宴会

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 宴会 combines 宴, a feast, with 会, a gathering, and is read えんかい.
• Basic usage: It denotes a banquet, party, or group dinner where people gather around food.
  • 宴会の会場には丸い机が六つ並んでいました。 describes the banquet venue, while 今夜の宴会には都合が悪くて参加できません。 concerns being unable to attend tonight's company dinner.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 宴会 and 会場
  • 宴会 is the event, while 宴会の会場 is the place where it is held. The number of tables in the venue does not establish the number of attendees.
• Function of には
  • には in 宴会には参加できない highlights the gathering one cannot attend. 都合が悪い means that one's schedule or circumstances do not permit it.
• 宴会 and 食事会
  • 食事会(しょくじかい) focuses on meeting for a meal. 宴会 can denote a larger festive, social, or workplace gathering with food and entertainment.