Meaning and Usage
The verb 交わる (まじわる) primarily means "to cross" or "to intersect," often used for roads, lines, or paths. It also means "to mingle with" or "to associate with," referring to people or groups interacting or mixing.
Common Contexts
You will often see 交わる used when describing physical intersections, such as roads or rivers crossing each other. It is also common in social contexts where people or cultures interact or mix.
Collocations and Patterns
- 交わる道 (まじわるみち): intersecting roads
- 交わる文化 (まじわるぶんか): cultures that mix or intersect
- 人と交わる (ひととまじわる): to mingle or associate with people
Register and Nuance
This verb is neutral in formality and can be used in both written and spoken Japanese. It often implies a mutual or reciprocal interaction.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 交わる with 交ざる (まざる), which also means "to mix," but 交わる often implies crossing or mutual interaction, while 交ざる is more about blending or mixing without necessarily implying interaction.