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道Nihongo Path

気配

けはい

sign, indication, hint, presence (felt rather than seen)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 秋の気配が感じられた。

    あきのけはいがかんじられた。

    There was a hint of autumn in the air.

  2. 誰かが来る気配がした。

    だれかがくるけはいがした。

    I sensed that someone was coming.

  3. 雨はやむ気配がない。

    あめはやむけはいがない。

    There is no sign of the rain letting up.

Common patterns

気配がする
to sense a presence
気配を感じる
to feel a sign or presence
気配がない
to show no sign of

Memory tip

気配 is something you sense in the atmosphere rather than observe directly — a presence behind you, a season in the air. 兆候 is an objective symptom or indicator you could point to.

Kanji in this word

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What does 気配 mean?