触れ合う・触れあう|ふれあうfureau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
触れ合う触れ合う is the most common written form and the usual choice when you need to write this word.
触れあう触れあう is a less common written variant of 触れ合う; you may encounter it, but it is not the first choice for learners.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto come into contact with; to touch (each other); to have a brush with
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 触れ合う（ふれあう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 触れ合います（ふれあいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 触れ合わない（ふれあわない） |
| polite (masen) | 触れ合いません（ふれあいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 触れ合わず・触れ合わぬ（ふれあわず・ふれあわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 触れ合った（ふれあった） |
| polite (mashita) | 触れ合いました（ふれあいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 触れ合わなかった（ふれあわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 触れ合いませんでした（ふれあいませんでした） |
| Te form | 触れ合って（ふれあって） |
| Potential | 触れ合える（ふれあえる） |
| Passive | 触れ合われる（ふれあわれる） |
| Causative | 触れ合わせる（ふれあわせる） |
| Causative passive | 触れ合わせられる・触れ合わされる（ふれあわせられる・ふれあわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 触れ合えば（ふれあえば） |
| tara | 触れ合ったら（ふれあったら） |
| Volitional | 触れ合おう（ふれあおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 触れ合いましょう（ふれあいましょう） |
| Imperative | 触れ合え（ふれあえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym接触せっしょくNeutralCovers physical contact between objects and dealings with people, in a plain, objective way; 「触れ合う」 stresses mutuality and the warmth of exchange.
- Synonym接するせっするNeutralA verb for touching or bordering on something, and for dealing with people as in 「客に接する」; it focuses on facing or attending to someone, not mutual closeness.
- RelatedタッチNeutralA colloquial loanword for touching or tapping a screen, also for being involved; it carries none of the warm exchange implied by 「触れ合う」.
- Related触るさわるNeutralMeans touching or handling something with the hand; the touching is one-sided, done by you, whereas 「触れ合う」 is mutual.
- Related触れるふれるNeutralMeans lightly touching something, and also coming into contact with nature or culture; it works for one-way or mutual contact, but 「触れ合う」 stresses the mutual side more.
- Antonym遠ざかるとおざかるNeutralAntonym: to move gradually away or drift apart, the opposite of close, intimate contact.
- Antonym離れるはなれるNeutralAntonym: to separate or part from something or someone, the opposite of mutual contact.
Use 「触れ合う」 for mutual contact or warm heart-to-heart exchange, as in 「動物と触れ合う」 and 「心の触れ合い」. For plain touching choose 「触れる」 or 「触る」, for objective contact 「接触」, and for the opposite 「離れる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
