to a noun. ～でもいいですか？ is polite; the casual form is ～でもいい？. The で in でも is not the place particle.
Examples
６時半でもいいですか？
Roku-ji han de mo ii desu ka?
→ Can we meet at six thirty instead?
来週の月曜日でもいいですか？
Raishū no getsuyōbi de mo ii desu ka?
→ Is next Monday also okay?
Rule 3: Giving a cause or reason
Structure: N + で、～ / V-て、～
This expression gives a cause or reason for the next part of the sentence. For nouns, add で after the noun. For verbs, use the テ-form. It explains why something happened.
How to use: Use N + で、～ for nouns: 事ゆえで電車がしまりました. Use V-て、～ for verbs: ねぼうして、ちれました. The cause comes first, then the result. The final clause determines tense and politeness. Related reason patterns are から and ので, but they attach to clauses, not nouns.
💡 Pro Tip: N + で for cause is different from で marking place or means. V-て for cause often expresses an unintentional reason. Do not use に for cause. In formal writing, により is used for「 due to."
Examples
事ゆえで電車がしまりました.
Jiko de densha ga tomarimashita.
→ The trains stopped because of an accident.
ねぼうして、会議にちれました.
Nebō shite, kaigi ni okuremashita.
→ I overslept and was late for the meeting.
Exercises
Question 1: 'How about six o'clock?'
6時 ______ どうですか？
Question 2: What does '駅の前はどうですか？' mean?
Question 3: 'Can we meet at six thirty instead?'
6時半 ______ いいですか？
Question 4: What does '来週の月曜日でもいいですか？' mean?
Question 5: 'The trains stopped because of an accident.'
じこ ______ 電車がどまりました.
Question 6: Which is correct for 'I overslept and was late for the meeting.'?
Question 7: Choose the correct reading of 待つ.
Question 8: Choose the correct reading of 急ぐ.
Question 9: Choose the correct reading of 止まる.
Question 10: Choose the correct reading of 着く.
Question 11: Choose the correct reading of 連絡する.
Question 12: Choose the correct reading of 寝坊する.
Question 13: Choose the correct reading of 遅れる.
Question 14: Choose the correct reading of 時間.
Question 15: Choose the correct reading of 事故.
Question 16: Choose the correct reading of 大丈夫.
Question 17: 'How about six o'clock? Is six thirty also okay?'
6時 ______ どうですか？ 6時半 ______ いいですか？
Question 18: Which is correct for 'The train stopped because of an accident, so I was late.'
Question 19: Which is correct for 'How about in front of the station? I will wait there.'
Question 20: Which is correct for 'Is next Monday also okay? I will contact you later.'
Question 21: 'I got lost, so I will be a little late.'
道にめい ______、ちょっとおくれます.