交わす

かわす
Alternative writings: 交す
JLPT:N1
Frequency:

1To exchange greetings, words, letters, business cards, promises, etc. with someone; to trade communication or feelings back and forth.

Group 1 VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

初対面の二人は、まず名刺を交わした。

Meeting for the first time, the two of them first exchanged business cards.

隣の人とは毎朝、挨拶を交わす。

I exchange greetings with my neighbor every morning.

両社は署名して、正式に契約を交わした。

The two companies signed and formally entered into a contract.

見知らぬ人と二言三言、言葉を交わした。

I exchanged a few words with a stranger.

2To cross or interlace (blades, glances, etc.); to bring two things into intersection, as when swords clash.

Group 1 VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

二人の剣士は舞台の上で激しく刃を交わした。

The two swordsmen crossed blades fiercely on the stage.

両軍の武将が一騎打ちで太刀を交わした。

The generals of the two armies crossed swords in single combat.

3As a suffix on the masu-stem of a verb, it means to do the action with one another — e.g. 酌み交わす (to drink together), 見交わす (to exchange glances), 言い交わす (to exchange vows).

SuffixGroup 1 Verb

Examples

久しぶりに友と酒を酌み交わした。

I drank together with an old friend for the first time in ages.

二人はそっと目を見交わして微笑んだ。

The two of them quietly exchanged glances and smiled.

Word Relationships

Synonyms