also: よける
避ける · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 避ける | 避けない |
| Polite | 避けます | 避けません |
| Past polite | 避けました | 避けませんでした |
| Past | 避けた | 避けなかった |
| Te-form | 避けて | 避けないで |
| Desire | 避けたい | 避けたくない |
| Potential | 避けられるalso 避けれる | 避けられないalso 避けれない |
| Passive | 避けられる | 避けられない |
| Causative | 避けさせる | 避けさせない |
| Causative passive | 避けさせられる | 避けさせられない |
| Volitional | 避けよう | |
| Polite volitional | 避けましょう | |
| Imperative | 避けろ | 避けるな |
| Conditional | 避ければ | 避けなければ |
| Tara conditional | 避けたら | 避けなかったら |
ichidan verb, transitive verb
dodge; avoid physical contact; get out of the way of
Only with reading よける
Read よける. Used when avoiding something physically, such as a person, vehicle, ball, puddle, or obstacle.
I dodged the ball that came flying at me.
I walked around the puddles.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
Only with reading さける
Read さける. Used for avoiding situations, topics, questions, duties, risks, or unpleasant involvement; with responsibilities, it can imply shirking them.
We left early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
He evaded that question.
ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb
Used for preventing or keeping away something undesirable, such as sun, danger, misfortune, or a bad outcome. The よける reading is common for physical shielding, while さける is common for averting risks or outcomes.
I use a hat to ward off the strong sunlight.
We were able to avert the worst-case scenario by acting early.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
put aside; move out of the way
Only with reading よける
Read よける. Used when moving an object aside so that space is clear or something is no longer in the way.
Please move the luggage in the passage off to the side.
I dodged the ball that came flying at me.
He avoids the boss he doesn't get along with.
I left home early to avoid the crowded train.
I used a parasol to avoid getting sunburned.
避ける means to deliberately avoid something (a person, topic, or situation) without necessarily physically fleeing, whereas 逃げる implies actively running away or dodging.
避ける means to avoid or dodge something outright, whereas 逸らす is used specifically for turning one's gaze, attention, or a topic away from something.
避ける means to avoid something by staying away from it, while 防ぐ means to actively stop it from happening or from having an effect.
避ける focuses purely on the act of staying away from something, while 嫌う additionally conveys the underlying feeling of dislike that motivates avoidance.
避ける means to actively avoid a person, place, or action, while 厭う expresses a feeling of reluctance without necessarily acting to avoid it.
避ける means to deliberately avoid contact with someone or something, while 退ける (sense 3) means to keep someone apart or shun them, often within a social group.
Practical kana spelling for the よける readings, useful when the kanji 避ける might be confused with さける.
Rare kanji form for よける; learners will more often see 避ける or kana in ordinary writing.