Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "あいます", "会う", "会います", "出会う"
All represent the core concept "meet", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
あいます
あいます (aimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
会う
あう (au)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
会います
あいます (aimasu)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
出会う
であう (deau)
N3 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "meet" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "あいます", "会う", "会います", "出会う" based on context.
- あいます (あいます (aimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to meet, to see (a person)" and is used when The polite form of 会う.
- 会う (あう (au) - Level: N5): Maps to "to meet" and is used when Used for meeting people. The particle is usually 「に」.
- 会います (あいます (aimasu) - Level: N4): Maps to "to meet" and is used when 人や約束に遭遇する際に使います。会う相手は「に」で示されます。/ Used when meeting people or appointments. The person met is marked with 'に'..
- 出会う (であう (deau) - Level: N3): Maps to "to meet (by chance); to encounter" and is used when Intransitive verb. Implies a chance encounter or meeting someone/something unexpectedly. Often used with に.
Context for "あいます"
週末に友達にあいます。
I meet my friend on the weekend.
Context for "会う"
明日、友達に会います。
I will meet my friend tomorrow.
Context for "会います"
明日は友達に会います。
I will meet my friend tomorrow.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
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" is correct here because it represents "to meet, to see (a person)" in the context: "I meet my friend on the weekend.".