Meaning & readings
vis-a-vis, opposite, even, equal, versus, anti-, compare
On’yomi タイ、ツイ
Kun’yomi あいて、こた.える、そろ.い、つれあ.い、なら.ぶ、むか.う
Nanori つし
Origin
This character combines two measurement-related components. The left part, meaning "pattern" or "marking," suggests something defined or delineated. The right part represents a hand measuring or a unit of measure. Together, they evoke the idea of two things placed side by side for comparison or measurement—the fundamental notion of facing each other or being matched as equals. Over time, this visual metaphor of comparable or opposing elements evolved to mean "opposite," "versus," or "pair."
AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).
Common words
- 応対 おうたい dealing with (people, customers, complaints, etc.); receiving (callers, visitors, etc.)
- 絶対 ぜったい absolutely; definitely
- 相対 あいたい involving only the parties concerned; tete-a-tete
- 対案 たいあん counter-proposal; counter-suggestion
- 対応 たいおう correspondence (to); equivalence
- 対外 たいがい external; foreign
- 対岸 たいがん opposite shore
- 対決 たいけつ confrontation; showdown
Reference
- Strokes
- 7
- Kangxi radical
- 41
- Grade
- Grade 3 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #34 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 2
- Unicode
- U+05BFE