Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

隙をうかがう (すきをうかがう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

隙すきをうかがう

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-u)

watch for an opening; wait for a chance

Used when someone is alertly looking for a moment of inattention or weakness to act, often with a strategic or opportunistic nuance.

彼かれは隙すきをうかがって反はん撃げきのチャンスを待まっていた。
He was watching for an opening, waiting for a chance to counterattack.
泥どろ棒ぼうは家か人じんが席せきを外

はず

す

隙すき

を

うかがっ

て

い

た

。

The burglar was waiting for a moment when the resident would leave their seat.

Written forms

隙すきをうかがう
Standard kana-mixed spelling; the verb うかがう is commonly written in kana.
隙すきを窺うかがう
Kanji spelling for うかがう; less common but still seen.

Kanji

隙crevice, fissure, discord
窺lie in wait, spy on, reconnoiter

Similar words

隙すきを見みせる
隙を見せる means 'to show an opening' (unintentionally), while 隙をうかがう is the active side of watching for such an opening.
チャンスをうかがう
チャンスをうかがう is a more general 'wait for a chance', while 隙をうかがう specifically implies exploiting a moment of weakness or inattention.

Etymology

Compound of 隙 (すき, 'gap, opening, unguarded moment') + を + うかがう ('to watch for, to aim at'). The verb うかがう originally meant 'to peek' or 'to spy out', giving the phrase a nuance of stealthy observation.