会う

Uncertain. Inherited from Old Japanese. Theories of earliest origin include:^[1]

• Imitative of the upper and lower lips meeting
• Shortened from 二肖経 (フタアエフ futa aefu, two go-together)
• Shortened from アアフツ (aa futsu), the latter portion a variant of 二(ふた)つ (futatsu, “two”)
• Either 間(あい) (ai, “relation”) → 逢(あふ) (afu, “meeting”) → 会(あう) (au) or 逢(あふ) (afu) → 間(あい) (ai) → 会(あう) (au)

Various forms of あう (合, 会, 逢, 遭; “join; be together; meet”) are attested from the Middle Ages (c. 1185-1573).^[1] Compare 合(あ)う (au).

• (Tokyo) あう [áꜜù] (Atamadaka – [1])^[2][3][1]
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɯ̟]

• Audio:

  (file)

• (Kyoto) あう [àú] (Teiki – [0])^[4][1]

会(あ)う • (au) ^{←あふ (afu)?}intransitive godan (stem 会(あ)い (ai), past 会(あ)った (atta))

1. to meet with, see, meet again or for the first time

   会(あ)いたい ― aitai ― I miss you (literally, “I want to meet up [with you again]”)

   会(あ)いたかったんだ ― aitakatta n da ― I wanted to see [you again]; I'd missed you

   友(とも)達(だち)に会(あ)えなくなる

   tomodachi ni aenakunaru

   to become unable to see one's friends

   • 1923, 夢野久作, 約束:

     ある人(ひと)が橋(はし)の下(した)で友(とも)達(だち)に会(あ)う約(やく)束(そく)をして待(ま)っていた。

     Aru hito ga hashi no shita de tomodachi ni au yakusoku o shite matte ita.

     This person had arranged to meet their friend under a bridge and was waiting for them there.

   • 2016, Makoto Shinkai, director, 君の名は。 [Your Name.], spoken by Taki Tachibana (Mone Kamishiraishi), Toho:

     三(さん)年(ねん)前(まえ)…お前(まえ)はあの時(とき)　俺(おれ)に…会(あ)いに来(き)たんだ！

     San-nen mae… o-mae wa ano toki ore ni… ai ni kita nda!

     Three years ago… I remember now… you came to see me!

2. to come across, meet by accident, bump into

   Synonym: 出会う (deau)

   • 1929, 小林多喜二, 不在地主:

     誰(だれ)とも道(みち)で会(あ)わねばええな。

     Dare to mo michi de awaneba ē na.

     Let's hope you don't bump into anyone on the road.

3. to gather, to come together
4. to receive guests etc.