1.
facing each other; sitting opposite; face to face
A seating or spatial arrangement where two people or things are positioned directly across from each other.
向かい合わせに座った。
We sat facing each other.
電車の向かい合わせの席は少し気まずい。
The facing seats on the train are a little awkward.
二人はテーブルを挟んで向かい合わせに座り、静かに話し始めた。
The two sat across from each other at the table and quietly began to talk.
Describes a spatial arrangement where two things or people directly face one another. Most commonly used for seating arrangements on trains, at tables, or in waiting rooms.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 向かい合わせに座る: to sit facing each other
- 向かい合わせの席: facing seats
- 向かい合わせの家: the house directly opposite
- 向かい合わせに並べる: to arrange facing each other
USAGE:
Typically used as an adverbial phrase with に (向かい合わせに) or as a noun modifier with の (向かい合わせの席). On Japanese trains, some cars have 向かい合わせ seating (box seats facing each other) while others have forward-facing rows.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 向かい: across the way, opposite (refers to a location across from you)
- 対面: face-to-face meeting or encounter (emphasizes the act of meeting rather than the spatial arrangement)
- 正面: the front; directly in front of something