避ける

• Reading: さける
• Romaji: sakeru
• Kanji breakdown: 避 (hi/sa) — to avoid, to evade
• Pronunciation: /sa.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To avoid; to evade; to steer clear of. Used for keeping away from danger, trouble, or undesirable situations.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る. Used for both physical avoidance (dodging an obstacle) and abstract avoidance (avoiding a topic). Related to 回避 (avoidance). Note: also read よける for physically dodging objects. Very useful in daily conversation and formal writing alike.

Examples

1. 混雑を避けるために早く出発した。 We left early to avoid the crowds.
2. 甘いものをできるだけ避けている。 I try to avoid sweets as much as possible.
3. 危険な場所は避けたほうがいい。 It's better to stay away from dangerous places.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, health, travel

Tone: cautious

Origin & History

The kanji 避 combines 辶 (road) and 辟 (to push away), meaning to take a path that pushes away from something — to avoid.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal