Japanese

せる

まちぶせる
Meaning: to lie in wait; to ambush
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 待ち伏せる 待ち伏せない
Polite 待ち伏せます 待ち伏せません
Past 待ち伏せた 待ち伏せなかった
Polite + Past 待ち伏せました 待ち伏せませんでした
Te-form 待ち伏せて 待ち伏せなくて
Potential 待ち伏せられる 待ち伏せられない
Passive 待ち伏せられる 待ち伏せられない
Causative 待ち伏せさせる 待ち伏せさせない
Imperative 待ち伏せろ 待ち伏せるな

Handwriting

待
ち
伏
せ
る

Example

The police lay in wait for the criminal in an alley and caught him right away.

Usage Notes

Used when someone waits in advance, often hidden, in order to surprise, catch, or attack a person or animal.

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