Japanese word

出くわす

Pronunciation

Romajidekuwasu

Meaning

  • verbrun into

Example

帰り道で昔の友達に出くわしました。kae ri michi de mukashi no tomo dachi ni de ku wa shi ma shi ta

I ran into an old friend on my way home.

Illustration for 出くわす (run into)

More examples

旅行先で、思いがけず高校時代の先生に出くわしました。ryo kō saki de omo i ga ke zu kō kō ji dai no sen sei ni de ku wa shi ma shi ta

I unexpectedly ran into my high school teacher while traveling.

Core concept

It describes meeting or finding something unexpectedly along the way rather than seeking it deliberately.

Common phrases

  • 友人に出くわすyū jin ni de ku wa su

    run into a friend

  • 危険に出くわすki ken ni de ku wa su

    run into danger

  • 思わぬ事態に出くわすomo wa nu ji tai ni de ku wa su

    encounter an unexpected situation

Similar words

出会うdeau: To meet a person or encounter something, often by chance.
遭遇するsōgūsuru: To encounter a person, event, or situation unexpectedly.
鉢合わせするhachiawasesuru: To meet someone unexpectedly at the same place or time.

Definition in Japanese

行く先で、思いがけず人や物事に出会うこと。i ku saki de omo i ga ke zu hito ya mono goto ni de a u ko to

Word origin

The native verb 出くわす (dekuwasu) has the related spelling 出会す (dekuwasu), but the precise origin of the modern form is not securely established.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English run into, 出くわす (dekuwasu) normally means encountering someone or something unexpectedly, not physically colliding with it.

Other meanings

  • come acrossverb

Word lists with this word