Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Meet" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "meet", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
あいます
あいます (aimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
出会う
であう (deau)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "meet" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between あいます and 出会う.
In Japanese, あいます (あいます (aimasu)) is typically associated with "to meet, to see (a person)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents The polite form of 会う.
On the other hand, 出会う (であう (deau)) maps to "to meet (by chance); to encounter" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Intransitive verb. Implies a chance encounter or meeting someone/something unexpectedly. Often used with に. A literal translation of "meet" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "あいます"
週末に友達にあいます。
I meet my friend on the weekend.
Bilingual Context for "出会う"
彼は駅で偶然、昔の友人と出会った。
He coincidentally met an old friend at the station.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "週末に友達に ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I meet my friend on the weekend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "あいます" fits here because it means "to meet, to see (a person)" in the context of: "I meet my friend on the weekend.". "出会う" represents "to meet (by chance); to encounter".