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
按図索驥
あんずさくき
C2PLUS / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "look" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 見合わせ and 按図索驥.
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hand, 按図索驥 (あんずさくき) maps to "to look for a fine horse by its picture; a metaphor for being inflexible and relying on outdated rules without considering the actual situation" (Syllabus Level: C2PLUS) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus.. 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 "按図索驥"
毎日、日本語を練習するために按図索驥。
Every day, I look for a fine horse by its picture; a metaphor for being inflexible and relying on outdated rules without considering the actual situation to practice Japanese.
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.". "按図索驥" represents "to look for a fine horse by its picture; a metaphor for being inflexible and relying on outdated rules without considering the actual situation".