出会い

• Reading: であい
• Romaji: deai
• Kanji breakdown: 出 (shutsu/de) — go out; 会 (kai/a) — meet
• Pronunciation: /de.a.i/

Meaning

Encounter; meeting; a chance meeting with someone or something new.

A noun derived from the verb 出会う (deau, to encounter/meet). Emphasises the chance or fateful nature of a meeting, unlike 会議 (kaigi, a planned meeting). Often used for romantic or life-changing encounters: 運命の出会い (unmei no deai, a fateful encounter). Common in everyday conversation, literature, and dating contexts.

Examples

1. 旅先での出会いが人生を変えることもある。 An encounter while traveling can sometimes change your life.
2. 彼との出会いは大学の図書館だった。 The place where I met him was the university library.
3. 新しい出会いを大切にしたいと思う。 I want to cherish new encounters.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, travel, life events

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Noun form of 出会う, combining 出 (de, going out) and 会う (au, to meet). The nuance is of going out and running into someone — an unplanned meeting.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal