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居合わす (いあわす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

居い合あわす

い

あ

わ

す

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), intransitive verb

happen to be present; be there by chance

Describes being at a location when something occurs, often unexpectedly. Similar to 居合わせる, but slightly more literary or old-fashioned.

See also: 居合わせる

その場ばに居い合あわせた人ひとたちは皆みんな驚おどろいた。
Everyone who happened to be there was surprised.

偶ぐう然ぜん、事じ故この瞬しゅん間かんに居い合あわせてしまった。

By chance, I happened to be present at the moment of the accident.

Written forms

居い合あわすUsage40%
Standard kanji spelling.
居合いあわすUsage60%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form; not commonly used in modern writing.

Kanji

居reside, to be, exist
合fit, suit, join

Similar words

居い合あわせる
More common and neutral than 居合わす. Both mean 'to happen to be present', but 居合わす is slightly more literary.

Etymology

Compound of 居 (i, 'being, staying') + 合わす (awasu, 'to meet, to join'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of 'being present together' at a place or event.