突き当たる・衝き当たる|つきあたるtsukiataru[4]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Which spelling to use
突き当たる突き当たる is the most common written form. Beginners should use it as their default choice when writing this word.
衝き当たる衝き当たる is rarely used. Treat it as a less common written variant and choose 突き当たる instead when writing.
Definitions
  1. godan verb, intransitive verbto run into; to collide with; to crash into; to bump against
    急いそいだあまり私はだれか人ひとに突き当つきあたった。↗
    In my hurry I bumped into someone.
  2. godan verb, intransitive verbto come to the end of (a street)
  3. godan verb, intransitive verbto run into (difficulties, problems, etc.); to run up against
Conjugation
Dictionary form突き当たる(つきあたる)
Polite (masu)突き当たります(つきあたります)
Negative (nai)突き当たらない(つきあたらない)
polite (masen)突き当たりません(つきあたりません)
classical zu / nu突き当たらず・突き当たらぬ(つきあたらず・つきあたらぬ)
Past (ta)突き当たった(つきあたった)
polite (mashita)突き当たりました(つきあたりました)
Past negative (nakatta)突き当たらなかった(つきあたらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)突き当たりませんでした(つきあたりませんでした)
Te form突き当たって(つきあたって)
Potential突き当たれる(つきあたれる)
Passive突き当たられる(つきあたられる)
Causative突き当たらせる(つきあたらせる)
Causative passive突き当たらせられる・突き当たらされる(つきあたらせられる・つきあたらされる)
Conditional (ba)突き当たれば(つきあたれば)
tara突き当たったら(つきあたったら)
Volitional突き当たろう(つきあたろう)
polite (mashou)突き当たりましょう(つきあたりましょう)
Imperative突き当たれ(つきあたれ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymぶつかるNeutralThe everyday workhorse: colliding, running into something, or clashing over opinions (「車にぶつかる」); most common in speech.
  • Synonymぶち当たるぶちあたるCasualColloquial: slamming hard into something or running head-on into trouble (「壁にぶち当たる」); more forceful than 「突き当たる」.
  • RelatedぶつけるNeutralTransitive: to nail something down or bang it hard against something (「頭を柱に打ち付ける」); 「突き当たる」 is intransitive.
  • Related衝突しょうとつNeutralA noun: a crash (「正面衝突」) or a clash of opinions, interests, or arms (「意見の衝突」); 「突き当たる」 is the verb.
  • Related遭遇そうぐうNeutralAn unexpected encounter with an accident, an enemy, etc. (「事故に遭遇する」); stresses meeting by chance, not physical impact.
  • RelatedぶっつけるCasualColloquial emphatic form of 「ぶつける」; transitive, for striking something or venting feelings (「怒りをぶっつける」).
  • Relatedぶつかり合うぶつかりあうNeutralMutual collision or clash between two or more parties (「意見がぶつかり合う」); the focus is on both sides, not one hitting another.
  • Related行き当たるゆきあたるNeutralTo run into something or reach an impasse along the way (「困難に行き当たる」); very close to 「突き当たる」 in use.
  • Related叩きつけるたたきつけるNeutralTransitive: hurling or slamming something against something (「受話器を叩きつける」); stresses the violent throwing action.
  • Related打ち当てるうちあてるWrittenWritten/formal prose; transitive, hitting one thing against another; rare in everyday use.
  • Antonym回避するNeutralAntonym: to avoid or steer clear of something, the opposite of 「突き当たる」 running head-on into it.

Use 「突き当たる」 for crashing into something or coming to the end of a road (「廊下の突き当たり」). For everyday collisions say 「ぶつかる」, for running into difficulties 「ぶち当たる」, and for accidents the noun 「衝突」. The opposite is 「回避する」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 激はげしく衝突しょうとつする。
  2. 行き止いきどまりになって進すすめなくなる。ゆきづまる。
Kanji in this word

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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