Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI meet | ||
| NegativeI don’t meet |
JAPANESE VERB
であう
出会う
to meet, for the first time
- #260 most used
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI met | ||
| NegativeI didn’t meet |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formmeeting, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am meeting | ||
| Please (て ください)please meet |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can meet | ||
| NegativeI can’t meet |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to meet | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to meet |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s meet |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I meet
- If, when (たら) if I meet
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) meet (do it)
- Plain command meet!
- Please don’t please don’t meet
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am met | ||
| CausativeI make someone meet |
How to use であう
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
たび で は いろいろな ひと に であいます。
On a journey you meet all sorts of people.
-
Past
ふたり は だいがく の としょかん で であった。
The two met in the university library.
-
Te-form
この ほん に であって、 じんせい が かわった。
Meeting this book changed my life.
-
Potential
とうきょう に こなければ、 ゆい に であえなかった。
If I hadn't come to Tokyo, I'd never have met Yui.
-
Want to
すてきな ひと に であいたい。
I want to meet someone wonderful.
-
Volitional
いろいろな ひと に であおう と おもって、 りょこう に でた。
I set off travelling hoping to meet all kinds of people.
-
Conditional
いい ひと に であえば、 かんがえ も かわる よ。
If you meet a good person, your thinking changes too.
-
Commands and requests
インターネット で しらない ひと と であわないで ください。
Please don't meet up with strangers from the internet.
-
Passive and causative
おくさま と は どこ で であわれた ん です か？
Where did you meet your wife?
Good to know
- であう is the first meeting; あう is any meeting.
Where you hear であう
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- はなや で は、 いろいろ な ひと に であう。 At the Hanaya, you meet all kinds of people.
- ゆい と は、 はなや の あさごはん で であった。 I met Yui at breakfast at the Hanaya.
- そうた は だいがく で、 あたらしい ともだち に であう よ。 Sota will meet new friends at university.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).