suru verb (special), intransitive verb
touch; come into contact with; be close to
Intransitive use, typically in the pattern XがYに接する. More formal or technical-sounding than everyday 触れる for simple touching.
手がドアノブに接した瞬間、静電気が走った。
The moment my hand touched the doorknob, I got a static shock.
suru verb (special), intransitive verb
border on; adjoin; be adjacent to
Used for land, buildings, roads, regions, and other things that physically border or are adjacent to something.
その土地は大通りに接している。
That plot of land borders a main street.
この町は北で海に接している。
This town borders the sea to the north.
suru verb (special), intransitive verb
deal with; attend to; treat; receive
Used for how one faces, treats, serves, or receives people, especially customers, guests, patients, students, or others one must interact with.
彼女はどの客にも丁寧に接する。
She treats every customer courteously.
教師は生徒一人一人に公平に接するべきだ。
Teachers should deal fairly with each student.
suru verb (special), intransitive verb
Formal use with words such as 知らせ, 報道, and 訃報; often expresses receiving or being confronted with news or information.
訃報に接し、深い悲しみを覚えた。
On hearing the news of the death, I felt deep sadness.
その知らせに接して、関係者は対応を急いだ。
After receiving the news, the people involved hurried to respond.
suru verb (special), intransitive verb
encounter; come across; be exposed to
Often used in a somewhat formal style for encountering works, ideas, people, cultures, or opportunities, not just physically meeting by chance.
大学で初めて日本文学の原典に接した。
At university, I first encountered original texts of Japanese literature.
suru verb (special), intransitive verb
be tangent to
Mathematical use for a line, curve, circle, or surface touching another at a point without crossing it.
この直線は円に接している。
This straight line is tangent to the circle.
suru verb (special), transitive verb
bring into contact; place adjacent; share or connect by contact
Transitive use with を. It is relatively formal and often appears in set phrases such as 膝を接する, 軒を接する, and 国境を接する; ordinary everyday causative 'make touch' is often expressed with 接触させる.
二人は膝を接して話し合った。
The two talked with their knees nearly touching.
その二国は長い国境を接している。
The two countries share a long border.