is an adverb that goes in front of the verb: you do something on purpose although it is hard, risky or not what people would expect, and you know that when you choose it. It is ordinary in speech and in writing, and it is usually spelled in kana,
.
。
I dared to voice an opposing opinion.
。
I deliberately chose the dangerous path.
。
The director deliberately cast an unknown actor in the lead.
With a negative verb, it means you hold back on purpose where something would be expected of you.
。
I deliberately said nothing.
。
I will purposely not go into detail.
敢えて or わざと
is "on purpose" as opposed to "by accident", and it usually describes something unkind or unfair. 敢えて is a choice made against difficulty or expectation, and the speaker presents it as a reasoned one.
。
I chose to say something harsh.
Said for the listener's good.
- × 敢えて私の足を踏んだ → わざと私の足を踏んだ
Usage notes
These go beyond doing something on purpose.
敢えて言えば
and
mean "if I had to say": you pick an answer when none is obvious, or you say something you would rather not.
、。
If I had to choose, I prefer the blue one.
、。
If I may be so bold, you are wrong.
敢えて〜必要はない
With , it means there is no reason to go out of your way to do something.
。
There is no need to go out of your way to take risks.
Lingaku