向かい合う|むかいあうmukaiau[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto face each other; to be opposite (to)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 向かい合う（むかいあう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 向かい合います（むかいあいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 向かい合わない（むかいあわない） |
| polite (masen) | 向かい合いません（むかいあいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 向かい合わず・向かい合わぬ（むかいあわず・むかいあわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 向かい合った（むかいあった） |
| polite (mashita) | 向かい合いました（むかいあいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 向かい合わなかった（むかいあわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 向かい合いませんでした（むかいあいませんでした） |
| Te form | 向かい合って（むかいあって） |
| Potential | 向かい合える（むかいあえる） |
| Passive | 向かい合われる（むかいあわれる） |
| Causative | 向かい合わせる（むかいあわせる） |
| Causative passive | 向かい合わせられる・向かい合わされる（むかいあわせられる・むかいあわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 向かい合えば（むかいあえば） |
| tara | 向かい合ったら（むかいあったら） |
| Volitional | 向かい合おう（むかいあおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 向かい合いましょう（むかいあいましょう） |
| Imperative | 向かい合え（むかいあえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym向き合うむきあうNeutralAlso used for confronting problems and issues, as in 「問題と向き合う」; the headword is more strictly about physically facing each other.
- Synonym面と向かうめんとむかうNeutralAn everyday idiom for being face to face and direct with someone, as in 「面と向かって言う」 (to say it to their face).
- Synonym対向たいこうWrittenWritten style for moving or facing in opposite directions toward each other, as in 「対向車」; mostly a traffic term.
- Synonym対するたいするNeutralMeans facing or being directed at something, as in 「質問に対する答え」; much broader than the headword's physical face-to-face sense.
- Synonym相対するあいたいするWrittenWritten style. Covers being opposite but also being in opposition, as in 「相対する意見」— a nuance the headword lacks.
- Synonym正対せいたいFormalFormal term for facing something head-on, found mainly in technical and sports contexts; rarely used in everyday speech.
- Related立ち向かうたちむかうNeutralMeans bravely taking on difficulties or enemies, as in 「困難に立ち向かう」; it carries a fighting, confrontational nuance rather than physical facing.
- Related面するめんするWrittenWritten style meaning to face or look out on something, as in 「海に面した部屋」; typically describes the orientation of buildings.
- Related取り組むとりくむNeutralMeans tackling a task seriously, as in 「課題に取り組む」; the emphasis is on effort, not on physically facing anything.
- Related直面ちょくめんWrittenWritten style meaning to be confronted with something difficult, as in 「危機に直面する」.
- Related臨むのぞむWrittenWritten style covering both facing a situation and looking out on something, as in 「試験に臨む」 and 「海に臨む」.
- Related立ちはだかるたちはだかるNeutralMeans standing in someone's way; figuratively used for obstacles blocking progress, with a nuance of obstruction the headword lacks.
- Related差し向かうさしむかうWrittenWritten style for two people facing each other directly, face to face, as in 「差し向かいで飲む」.
- Related対すたいすWrittenWritten, older form of 「対する」; little used today.
- Antonym背中合わせせなかあわせNeutralThe antonym: standing back to back, facing in opposite directions, where the headword describes facing each other.
Use 「向かい合う」 for physically facing each other, as in 「向かい合って座る」 or 「向かい合って立つ」. For confronting problems, use 「向き合う」; for bravely taking on difficulties, 「立ち向かう」; for standing back to back, 「背中合わせ」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
