Meaning and Usage
"訪問" (ほうもん) means "visit" or "call" and is commonly used to describe going to someone's place, such as a home, office, or company. It is a formal or neutral term often used in business or polite contexts.
Common Contexts
You will see "訪問" used when talking about visiting people for social reasons, business meetings, or official calls. It can refer to both planned and official visits.
Collocations and Patterns
- 訪問する: to visit (someone or somewhere)
- 訪問を受ける: to receive a visit
- 訪問先: the place visited
- 訪問の前に: before the visit
These collocations help specify the nature and timing of the visit.
Register and Politeness
"訪問" is polite and formal compared to casual verbs like "行く" (to go) or "会いに行く" (to go meet). It is suitable for business emails, formal invitations, and respectful speech.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "訪問" with "訪ねる" (たずねる), which also means "to visit." "訪ねる" is more casual and often used for personal visits, while "訪問" is more formal and can imply official or business visits.