会う vs 出会う
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 会う
Listen to 出会う
| 会う | 出会う |
|---|---|
A-u (a-u) verb | であう verb |
| to meet; to see (a person) | to encounter; to meet (often by chance or for the first time) |
How they differ
出会う often implies a chance encounter or a first-time meeting and can also refer to encountering events or opportunities; 会う is a neutral verb for meeting (planned or unplanned) without that nuance of chance or novelty.
When to use each
When to use 会う: Prefer 会う when you need a neutral, everyday verb for meeting or seeing someone, whether planned or casual.
When to use 出会う: Prefer 出会う when describing a chance or memorable encounter, a first meeting, or when emphasizing that the meeting felt unexpected or fateful.
Side-by-side examples
- 明日彼に会う。
(I will meet him tomorrow.) - 駅で彼に出会った。
(I ran into him at the station.)
Register & nuance: Both are common in everyday speech, but 出会う carries the specific nuance of an encounter (often by chance or first-time) while 会う is neutral.