「あえて」: The Master Trick to 'Dare' to be Different

Have you ever been in a situation where everyone chose option A, but you believed option B was the right one? Or when you chose to do something more difficult even though there was an easier way right in front of you? 🤔

That's exactly when the Japanese use 「あえて」(aete), a powerful adverb to express the action of "daring", "deliberately", "purposely" doing something that goes against the norm or expectation.

It's not just simply "on purpose" like 「わざと」 (which often has a negative connotation). 「あえて」 implies a reason, a deeper purpose behind the action. ✨

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The Nuances of 「あえて」

Let's look at some examples to see how effective this word is!

1. Daring to go against the majority 🗣️

みんなが賛成しているけど、あえて反対意見を言います。 (Even though everyone agrees, I will dare to state my opposing opinion.)

👉 Here, 「あえて」 emphasizes the courage to offer a contrary view, even knowing it might not be popular.

2. Deliberately choosing the harder path 🚶‍♂️

簡単な方法もあったけど、自分の成長のためにあえて難しい方を選んだ。 (There was an easier way, but for my own growth, I purposely chose the more difficult path.)

👉 This action shows determination and foresight, not choosing the easy way out.

3. Purposely doing something unnecessary (to show subtlety) 💝

メールでも済む要件だったが、感謝を伝えたくてあえて電話した。 (This was a matter that could have been handled by email, but wanting to convey my gratitude, I deliberately made a phone call.)

👉 A phone call shows more sincerity than an email. 「あえて」 here expresses thoughtfulness and subtlety.

4. Purposely NOT doing something 🤫

彼を傷つけないように、あえてそのことには触れなかった。 (In order not to hurt him, I chose not to touch upon that matter.)

👉 This is a very interesting nuance! 「あえて」 can also be used for the action of "not doing something," showing that the silence or avoidance was entirely intentional, usually out of kindness.

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The Key Point 🎯

When you use 「あえて」, you're implicitly saying: "I know there's an easier/more obvious choice, but I've considered it and decided to do this for a specific reason."

It shows you're not someone who acts impulsively, but someone who is thoughtful, strategic, and sometimes very bold.

Next time you want to express a "purposeful" action of yours, try using 「あえて」. Your sentence will surely have much more depth and "substance"!