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待ち伏せ (まちぶせ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
ambush ; lying in wait
Used as a noun or with する for waiting secretly in order to attack, catch, or confront someone. The target is commonly marked with を in the する construction.
See also: 待ち伏せる
I was ambushed on my way home.
Written forms 待ま ち 伏ぶ せ Usage 90%
Standard and high-priority spelling for the noun and する-verb meaning an ambush or lying in wait.
待ま ちぶせ Usage 6%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling given; understandable, but 待ち伏せ is the standard form.
待まち 伏ぶ せ Usage 4%
Attested spelling with less okurigana; less common than 待ち伏せ.
Kanji 伏 prostrated, bend down, bow Similar words 待ま ち 伏ぶ せる The corresponding verb meaning to lie in wait for or ambush someone; 待ち伏せ is the noun and する-verb form.
奇き 襲しゅう Means a surprise attack; unlike 待ち伏せ, it emphasizes the sudden attack itself rather than waiting hidden beforehand.
Etymology A transparent compound of 待ち, the continuative/noun form of 待つ meaning 'to wait,' and 伏せ, related to 伏せる meaning 'to lie low, hide, or lay down.'
