Translation and Meaning of: 会う - au

The Japanese word 会う (あう) is an essential verb for anyone looking to communicate in the language, meaning "to meet" or "to interview". If you have ever tried to schedule a meeting with Japanese friends or watched a dorama, you have probably heard this expression used naturally. In this article, we will explore its etymology, the meaning behind the kanji, how it is used in daily life, and even some tips for memorizing it effortlessly. Additionally, if you use Anki or another spaced repetition system, you will find practical examples to boost your studies.

Why is this word so important? Well, imagine you're in Japan and you want to arrange to meet someone — whether a friend, a colleague, or even in a job interview. Knowing how to use 会う correctly can make all the difference. And it doesn’t stop there: the kanji itself tells an interesting story that helps to better understand the Japanese language as a whole. Let's unravel all of this next.

The origin and the kanji of 会う

The kanji 会 is composed of two elements: the radical for "person" (人) and the component that represents "meeting" or "gathering." Together, they form the idea of people meeting, which makes perfect sense for the verb 会う. This character appears not only in "to meet someone" but also in words like 会議 (かいぎ, meeting) and 会社 (かいしゃ, company), showing how it is connected to social interactions.

Interestingly, kanji has Chinese origins, but the Japanese adapted its meaning to be more aligned with everyday life. While in Chinese it may have a more formal tone, in Japan it is used even in casual situations, like "Shall we meet at the café?" (喫茶店で会いましょう). This flexibility makes it one of the first words that students learn — and one of the most useful.

How to use 会う in daily life

Unlike Portuguese, where "encontrar" can be used for both people and lost objects, 会う is exclusive to meetings between people or living beings. For example, you wouldn't use this word to say "I found my key" — there comes another verb, like 見つける. But if the topic is to arrange a meeting with someone, whether romantic or professional, 会う is the right choice.

A common mistake for beginners is to confuse 会う with 合う (which means "to match" or "to fit"). The pronunciation is identical (あう), but the kanji and meanings are completely different. A tip to avoid confusion? Think that 会う has the radical for person (人), so it is only used when people are involved. On the other hand, 合う appears in contexts like "the colors match" (色が合う) or "the time doesn't match" (時間が合わない).

Tips for memorization and curiosities

If you've already forgotten this word five minutes after studying, try associating it with a real situation. Remember the last time you arranged to go out with a friend? Well, that was a 会う. Creating emotional or visual connections helps to retain vocabulary. Another strategy is to use flashcards with sentences like "明日、友達と会います" (Tomorrow, I will meet a friend) to practice using it in context.

Did you know that there is even a pun with this word? In some regional dialects, 会う can take on a more relaxed tone, almost like "showing up." And in animes and mangas, it's common to see characters using 会う in dramatic situations, such as unexpected reunions. If you're a fan of Japanese pop culture, noticing these details can make studying much more fun.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 出会う (Deai suru) - To meet someone by chance or in an unexpected situation.
• 対面する (Taimen suru) - Face-to-face meeting, usually in a formal or planned context.
• 接する (Sessuru) - Interact or get in touch with someone, whether directly or indirectly.
• 相見える (Aimi eru) - To meet, usually in a more intimate or personal context.
• 合う (Au) - To match or fit with someone, usually indicating compatibility.
• 逢う (Au) - Meeting someone, often used in romantic or emotional contexts.

会う

Romaji: au
Kana: あう
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n2, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: meet; to interview

Meaning in English: to meet;to interview

Definition: To confront or face another person or thing.

Example Sentences - (会う) au

See below some example sentences:

出会うは偶然ではなく必然だと信じています。

Deau wa guuzen de wa naku hitsuzen da to shinjiteimasu

I believe that meeting someone is not a coincidence

I believe that the meeting is inevitable, not accidental.

• 出会う (deau) - met up
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 偶然 (guuzen) - chance, coincidence
• ではなく (dewanaku) - Não é
• 必然 (hitsuzen) - inevitable, necessary
• だと (dato) - it is said that
• 信じています (shinjiteimasu) - I believe

私は彼女に会うときはいつもどきどきしています。

Watashi wa kanojo ni au toki wa itsumo dokidoki shiteimasu

I always get anxious when I find her.

I always throb when I know it.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 彼女 (kanojo) - It means "she" or "girlfriend" in Japanese.
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 会う (au) - verb that means "to find" or "to meet" in Japanese.
• とき (toki) - noun that means "time" or "moment" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• いつも (itsumo) - adverb that means "always" in Japanese
• どきどき (dokidoki) - onomatopoeia that represents the sound of a heart beating fast, used to express nervousness or anxiety in Japanese
• しています (shiteimasu) - present form of the verb "suru" which means "to do" in Japanese

直接会って話しましょう。

Chokusetsu atte hanashimashou

Let's meet in person and talk.

I see you directly and speak.

• 直接 (chokusetsu) - directly
• 会って (atte) - finding oneself
• 話しましょう (hanashimashou) - let's chat

偶々会えたことに感謝しています。

Guuguu aeta koto ni kansha shiteimasu

I'm grateful to have found you by chance.

I am grateful to have found.

• 偶々 (guuguu) - by chance, accidentally
• 会えた (aeta) - found, found oneself
• こと (koto) - Thing, fact
• に (ni) - target particle
• 感謝 (kansha) - gratitude, thankfulness
• しています (shiteimasu) - is doing, is feeling

遠方から来た友達に会いに行きたいです。

Toofu kara kita tomodachi ni ai ni ikitai desu

I want to go meet a friend who came from far away.

I want to go see a friend from afar.

• 遠方 (enpou) - distant
• から (kara) - of
• 来た (kita) - came
• 友達 (tomodachi) - friend
• に (ni) - for
• 会いに (aini) - find
• 行きたい (ikitai) - I want to go
• です (desu) - is

また会いましょう。

Mata aimashou

Let's meet again.

• また - again
• 会いましょう - let's meet

明くる日に会いましょう。

Mokuru hi ni aimashou

Let's meet next day.

I see you on a brilliant day.

• 明くる (akuru) - means "next" or "following"
• 日 (hi) - means "day"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the time at which something occurs
• 会いましょう (aimashou) - means "let's meet"

会いたいです。

Aitai desu

I want to find you.

I want to meet him.

• 会いたい - kaitai - want to find, want to see
• です - is (a Japanese copula, often used to indicate a state of being) to be, to be (polite sentence ending particle)

久し振りに会えて嬉しいです。

Hisashiburi ni aete ureshii desu

Glad to see you after so long.

Glad to meet you after a long time.

• 久し振りに - long time no see
• 会えて - finding
• 嬉しい - happy
• です - is

偖しくもあなたと出会えたことに感謝しています。

Sasuga ni anata to deaeta koto ni kansha shiteimasu

I am grateful to have met you.

• 偖しくも (ayashikumo) - adverb meaning "in a mysterious way"
• あなたと (anata to) - personal pronoun "you" followed by the particle "com"
• 出会えた (deatta) - verb "to find" in the past
• ことに (koto ni) - particle that indicates "in relation to"
• 感謝しています (kansha shiteimasu) - verb "thank" in the present