Translation and Meaning of: 見合わせる - miawaseru

On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 見合わせる (miawaseru) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.

Romaji: miawaseru

Kana: みあわせる

Type: verb

L: jlpt-n1

見合わせる

Translation / Meaning: exchange glances; to postpone; suspend operations; refrain from performing an action

Meaning in English: to exchange glances;to postpone;to suspend operations;to refrain from performing an action

Definition: Wait until the other person is available.

Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (見合わせる) miawaseru

The Japanese word 「見合わせる」 (miawaseru) is a compound verb that carries the idea of comparing or postponing an action. This term is formed by two main kanji: 「見」 (mi) which means "to see" or "to observe," and 「合わせる」 (awaseru), whose translation is "to join" or "to combine." Thus, in a general context, 「見合わせる」 suggests the idea of observing and then deciding to unite or combine, often related to adjusting or postponing decisions and actions based on observations.

Originally, 「見」 is a kanji that emerges from the combination of the radicals "eye" and "human", depicting the idea of a human observing something. On the other hand, 「合わせる」 comes from the verb 「合う」 (au), which means "to find" or "to combine", added to the causative form, changing its meaning to "to make combine" or "to put together". This structure is often used in Japanese to form verbs that imply joint or comparative actions.

The use of 「見合わせる」 can be quite broad. In everyday contexts, it can indicate the act of postponing a decision or reconsidering a plan, usually after carefully observing the current situation. This verb is often used in formal contexts, business, or in situations that require caution, such as in meetings where one needs to evaluate all aspects before moving forward with an important decision.

Moreover, 「見合わせる」 has variations that play specific roles. For example, in transportation contexts, it can be used to describe the temporary suspension of a service, suggesting that something has been put on hold to be properly analyzed before continuing. This flexibility in use demonstrates the importance of the context in which the word is applied, being an example of how the Japanese language can convey nuances through compound expressions.

Verbal conjugation of 見合わせる

See below a small list of verb conjugations: 見合わせる (miawaseru)

見合わせる - Positive Present Form
見合わせない - Present Negative Form
見合わせました - Positive Past Form
見合わせませんでした - Negative Past Form
見合わせてください - Imperative Form
見合わせたい - Volitive/Conditional Form

Synonyms and similar words

見送る (miokuru) - To dismiss; to send someone away.
中止する (chuushi suru) - Interrupt; stop something that has already started.
延期する (enki suru) - Postpone; delay something to a future moment.
一時停止する (ichiji teishi suru) - Temporarily pause; stop something for a short time.
保留する (horyuu suru) - Put on hold; decide not to proceed for now.