渡り合う|わたりあうwatariau[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto fight (with); to cross swords; to compete (with)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto argue (with); to have an argument; to have a dispute; to debate
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 渡り合う（わたりあう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 渡り合います（わたりあいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 渡り合わない（わたりあわない） |
| polite (masen) | 渡り合いません（わたりあいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 渡り合わず・渡り合わぬ（わたりあわず・わたりあわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 渡り合った（わたりあった） |
| polite (mashita) | 渡り合いました（わたりあいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 渡り合わなかった（わたりあわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 渡り合いませんでした（わたりあいませんでした） |
| Te form | 渡り合って（わたりあって） |
| Potential | 渡り合える（わたりあえる） |
| Passive | 渡り合われる（わたりあわれる） |
| Causative | 渡り合わせる（わたりあわせる） |
| Causative passive | 渡り合わせられる・渡り合わされる（わたりあわせられる・わたりあわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 渡り合えば（わたりあえば） |
| tara | 渡り合ったら（わたりあったら） |
| Volitional | 渡り合おう（わたりあおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 渡り合いましょう（わたりあいましょう） |
| Imperative | 渡り合え（わたりあえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym争うあらそうWrittenThe same word again, also written 「争う」 and read 「あらがう」. Written style for resisting or defying, one-sided rather than a matched contest.
- SynonymやりあうCasualColloquial. Quarreling or competing with each other; more casual than 「渡り合う」 and without the nuance of being evenly matched.
- Related言い合ういいあうNeutralExchanging words with each other, or bickering. Lighter than 「渡り合う」— trading remarks rather than clashing head-on.
- Related論じるろんじるWrittenWritten style. Discussing or expounding a topic in an organized way; no quarreling implied, unlike 「渡り合う」.
- Related論ずるろんずるFormalThe formal counterpart of 「論じる」: stating one's views or debating, in a more formal register.
- Related言い争ういいあらそうNeutralA quarrel fought with words, neither side giving in. More a verbal squabble than 「渡り合う」, lacking the feel of a head-on clash.
- Related抗うあらがうWrittenWritten style. Resisting or defying something like fate or authority — one-sided resistance, not an even, head-on contest as with 「渡り合う」.
- Related諍ういさかうWrittenThe same word as above, also written 「諍う」. Written style for one-sided resistance or defiance, not a matched contest.
- Related論じ合うろんじあうWrittenWritten style. Both sides exchange opinions in a debate to settle which is right; an argument over issues rather than the confrontation of 「渡り合う」.
- Antonym逃げるにげるNeutralAntonym: running away or fleeing, avoiding the opponent instead of facing them head-on as 「渡り合う」 describes.
- Antonym避けるさけるNeutralAntonym: avoiding or steering clear of contact altogether, the opposite of meeting someone head-on in 「渡り合う」.
Use 「渡り合う」 for facing an opponent head-on, competing on even terms, or arguing heatedly, as in 「大国と渡り合う」「互角に渡り合う」. For a plain quarrel use 「言い争う」, and in casual speech 「やり合う」. 「言い合う」 is lighter bickering; 「抗う」 is one-sided resistance; 「論じる」「論ずる」「論じ合う」 cover discussion and debate; 「逃げる」「避ける」 are the opposites — avoiding the fight.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
