Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Meet" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "meet", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
出迎える
でむかえる (demukaeru)
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 出迎える and 遭う.
In Japanese, 出迎える (でむかえる (demukaeru)) is typically associated with "to meet; to greet (a visitor, etc.)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Transitive verb. Specifically means to go out to meet someone who is arriving.
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 "出迎える"
空港まで客を出迎えに行きました。
I went to the airport to meet the guest.
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: "空港まで客を出迎えに行きました。" (Meaning: "I went to the airport to meet the guest.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "出迎える" fits here because it means "to meet; to greet (a visitor, etc.)" in the context of: "I went to the airport to meet the guest.". "遭う" represents "to meet (an unpleasant situation); to encounter".