出で会あう

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

meet by chance; come across; encounter

General term for meeting someone or encountering something unexpectedly. Can be neutral, positive, or negative depending on context and kanji choice. 出遭う is explicitly negative.

• 駅えきで偶ぐう然ぜん、昔むかしの友とも達だちに出で会あった。

  I ran into an old friend by chance at the station.

• 旅たび先さきで思おもいがけない風ふう景けいに出で会あうことがある。

  Sometimes you come across unexpected scenery while traveling.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

meet; converge; join

Only when written 出会う / 出合う

Used for rivers, roads, or other geographical features meeting or converging. 出合う is the typical spelling.

• この町まちは二ふたつの川かわが出で合あう場ば所しょにある。

  This town is located where two rivers meet.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

emerge and engage; sally forth to meet

Only when written 出会う / 出合う

Military or dramatic context: troops emerging to engage the enemy. Often used in the imperative form 出会え. 出合う is the typical spelling.

• 敵てき陣じんに向むかって「出で会あえ、出で会あえ！」と叫さけんだ。

  He shouted 'Sally forth! Sally forth!' toward the enemy camp.