1.
to touch directly; to come into direct contact
To physically touch something without a barrier or intermediary. Used literally for physical contact.
素手で直に触れないでください。
Please don't touch it directly with bare hands.
薬品に直に触れると危険だ。
It's dangerous to touch chemicals directly.
2.
to experience firsthand; to encounter directly
To have a direct, personal encounter with something such as a culture, nature, or an art form, without mediation.
現地の文化に直に触れることが留学の醍醐味だ。
Experiencing the local culture firsthand is the best part of studying abroad.
本物の芸術に直に触れる機会は貴重だ。
Opportunities to experience real art firsthand are precious.
自然に直に触れることで、子どもたちの感性が育つ。
Children's sensibility develops through direct contact with nature.
被災地の現状に直に触れて、支援の必要性を痛感した。
After experiencing the conditions in the disaster area firsthand, I keenly felt the need for support.
USAGE:
直に means "directly, without intermediary" and 触れる means "to touch." The figurative sense (sense 2) is very common and describes immersive, personal experience that goes beyond secondhand knowledge from books or TV.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～に直に触れる (to directly touch/experience ~)
- 直に触れる機会 (an opportunity for direct contact)
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 直接触れる: to touch directly — similar but more formal
- 肌で感じる: to feel with one's skin — emphasizes sensory experience