相そうする

そ

う

す

る

Meanings

1

suru verb (special), transitive verb

assess; judge; read (fate)

Used for evaluating or judging something, often in a somewhat formal or literary context. Commonly used with words like 運命 (fate) or 人相 (physiognomy).

占うらない師しが彼かれの運うん命めいを相そうした。
The fortune-teller assessed his fate.
彼

かれ

は

相あい

手て

の

力りき

量りょう

を

相そう

し

て

から

勝しょう

負ぶ

に

臨のぞ

ん

だ

。

He judged his opponent's ability before entering the match.

Kanji

相inter-, mutual, together

Similar words

占うらなう
占う is the common word for 'to tell fortunes' or 'to predict', while 相する is more about assessing or reading signs, often in a formal or literary style.
判はん断だんする
判断する is a general term for 'to judge' or 'to decide', whereas 相する implies a more specialized assessment, often of intangible qualities like fate or character.

Etymology

Derived from the noun 相 (そう, 'aspect, phase, appearance') with the verbal suffix する. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it likely emerged as a specialized verb for assessing appearances or signs.