How to say "engagement" in Japanese

• 婚約こんやくJLPT N3approx.Common
  suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveCovers only the marriage sense: an agreement to marry, a betrothal. Use it for getting engaged, an engagement ring, or calling off an engagement — never for a busy schedule or a battle.
  とうとう私の姉あねは婚約こんやくした。↗

  Finally, my sister got engaged.
• 用事ようじJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for a personal engagement: something you have to do, whether an errand or an appointment. Use it when you must decline an invitation because you are otherwise occupied.
  私は街まちに用事ようじがある。↗

  I have an errand to do in town.
• 用ようJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounAlso means a task, errand, or engagement, but on its own it is largely confined to set expressions; for the everyday 'something to do' sense, 用事 is usually the word to reach for.
  何なんの用ようでここに来きたのですか。↗

  What has brought you here?
• 所用しょようCommon
  nounAnother word for business or an engagement to attend to, with a formal, written flavor; it suits polite notices or excuses for being unavailable because of personal affairs.
• 合戦かっせんCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe military sense only: a battle, a clash between armies — an 'engagement' in the military sense. It is never the word for a social appointment or a promise to marry.

For a promise to marry use 婚約; for a personal appointment or errand use 用事 (or the more formal 所用); 用 appears mostly in set expressions; 合戦 is only the military sense of a battle.

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

• 婚約こんやくengagement
• 用事ようじbusiness
• 用ようbusiness
• 所用しょようengagement
• 合戦かっせんbattle
• エンゲージメントengagement
• エンゲージengagement
• 会戦かいせんengagement
• 雇い入れやといいれengagement
• 夫婦約束ふうふやくそくengagement
• 遭遇戦そうぐうせんencounter
• 約束事やくそくごとpromise
• 係合けいごうjoining elements so they mate or hook together (e.g. a clutch)
• お約束おやくそくpromise
• 内約ないやく(marriage) engagement
• 採用さいようappointment
• 約束やくそくappointment
• 約やくpromise