オフ会

• Reading: オフかい
• Romaji: ofukai
• Kanji breakdown: オフ (ofu, from English 'offline') + 会 (kai, meeting/gathering) → offline meeting
• Pronunciation: /o.fu.ka.i/

Meaning

An offline meetup where people who know each other from the internet meet face-to-face for the first time.

オフ会 (literally 'offline meeting') describes gatherings of people who originally connected through online communities, forums, or social media. These meetups are a long-standing tradition in Japanese internet culture, dating back to 2channel and nifty-serve era. オフ会 can range from small groups of two or three to large organized events with dozens of participants. While generally positive social events, safety concerns (meeting strangers) are often discussed, especially for younger participants.

Examples

1. ネットで知り合った人たちとオフ会してきた。 I went to a meetup with people I met online.
2. 初めてのオフ会は緊張するよね。 Your first offline meetup is nerve-wracking, right?
3. オフ会で会ったらイメージと全然違ってて驚いた。 When I met them at the meetup, they were totally different from what I imagined.

Usage Guide

Context: internet communities, social media, casual conversation

Tone: social, excited

Do Say

• 今度オフ会やらない？ (Want to do an offline meetup sometime?)
• オフ会で初めて会ったけどすぐ仲良くなれた。 (We met for the first time at the meetup and hit it off right away.)

Don't Say

• 初対面のオフ会で個人情報をすぐ教える (Don't share personal information right away at your first offline meetup — safety first)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing オフ会 with a regular hangout — it specifically implies the participants first met online
• Not following safety precautions for オフ会 — meeting in public places and telling someone where you're going is standard advice

Origin & History

Compound of オフ (ofu, from English 'offline') and 会 (kai, meeting/gathering). The concept dates back to early Japanese internet communities in the 1990s-2000s and remains a core part of Japanese online culture.

Cultural Context

Era: 1990s-2000s from early internet communities, ongoing

Generation: All internet users

Social background: Internet community members

Regional notes: Used across Japan. A long-standing tradition in Japanese internet culture with its own etiquette and safety norms.