Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Meet" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "meet", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
出会う
であう (deau)
N3 / 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 出会う and 遭う.
In Japanese, 出会う (であう (deau)) is typically associated with "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.
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 "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.
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: "彼は駅で偶然、昔の友人と出会った。" (Meaning: "He coincidentally met an old friend at the station.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "出会う" fits here because it means "to meet (by chance); to encounter" in the context of: "He coincidentally met an old friend at the station.". "遭う" represents "to meet (an unpleasant situation); to encounter".