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
遭う
あう (au)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "meet" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between あいます and 遭う.
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, 遭う (あう (au)) maps to "to meet (an unpleasant situation); to encounter" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Often used for encountering difficulties, accidents, or bad experiences. Rarely used for meeting people casually.. 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 "遭う"
彼は交通事故に遭ってしまった。
He got into a traffic accident.
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.". "遭う" represents "to meet (an unpleasant situation); to encounter".