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機をうかがう (きをうかがう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

機きをうかがう

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-u)

wait for one's chance; wait for an opportunity

Used when someone is watching for the right moment to act, often with a sense of patience or strategic timing.

See also: 機会をうかがう

彼かれは反はん撃げきの機きをうかがっていた。
He was waiting for a chance to counterattack.
話はな

しかける

機き

を

うかがっ

て

いる

。

I'm waiting for an opportunity to start a conversation.

Written forms

機きをうかがう
Standard kana-mixed spelling; 機 is the usual kanji for 'opportunity' in this phrase.
機きを窺うかがう
Uses the kanji 窺, which can also mean 'to peek' or 'to spy', adding a nuance of watching for a chance.
機きを伺うかがう
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 伺う normally means 'to visit' or 'to ask', so this spelling is not standard for this meaning.

Kanji

機loom, mechanism, machine
窺lie in wait, spy on, reconnoiter
伺pay respects, visit, ask

Similar words

機き会かいをうかがう
Synonymous; 機会 is a more explicit word for 'opportunity', while 機 is slightly more literary or concise.

Etymology

Phrase composed of 機 (opportunity) + を + うかがう (to watch for, to seek). The verb うかがう originally meant 'to peek' or 'to spy', giving the phrase a nuance of stealthily looking for a chance.