触る|さわるsawaru[0]heiban (flat)

1. godan verb, intransitive verb, transitive verbto touch; to feel; to handle
2. godan verb, intransitive verbto get involved (with); to approach
   触さわらぬ神かみに祟たたりなし。↗

   Let sleeping dogs lie.
3. godan verb, intransitive verbto be harmful to; to hinder; to interfere with; to irritate

• SynonymタッチCasualA colloquial loanword for touching or getting involved, as in 「タッチパネル」 and 「この件にはタッチしない」; mostly seen in compounds.
• Synonym触れるふれるNeutralTouching lightly, as in 「手が触れる」, and also touching on a topic; lighter and more written than 「触る」.
• Synonym接触せっしょくWrittenWritten language for contact, collision or getting in touch, as in 「接触事故」; typical of formal settings.
• Related接するせっするWrittenWritten language for adjoining something or dealing with people, as in 「客に接する」; it stresses contact and interaction, not touching with the hands.
• Related触れ合うふれあうNeutralMutual touching or close interaction, as in 「自然と触れ合う」; the emphasis is on two-way exchange between both sides.
• RelatedいらうWrittenA dialectal or old-fashioned word for fiddling with something by hand, as in 「機械を弄う」; today people say 「いじる」 instead.
• Antonym離すはなすNeutralThe opposite of 「触る」: to separate or let go, as in 「手を離す」.

For touching with the hands, 「触る」 is the default. Use 「触れる」 for a light touch or topics, 「触れ合う」 for mutual contact, 「接する」 for dealing with people, 「接触」 for collisions or contact in formal writing, and 「離す」 to let go.

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

1. 物ものに手てを触ふれる。
2. 軽かるく使つかってみる。仕事しごとや遊あそび、練習れんしゅうなどで道具どうぐを使つかう。
3. ある物ものが体からだに触ふれる。
4. ある事柄ことがらや人ひととかかわりを持もつ。（「障さわる」から派生はせいした意味いみ）
5. 差し支さしつかえる。障害しょうがいとなる。
6. 心身しんしんの害がいになる。