Having a bad experience with

目(め)に遭(あ)う means to go through an unpleasant experience. The word before 目 describes what happened, as in ひどい目に遭う (have a terrible experience).

This expression is commonly used with the following words:

  • ひどい (terrible experience)
  • つらい (painful experience)
  • 怖い (scary experience)
  • いやな (unpleasant experience)

Examples

Experiencing danger during hide-and-seek with 〜目にあう

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Experiencing danger during hide-and-seek with 〜目にあう.
名探偵コナン » Volume 9 » Page 28

During a hide-and-seek game at the park, Ayumi hides in a car trunk and falls asleep. She wakes to find the car moving and discovers a bag of money, a slimy saw, and what seems like a severed head. Conan, tracking her via their Detective Boys badges, prepares to pursue on his electric skateboard. Genta and Mitsuhiko join him on it, but Conan urges them to stay behind due to the danger.

元太(げんた):
「歩美(あゆみ)が危(あぶ)ない目(め)にあってんのに、じっとしてられっかよ!!」
“Ayumi is in danger, so how can I just stand by and do nothing?”
光彦(みつひこ):
「そうですよ!! 女性(じょせい)をお守(まも)りするのは男(おとこ)の義務(ぎむ)ですからね!!」
“That's right! It's a man's duty to protect women!”

Had a bad experience in Nara with 〜目に遭う

Manga panel from それでも歩は寄せてくる showing example of Had a bad experience in Nara with 〜目に遭う.
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 8 » Page 27

While in Nara on a class trip, Urushi and her friends stop to feed to deer. As the hungry animals completely surround Urushi, her friends discuss their schedule, ignoring Urushi’s plight. When Urushi finally returns to her group, she demands to know why no one came to her rescue.

うるし:
「まったく… ひどい目(め)に遭(あ)ったぞ」
“Seriously… I had a terrible experience.”
「シカは恐(おそ)ろしいな…」
“Deer are scary…”
ミク:
「落(お)とし物(もの)とかしてないー?」
“Did you drop anything?”

Such an experience being attacked with 〜目に遭う

Manga panel from 美少女戦士セーラームーン showing example of Such an experience being attacked with 〜目に遭う.
美少女戦士セーラームーン » Volume 1 » Page 37

After an unexpected transformation into a warrior of justice, Usagi learns that her friend Naru is in danger. When she gets to the jewelry shop owned by Naru’s family, Usagi is violently attacked by a mind-controlled crowd.

うさぎ:
「どうして あたしがこんな目(め)に遭(あ)うのっ!?」
“Why is this happening to me?”

Supplemental Examples