出会う・出合う・出逢う・出遭う・出あう|であうdeau[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
出会う出会う is the most common form in this entry. It is written with kanji and kana and is the form beginners should choose.
出逢う出逢う is less common than 出会う. It is another kanji-and-kana spelling that learners may encounter, but it need not be their default choice.
出合う出合う is less common than 出会う and 出逢う. It is a kanji-and-kana variant that learners may encounter in writing.
出遭う出遭う is less common than 出会う, 出逢う, and 出合う. It is a kanji-and-kana variant, so learners should recognize it without choosing it by default.
出あう出あう is the least common form among these five. It is written with kanji and kana and may be encountered as a less common variant.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto meet (by chance); to come across; to run across; to encounter; to happen upon出遭う usu. has a negative connotation
- godan verb, intransitive verbto meet (e.g. of rivers, highways, etc.)esp. 出合う
- godan verb, intransitive verbto emerge and engage (an enemy)often used imperatively as 出会え
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 出会う（であう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 出会います（であいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 出会わない（であわない） |
| polite (masen) | 出会いません（であいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 出会わず・出会わぬ（であわず・であわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 出会った（であった） |
| polite (mashita) | 出会いました（であいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 出会わなかった（であわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 出会いませんでした（であいませんでした） |
| Te form | 出会って（であって） |
| Potential | 出会える（であえる） |
| Passive | 出会われる（であわれる） |
| Causative | 出会わせる（であわせる） |
| Causative passive | 出会わせられる・出会わされる（であわせられる・であわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 出会えば（であえば） |
| tara | 出会ったら（であったら） |
| Volitional | 出会おう（であおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 出会いましょう（であいましょう） |
| Imperative | 出会え（であえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym出くわすでくわすCasualColloquial word for running into someone or something by chance, often unexpectedly or unwelcome, as in 「熊に出くわす」. More casual than 「出会う」.
- Synonymめぐり合うめぐりあうNeutralFor meeting again after a long separation, or finally finding someone or something you had been seeking, as in 「運命の人にめぐり合う」. Carries an emotional nuance.
- Synonym遭遇そうぐうNeutralA noun (or する verb) for encountering something unexpected, mostly something bad, as in 「事故に遭遇する」. Unlike 「出会う」, it leans negative.
- SynonymあうNeutralThe everyday word for meeting someone, including arranged meetings, as in 「友達に会う」. 「出会う」 stresses chance or first-time meetings.
- Synonym落ち合うおちあうNeutralFor meeting up at an agreed place, as in 「駅で落ち合う」; the emphasis is on a prior arrangement.
- Related出会いであいNeutralThe noun form of 「出会う」: a meeting or encounter, as in 「素敵な出会い」.
- Related面会めんかいNeutralA deliberately arranged meeting with someone, used mostly for hospitals and prisons, as in 「面会謝絶」. Not for chance encounters like 「出会う」.
- Related顔を合わせるかおをあわせるNeutralMeeting or getting together face to face; also co-starring in the same work or facing off in a match. Leans toward everyday meetings rather than chance ones.
- Antonym別れるわかれるNeutralAntonym: to part or split up. The opposite of the meeting expressed by 「出会う」.
- Antonym離れるはなれるNeutralAntonym: to leave or move apart. The opposite of the meeting expressed by 「出会う」.
Use 「出会う」 for chance or first-time meetings. For arranged meetings say 「会う」 or 「落ち合う」; for unexpected, often unwelcome run-ins 「出くわす」; for accidents and mishaps 「遭遇」. The opposite of meeting is 「別れる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
