What's the difference between 触る and 触れる?


These two seem to overlap almost completely. The only thing I can really tell
is that `触れる` seems that it can also be used in a metaphorical sense ("touch
on" something; feel; perceive). I'm interested in how they are different in
the sense of physically touching something. It seems like they can almost
always be used interchangeably, but I hardly see `触る` as much as `触れる`. Yet
earlier, I was reading my Japanese Bible, and within a few lines of each
other, they are both used.

> ...女が近寄って来て、後ろからイエスの服の[房]{ふさ}に **触れた** 。  
>  
>  _(a few lines down the same page)_  
>  
>  イエスが二人の目に **触り**...見えるようになった。

How do you choose which one to use when speaking of physical touch? Do certain
circumstances or situations warrant one over the other?

**Related question** : Is the potential form of `触る` (= `さわれる`) ever used?
Because when reading `ふれる`, I'll often reading it as `さわれる` and then have to
correct myself.




You're right that 触れる can be used metaphorically, but 触る is normally reserved
for physical touch only.

触る generally indicates a stronger, more intentional kind of "touch" than 触れる.
From the other perspective, 触れる is often used to convey a sense of gentle or
light touching, or even "brushing against" something.

Note that it's possible to use the particle を with the object of 触る, but you
shouldn't use を with 触れる.

There's no grammatical problem with saying 触れる（さわれる）, and in this case it's
the job of the reader to discern from context whether the writer intended さわれる
or ふれる. However, I think ふれる would be far more common, just because we don't
often have occasion make a statement about our ability to touch something.




You're right that 触れる can be used metaphorically, but 触る is normally reserved
for physical touch only.

触る generally indicates a stronger, more intentional kind of "touch" than 触れる.
From the other perspective, 触れる is often used to convey a sense of gentle or
light touching, or even "brushing against" something.

Note that it's possible to use the particle を with the object of 触る, but you
shouldn't use を with 触れる.

There's no grammatical problem with saying 触れる（さわれる）, and in this case it's
the job of the reader to discern from context whether the writer intended さわれる
or ふれる. However, I think ふれる would be far more common, just because we don't
often have occasion make a statement about our ability to touch something.

