Japanese word

会う

Pronunciation

Romajiau

Meaning

  • verbmeet

Example

来週、友達に会います。rai shū tomo dachi ni a i ma su

I will meet my friend next week.

Illustration for 会う (meet)

More examples

友だちに会います。tomo da chi ni a i ma su

I meet my friend.

初めて会う人には、笑顔であいさつします。haji me te a u hito ni wa e gao de a i sa tsu shi ma su

I greet people I meet for the first time with a smile.

Core concept

Centers on two people becoming present to one another, either by arrangement or by chance.

Common phrases

  • 友達に会うtomo dachi ni a u

    meet a friend

  • 家族に会うka zoku ni a u

    meet one's family

  • 先生に会うsen sei ni a u

    meet a teacher

Similar words

出会うdeau: To meet someone, often unexpectedly or for the first time.
面会するmenkaisuru: To meet someone during an arranged visit in a formal setting.

Definition in Japanese

人と顔を合わせ、言葉を交わしたり関わったりする。hito to kao o a wa se koto ba o ka wa shi ta ri kaka wa tta ri su ru

Word origin

会う (au) is a native Japanese verb from Old Japanese あふ (afu), meaning to come together or encounter someone.

Usage tips

  • 会う (au) often uses に (ni) before the person one meets, so 友達に会う (tomodachi ni au) means meeting a friend.

Other meanings

  • seeverb

Word lists with this word