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Are these words interchangeable? Just for example I have found some sentences
but do not see any difference between these word in meaning or politeness:

> 彼女【かのじょ】はそのコンテストに参加【さんか】した。 She took part in the contest.
>
> 僕【ぼく】は会【かい】には出席【しゅっせき】します。 I will present myself at the meeting.
>
> 彼【かれ】はクラス会【かい】には必【かなら】ず出席【しゅっせき】する。  
>  He makes a point of attending class meetings.
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2015-03-11T14:43:42.583
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2015-03-11T18:12:40.267
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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question
word-choice words synonyms
Difference between 出席【しゅっせき】する and 参加【さんか】する
出席 means “to attend to something” whilst 参加 means “to (participate
into/actively take part in) something”. For example you can attend (出席) a
meeting, without saying your opinion (参加).

> 会議に出席はしても、意見は述べない

参加 instead is – like you described well in your example – for really taking
part.

You could also take a look here: [Link Global Solutions Inc.,
2007年10月09日,【異文化知識・異文化交流】,「参加」と「出席」](http://www.link-
gs.co.jp/info/2007/10/09064244.html)

It discusses the issue from a cultural point of view as well – in Japanese
business meetings it was more common that the decision has been decided
beforehand already, and that truly _participating_ was thus often not
necessary and not distinguished from _attending_ as well as in English.
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2015-03-11T15:19:13.480
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2015-03-11T18:12:40.267
2015-03-11T18:12:40.267
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answer