合う|あうau[1]atamadaka (head-high)
おうou
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto come together; to merge; to unite; to meet
- godan verb, intransitive verbto fit; to match; to suit; to agree with; to be correct
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be profitable; to be equitable
- auxiliary verb, godan verbto do ... to each other; to do ... togetherafter the -masu stem of a verb
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 合う（あう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 合います（あいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 合わない（あわない） |
| polite (masen) | 合いません（あいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 合わず・合わぬ（あわず・あわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 合った（あった） |
| polite (mashita) | 合いました（あいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 合わなかった（あわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 合いませんでした（あいませんでした） |
| Te form | 合って（あって） |
| Potential | 合える（あえる） |
| Passive | 合われる（あわれる） |
| Causative | 合わせる（あわせる） |
| Causative passive | 合わせられる・合わされる（あわせられる・あわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 合えば（あえば） |
| tara | 合ったら（あったら） |
| Volitional | 合おう（あおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 合いましょう（あいましょう） |
| Imperative | 合え（あえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym調和ちょうわWrittenRefers to overall harmony and balance, as in 「色の調和」; written style. 「合う」 is more colloquial and stresses two things fitting each other.
- Synonym一致いっちNeutralMeans being exactly the same or in full agreement, as in 「意見が一致する」; stresses that there is no difference at all.
- SynonymフィットCasualLoanword for a close fit in size or for adapting well, as in 「体にフィットする」; colloquial.
- Synonym適合てきごうWrittenMeeting conditions or specifications, as in 「基準に適合する」; formal, written style.
- Synonym似合うにあうNeutralClothes or a look suiting a person, as in 「よく似合う」.
- Synonym適するてきするWrittenSuits a purpose or condition, as in 「栽培に適する土地」; written style.
- SynonymあてはまるNeutralA case falling under or satisfying a condition, as in 「条件に当てはまる」.
- SynonymはまるCasualFits snugly into a space, or colloquially to get hooked on something, as in 「ゲームにはまる」.
- SynonymマッチCasualLoanword for things pairing or going well together, as in 「色がマッチする」; also means a sports match.
- RelatedふさわしいWrittenAdjective for being appropriate to one's status or the occasion, as in 「その地位にふさわしい」; written style.
- Related釣り合うつりあうNeutralTwo things balancing or being evenly matched, as in 「収支が釣り合う」.
- Related和合わごうWrittenLiving in harmony and concord, as in 「夫婦和合」; has an old-fashioned flavor.
- Related見合うみあうNeutralBeing proportionate to the effort or cost involved, as in 「努力に見合う報酬」.
- Antonym違うちがうNeutralAntonym of 「合う」: to differ or be inconsistent, as in 「答えが違う」.
- Antonym合わないCasualAntonym of 「合う」: not fitting or not matching, as in 「サイズが合わない」.
Use 「合う」 by default for things fitting, matching or suiting. For exact agreement pick 「一致」, for harmony 「調和」, for clothes suiting someone 「似合う」, for a close size fit 「フィット」, for meeting conditions 「当てはまる」, and for being proportionate or appropriate 「ふさわしい」 or 「見合う」.
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
