出くわす・出会す・出交す・出喰わす|でくわすdekuwasu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
出くわす出くわす is the most common written form of this expression and the form learners should use by default when writing or typing it.
出会す出会す is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant of 出くわす; recognize it if encountered, but choose 出くわす for learner use.
出交す出交す is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant of 出くわす; it may appear in writing, but 出くわす is the practical choice for learners.
出喰わす出喰わす is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant of 出くわす; recognize it if encountered, but use 出くわす when producing the expression.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto happen to meet; to come across; to run into; to bump into
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 出くわす（でくわす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 出くわします（でくわします） |
| Negative (nai) | 出くわさない（でくわさない） |
| polite (masen) | 出くわしません（でくわしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 出くわさず・出くわさぬ（でくわさず・でくわさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 出くわした（でくわした） |
| polite (mashita) | 出くわしました（でくわしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 出くわさなかった（でくわさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 出くわしませんでした（でくわしませんでした） |
| Te form | 出くわして（でくわして） |
| Potential | 出くわせる（でくわせる） |
| Passive | 出くわされる（でくわされる） |
| Causative | 出くわさせる（でくわさせる） |
| Causative passive | 出くわさせられる（でくわさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 出くわせば（でくわせば） |
| tara | 出くわしたら（でくわしたら） |
| Volitional | 出くわそう（でくわそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 出くわしましょう（でくわしましょう） |
| Imperative | 出くわせ（でくわせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym出会うであうNeutralMeeting or getting to know someone, usually with a pleasant nuance; 「出くわす」 stresses the unexpectedness and fits good and bad encounters alike.
- Synonym遭遇そうぐうWrittenA noun for unexpectedly encountering people, animals or events, as in 「野生動物に遭遇する」「事故に遭遇する」; more formal than 「出くわす」.
- Synonymめぐり合うめぐりあうNeutralFor reunions after a long separation or finally meeting what you had sought, tinged with emotion; 「出くわす」 just adds the element of surprise.
- Synonym逢着ほうちゃくWrittenWritten language for running into some person, event or situation, as in 「思わぬ出来事に逢着する」; rare, and 「出くわす」 is the more colloquial choice.
- Synonym会遇かいぐうWrittenWritten style for a chance meeting; rare, and 「出くわす」 is the usual word in everyday speech.
- Related出会いであいNeutralA noun for a meeting or encounter, often a happy one; 「出くわす」 is a verb that stresses stumbling onto something unexpectedly.
- Related際会さいかいWrittenWritten language for happening upon a moment or opportunity; 「出くわす」 is about bumping into people or things.
- Related遭逢そうほうWrittenWritten style for a chance encounter; 「出くわす」 is the more colloquial option.
- Related出会しゅっかいNeutral「出会い」 also covers the point where rivers or roads converge; 「出くわす」 is only for chance encounters with people or things.
- Related顔を合わせるかおをあわせるNeutralAn idiom for meeting someone face to face; 「出くわす」 stresses the encounter being unplanned.
- Related相見るあいみるWrittenWritten and old-fashioned, for people facing each other; 「出くわす」 is for chance encounters.
Use 「出くわす」 when you unexpectedly run into someone or something, as in 「熊に出くわす」「旧友に出くわす」. For meeting or getting to know people in general, say 「出会う」 or 「出会い」; in formal contexts use 「遭遇」; for a reunion after a long time, 「めぐり合う」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
