うかがう

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

peep; peek; examine covertly

Looking through a gap or opening, or secretly observing something. Often implies a stealthy or furtive action.

• ドアの隙すき間まから部屋へやの中なかをうかがった。

  I peeped into the room through a gap in the door.

• 彼かれは隣となりの席せきの答とう案あんをうかがっているようだった。

  He seemed to be peeking at the answer sheet of the person next to him.

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

await one's chance; watch for an opportunity

Waiting for the right moment to act, often with a sense of watching carefully for an opening.

• 彼かれは反はん撃げきの機き会かいをうかがっている。

  He is waiting for a chance to counterattack.

• 敵てきの隙すきをうかがって攻こう撃げきした。

  We attacked after watching for an opening in the enemy's defenses.

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

guess; infer; surmise

Usually used in the passive form うかがわれる to mean 'it can be inferred' or 'one can gather'. Expresses an indirect understanding from available information.

• 彼かれの言こと葉ばからは、不ふ満まんがうかがわれた。

  From his words, one could infer dissatisfaction.

• この結けっ果かから、計けい画かくが順じゅん調ちょうに進すすんでいることがうかがえる。

  From these results, it can be gathered that the plan is progressing smoothly.