会合|かいごうkaigou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbmeeting; assembly; gathering
   これはとても大切たいせつな会合かいごうだ。↗

   This is a very important meeting.
2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, chemistryassociation
3. noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, astronomyconjunction

• Synonym集会しゅうかいNeutralA gathering of many people for a common purpose, often public, as in 「抗議集会」; 「会合」 usually means meeting to discuss or confer.
• Synonym会議かいぎNeutralA formal meeting to discuss an agenda and make decisions, as in 「会議室」; also a decision-making body. More formal and structured than 「会合」.
• SynonymミーティングNeutralLoanword for a work meeting or quick catch-up; common in speech, especially business. 「会合」 is more written in tone and also covers general gatherings.
• Synonym会かいNeutralCovers meetings and parties generally, and also organizations, as in 「同窓会」; often a suffix. 「会合」 refers only to the gathering, not the group.
• SynonymあうNeutralEveryday verb for meeting or running into someone, usually one-on-one; 「会合」 is people gathering for a purpose, or the gathering itself.
• Synonym寄り集まるよりあつまるNeutralVerb for people or things crowding together in one place, stressing the act of gathering; 「会合」 is a noun for the meeting itself.
• Synonym参集さんしゅうFormalFormal written word, common in notices, as in 「関係者が参集する」; stresses people coming from various places to assemble at a spot.
• Synonym集いつどいWrittenNative-Japanese word for a gathering of people, as in 「市民の集い」 or 「追悼の集い」; often an event name. 「会合」 leans toward business discussions.
• Synonym集合しゅうごうNeutralAssembling at an agreed place, as in 「駅に集合」; stresses the act of mustering and also means a set in math. 「会合」 is the gathering itself.
• Synonym集まりあつまりNeutralEveryday word for any gathering or get-together, as in 「町内の集まり」; also the state of being assembled. More colloquial and casual than 「会合」.
• Synonym会するかいするWrittenWritten verb, mostly in 「一堂に会する」, for people coming together; can also mean to encounter. 「会合」 is a noun.
• Related集結しゅうけつWrittenWritten word for troops or forces massing in one place, as in 「兵力を集結する」; can be transitive. 「会合」 is people meeting to discuss.
• Related会同かいどうWrittenRare written term for assembling for a meeting or such a gathering, seen in formal documents; in everyday use prefer 「会合」 or 「会議」.
• Related顔を合わせるかおをあわせるNeutralIdiom for meeting or coming face to face; also co-starring or facing off in a contest. Does not refer to an organized gathering.
• Antonym解散かいさんNeutralAntonym: people dispersing after gathering, or an organization dissolving, as in 「会議後に解散する」 — the opposite of coming together for a 「会合」.

Use 「会合」 for a gathering held to meet or discuss; 「会議」 for formal decision-making meetings, 「ミーティング」 for business catch-ups, 「集まり」 for casual get-togethers, and 「集合」 for assembling at an agreed spot. 「解散」 is the opposite — breaking up.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 会議かいぎなどのために一ひとつの場所ばしょに集あつまること。また、そのような集あつまり。寄合よりあい。
2. でくわすこと。合流ごうりゅうすること。