収集・蒐集|しゅうしゅうshuushuu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
収集収集 is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners. It covers collecting or accumulating things, including collections of art, stamps, or insects.
蒐集蒐集 is a rarely used kanji form of 収集. You may encounter it in writing about collecting or collections, but beginners should use 収集 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbcollecting; accumulating; gathering
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbcollection (of art, stamps, insects, etc.)
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbgarbage collection; waste collection
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 収集する（しゅうしゅうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 収集します（しゅうしゅうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 収集しない（しゅうしゅうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 収集しません（しゅうしゅうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 収集せず・収集せぬ（しゅうしゅうせず・しゅうしゅうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 収集した（しゅうしゅうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 収集しました（しゅうしゅうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 収集しなかった（しゅうしゅうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 収集しませんでした（しゅうしゅうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 収集して（しゅうしゅうして） |
| Potential | 収集できる（しゅうしゅうできる） |
| Passive | 収集される（しゅうしゅうされる） |
| Causative | 収集させる（しゅうしゅうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 収集させられる（しゅうしゅうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 収集すれば（しゅうしゅうすれば） |
| tara | 収集したら（しゅうしゅうしたら） |
| Volitional | 収集しよう（しゅうしゅうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 収集しましょう（しゅうしゅうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 収集しろ（しゅうしゅうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym採集さいしゅうWrittenWritten style: gathering specimens or samples, typically for research or surveys, as in 「昆虫採集」.
- Synonym集めるあつめるNeutralThe everyday all-purpose word for collecting or gathering; 「収集」 sounds more systematic, as in 「情報収集」.
- Related集積しゅうせきWrittenWritten style: things massing together in one spot, as in 「集積回路」; the focus is on concentration in one place rather than the act of collecting.
- Related蓄積ちくせきWrittenWritten style: gradual accumulation, often abstract, as in 「疲労の蓄積」; it is about building up over time, not gathering items.
- Related拾うひろうNeutralMeans picking up individual things, as in 「ゴミを拾う」; it covers single items rather than collecting as a systematic activity.
- RelatedまとめるNeutralMeans bringing things together and organizing them, as in 「意見をまとめる」; it stresses tidying into a whole, not the collecting itself.
- Related取り集めるとりあつめるNeutralGathers scattered things into one place, but it is rare; in everyday speech 「集める」 is the natural choice.
- RelatedコレクトNeutralA loanword for collecting, but rarely used; say 「集める」 or 「収集」 instead.
- Related寄せ集めるよせあつめるNeutralMeans scraping things together from all over, as in 「寄せ集めのチーム」; unlike 「収集」 it suggests a haphazard, patchy result.
- Relatedかき集めるかきあつめるCasualColloquial: to frantically scrape things up, as in 「お金をかき集める」; it suggests hurried, desperate gathering rather than systematic collecting.
- Related溜め込むためこむCasualColloquial: to hoard or stockpile, as in 「お金を溜め込む」; it stresses stashing things away for oneself, not collecting as a pursuit.
Use 「収集」 for systematic collecting of data, collections, or garbage, as in 「情報収集」 and 「ゴミ収集」. In daily conversation 「集める」 is the default; for scraping things together say 「寄せ集める」, for specimens 「採集」, and for gradual buildup 「蓄積」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
