待ち合わせる
machiawaseru[ma̠t͡ɕia̠β̞a̠se̞ɾɯ̟]
To meet up in Japanese is 待ち合わせる (machiawaseru).
待ち合わせる is an intransitive verb used to describe coming together with someone, typically at a prearranged time and location. The noun form, 待ち合わせ, refers to the actual appointment or rendezvous itself.
Meaning: intransitive: to come together with (someone), often at a prearranged time and/or location (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 待ち合わせる specifically implies a planned rendezvous at a specific spot, the more general verb 会う (au) is used for the broader concepts of meeting or seeing someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an intransitive verb, 待ち合わせる is typically used with the particle で (de) to indicate the location of the meeting and with the particle と (to) to indicate the person being met.
How do you pronounce it?
machiawaseru
Did you know?
- If a person is late for a 待ち合わせ, they often send a message saying あと5分 meaning '5 more minutes', even if they are actually 10 or 15 minutes away.
- The word 合わせる inside 待ち合わせる means 'to match' or 'to align', suggesting that meeting up is the act of aligning one's time and place with another person.
- In Japanese culture, if you are late for a 待ち合わせ, it is common to apologize for 'making the other person wait' rather than simply 'being late'. The focus is on the social debt of the time lost by the other person.
Examples in context
- 大学の図書館でお会いしましょう。Let's meet at the university library.
- 会議の後で会いませんか？Shall we meet after the meeting?
- 会社の代表者と面会したいと思います。I would like to meet with the company representative.
- 今週末、映画館で会いましょう。Let's meet up at the movie theater this weekend.
- ひま？ 今からカフェで会おうよ！Are you free? Let's meet up at the cafe now!
- 明日、どこかで会わない？How about meeting somewhere tomorrow?
- 友達と駅前で集まりましょう！Let's meet up in front of the station with our friends!
- どこで待ち合わせる？Doko de machiawaseru?Where shall we meet up?
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are planning a day out.
- 陽葵 Himari明日、何時に待ち合わせる？Ashita, nan-ji ni machiawaseru?What time shall we meet up tomorrow?
- 健太 Kenta10時にしようか。Ju-ji ni shiyou ka.How about 10 o'clock?
- 陽葵 Himariいいよ。どこで待ち合わせる？Ii yo. Doko de machiawaseru?Sounds good. Where shall we meet up?
- 健太 Kenta駅の改札口で待ってるね。Eki no kaisatsuguchi de matteru ne.I'll be waiting for you at the station ticket gate.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 待ち合わせる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
