noun
face to face; facing each other
Describes a situation where two people are directly opposite each other, often in a close or intimate setting. Typically used in the adverbial forms 差し向かいで or 差し向かいに.
二人は差し向かいで話し合った。
The two talked face to face.
差し向かいに座って食事をした。
We sat facing each other and ate.
Variant spelling without the final か.
A verb meaning 'to face each other', more general and commonly used. 差し向かい is a noun that specifically emphasizes a close, often intimate, face-to-face arrangement.
Compound of 差し (prefix adding emphasis or direction) and 向かい (facing). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used to describe a direct, face-to-face arrangement.