How to say "encounter" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- godan verb, intransitive verbThe general verb for meeting or seeing someone, as in meeting a friend. Its 'encounter' sense is plain meeting, with no special shade of chance or misfortune.
- 出会いであいnounA noun for a meeting or encounter, typically a chance meeting with a person that feels special or memorable — the kind of first meeting that later comes to matter.
- 遭遇そうぐうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbAn encounter with something, or running into it, typically something unwelcome such as an accident or a difficulty. When 'encounter' means meeting trouble, this is the word.
- nounA direct borrowing of the English word. For meeting a person or running into trouble it is seldom the word you want; the native verbs and nouns cover those senses.
- 出会うであうgodan verb, intransitive verbThe verb for meeting by chance or coming across something — a person you run into, a thing you stumble on. The natural choice when 'encounter' implies chance; the verb behind 出会い.
Use 「出会う」 or 「出会い」 for chance meetings with people or things, 遭遇 for unwelcome run-ins with accidents or difficulties, 「あう」 for meeting or seeing someone in general, and 「エンカウンター」 seldom, since it is just the borrowed English word.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- あうto meet
- 出会いであいmeeting
- 遭遇そうぐうencounter
- エンカウンターencounter
- 出会うであうto meet (by chance)
- 出会しゅっかいencounter
- 遭遇戦そうぐうせんencounter
- 差し当たるさしあたるto face (a situation)
- 小戦しょうせんbrush
- 目にするめにするto see
- 遭逢そうほうmeeting by chance
- ぶつかるto encounter
- 会するかいするto encounter
- 直面ちょくめんto face
- エンカウントencounter (with)
- 会すかいすto encounter
- 鉢合わせるはちあわせるto meet by chance
- 接するせっするto encounter
See also
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