1.
to happen to be present, to be on the scene by chance
To be at a particular place when something occurs, without having planned to be there. Emphasizes the coincidental nature of one's presence.
偶然居合わせた医師が助けた。
A doctor who happened to be there helped.
事故の現場に居合わせた人が証言した。
A person who happened to be at the scene of the accident gave testimony.
レストランで食事をしていたら、有名人に居合わせて驚いた。
I was surprised to find myself in the same restaurant as a celebrity while having dinner.
CONJUGATION:
Ichidan verb (一段動詞).
- Negative: 居合わせない
- Polite: 居合わせます
- Te-form: 居合わせて
- Past: 居合わせた
USAGE:
居合わせる most commonly appears in the past tense (居合わせた) as a relative clause modifying a person: 居合わせた人 (a person who happened to be there). It is frequently used in news reports about accidents, crimes, and emergencies.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 偶然居合わせる: to happen to be present by chance
- 現場に居合わせる: to be present at the scene
- 居合わせた人: a bystander, a person who happened to be there