Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Look" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "look", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
見合わせ
みあわせ (miawase)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
待ち望む
まちのぞむ (machinozomu)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "look" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 見合わせ and 待ち望む.
In Japanese, 見合わせ (みあわせ (miawase)) is typically associated with "to look at each other, to postpone, to suspend, to cancel" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Has two main meanings: 1) to look at each other.
On the other hand, 待ち望む (まちのぞむ (machinozomu)) maps to "to look forward to, to eagerly await" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents To wait for something with strong hope and anticipation, implying a deep desire or yearning for it to happen. 何かが起こることを強く期待して待つこと。実現を心から願う気持ちが含まれる。. A literal translation of "look" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "見合わせ"
悪天候のため、本日の飛行機は出発を見合わせになった。
Due to bad weather, today's flight has been postponed.
Bilingual Context for "待ち望む"
彼はボーナスを待ち望んでいた。
He was eagerly awaiting his bonus.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "悪天候のため、本日の飛行機は出発を ___ になった。" (Meaning: "Due to bad weather, today's flight has been postponed.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "見合わせ" fits here because it means "to look at each other, to postpone, to suspend, to cancel" in the context of: "Due to bad weather, today's flight has been postponed.". "待ち望む" represents "to look forward to, to eagerly await".