かわす

か

わ

す

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

かわす · godan verb (-su)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	かわす	かわさない
Polite	かわします	かわしません
Past polite	かわしました	かわしませんでした
Past	かわした	かわさなかった
Te-form	かわして	かわさないで
Desire	かわしたい	かわしたくない
Potential	かわせる	かわせない
Passive	かわされる	かわされない
Causative	かわさせる	かわさせない
Causative passive	かわさせられる	かわさせられない
Volitional	かわそう
Polite volitional	かわしましょう
Imperative	かわせ	かわすな
Conditional	かわせば	かわさなければ
Tara conditional	かわしたら	かわさなかったら

Meanings

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

dodge; evade; avoid; sidestep

usually written using kana alone

Used for physically dodging an object or blow, as well as figuratively evading a question, issue, or responsibility.

彼かれは飛とんできたボールをかわした。
He dodged the ball that came flying at him.
記き者しゃの鋭するどい質しつ問もんをうまくかわした。
He skillfully evaded the reporter's sharp question.

See all 83 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉をかわすto dodge a physical attack or object
彼かれはボクサーの鋭するどいパンチを軽かるくかわした。
He easily dodged the boxer's sharp punch.
質しつ問もんをかわすto evade or dodge a question
政せい治じ家かは記き者しゃの質しつ問もんをうまくかわした。
The politician skillfully dodged the reporter's question.
身みをかわすto dodge out of the way with one's body
車くるまが近ちかづいてきたので、彼かれはすばやく身みをかわした。
As the car approached, he quickly dodged out of the way.

Kanji

躱dodge, parry, avoid
避evade, avoid, avert

Related words

避さけるN3
避ける means to avoid something by staying away or not engaging with it, while 躱す implies a quick, evasive movement to dodge something already coming at you.
そらすN2
そらす means to deflect or turn something aside (like a topic or one's gaze), while 躱す more broadly covers dodging attacks or evading questions.

Don't confuse with

交かわすN2
交わす (かわす) means to exchange words or greetings, while 躱す (かわす) means to dodge or evade something, despite sharing the same reading.

Written forms

かわすUsage89%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 躱す is rare and 避わす is an irregular kanji usage.
躱かわすUsage11%
Rare kanji form; not commonly used in modern writing.
避かわす
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; included for search coverage only.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain, but it may be related to the verb 交わす (かわす, 'to exchange'), with a semantic shift from 'crossing' to 'avoiding by moving aside'.