How to say "appointment" in Japanese

• 予約よやくJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers the everyday sense of booking a time slot — a doctor's appointment, a haircut, a table at a restaurant. This is the word you want for making or changing an appointment in a schedule.
  「ホテルの予約よやくはしてありますか」「すみませんが、まだなんです」↗

  "Have you reserved a hotel room?" "Sorry, not yet."
• 任命にんめいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbRefers to the formal appointment or nomination of a person to a post or office, typically by someone in authority. Use it for official acts such as appointing a minister or director, not for scheduling meetings.
  私わたしたちはウッド氏しを議長ぎちょうに任命にんめいした。↗

  We appointed Mr Wood chairman.
• 起用きようCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbMeans appointing someone to a position or role, with the nuance of choosing and putting a person's abilities to use. Often used when someone is selected for a job or given a new assignment.
  最終回さいしゅうかいにピンチヒッターが起用きようされた。↗

  A pinch hitter was brought into action in the last inning.
• 待ち合わせまちあわせJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers arranging to meet someone at an agreed time and place, such as meeting a friend before an outing. It is about the meeting itself, not a booking or an official appointment.
  何時いつにどこで待ち合まちあわせする？↗

  What time and where could we meet?
• 登用とうようCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbMeans appointing or promoting someone to a position, often raising a person up or assigning them to a role. It overlaps with 起用 but leans toward promotion or advancement rather than simple selection.

Use 予約 for scheduling an appointment, 「待ち合わせ」 for meeting someone, and 任命, 起用, or 登用 for appointing a person to a position, with 起用 and 登用 emphasizing selection or promotion to a role.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 予約よやくreservation
• 任命にんめいappointment
• 起用きようappointment (to a position, job, etc.)
• 待ち合わせまちあわせappointment
• 登用とうようappointment
• 任用にんようappointment
• 任官にんかんappointment (to an office)
• 指定していdesignation
• 定めさだめlaw
• 選任せんにんnomination (of a person to a position)
• 委嘱いしょくcommissioning
• アポappointment
• アポイントappointment
• アポイントメントappointment
• 会う約束あうやくそくappointment
• 挙用きょようappointment
• 国選こくせんselection by the state (esp. of a defense lawyer)
• お約束おやくそくpromise
• 採用さいようappointment
• 約束やくそくappointment
• 約やくpromise