合わす・合す|あわすawasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
合わす合わす is the more common written form; use it when writing the word with kanji and kana.
合す合す is a less common written form of the same word, so choose 合わす instead when writing for learners.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto match (rhythm, speed, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto join together; to unite; to combine; to add up
- godan verb, transitive verbto face; to be opposite (someone)
- godan verb, transitive verbto compare; to check with
- godan verb, transitive verbto cause to meet (e.g. an unpleasant fate)
- godan verb, transitive verbto place together; to connect; to overlap
- godan verb, transitive verbto mix; to combine
- godan verb, transitive verbto put blade to blade; to fight
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 合わす（あわす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 合わします（あわします） |
| Negative (nai) | 合わさない（あわさない） |
| polite (masen) | 合わしません（あわしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 合わさず・合わさぬ（あわさず・あわさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 合わした（あわした） |
| polite (mashita) | 合わしました（あわしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 合わさなかった（あわさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 合わしませんでした（あわしませんでした） |
| Te form | 合わして（あわして） |
| Potential | 合わせる（あわせる） |
| Passive | 合わされる（あわされる） |
| Causative | 合わさせる（あわさせる） |
| Causative passive | 合わさせられる（あわさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 合わせば（あわせば） |
| tara | 合わしたら（あわしたら） |
| Volitional | 合わそう（あわそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 合わしましょう（あわしましょう） |
| Imperative | 合わせ（あわせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym合わせるあわせるNeutralSame meaning, as in 「手を合わせる」; this ichidan form is the everyday modern choice, while 「合わす」 now sounds colloquial or dialectal.
- Synonym合成ごうせいNeutralMaking one thing out of several, or synthesizing new substances from elements, as in 「合成写真」「光合成」; 「合わす」 only brings things into accord.
- Synonym合するがっするWrittenWritten style: to merge or bring things together; rarely used today.
- Related組み合わせるくみあわせるNeutralCombines different parts into a set, as in 「色を組み合わせる」; stresses piecing parts together rather than matching.
- Related混ぜるまぜるNeutralStirs or blends things in, as in 「材料を混ぜる」; it has no sense of matching rhythm or speed.
- Related合体がったいNeutralBecoming a single body, like robots merging; stresses physical joining rather than matching.
- Related混合こんごうNeutralA noun for mixing things of different kinds, as in 「男女混合」「混合ダブルス」; 「合わす」 is a verb for making things match.
- Related混成こんせいWrittenWritten style for something formed by mixing categories, as in 「混成チーム」.
- Related合同ごうどうNeutralJoint action by several parties, as in 「合同練習」; stresses doing something together.
- Related入り混じるいりまじるNeutralIntransitive: people, voices, feelings and the like mingle in a jumble; 「合わす」 is transitive, actively bringing things together.
- Related混ぜ合わすまぜあわすNeutralTransitive: mixing things together evenly; examples in actual use are few.
- Related配合はいごうNeutralBlending several things in set proportions, as in 「色の配合」「配合飼料」; 「合わす」 is about things matching each other.
- Related調合ちょうごうNeutralMixing to a formula or standard, as in 「薬を調合する」; stresses precise proportioning.
- Related融合ゆうごうNeutralWritten style: merging so completely that qualities blend into one.
- Related化合かごうWrittenWritten, technical chemistry term: elements combining chemically into a new substance.
- Related当てはめるあてはめるNeutralApplying a rule or standard to a concrete case, as in 「規則に当てはめる」; about fitting to situations.
- Related合わさるあわさるNeutralIntransitive: things come together or join naturally, as in 「手のひらが合わさる」.
- Related混ざるまざるNeutralIntransitive: something gets mixed in or blended; it describes the mixing as it happens or its result, leaning toward natural blending.
- Related組み合わすくみあわすNeutralColloquial godan form of 「組み合わせる」 with the same meaning.
- Related混ぜ合わせるまぜあわせるNeutralBlends several things together evenly — cooking, paints, materials; 「合わす」 is about making things match, not necessarily merging them into one.
- Related混じり合うまじりあうNeutralIntransitive: things intermingle and blend into one another; the focus is on the mixed state that results, typically a natural blending.
- Related一体化いったいかNeutralWritten style: unifying separate things into one whole; stresses integration.
- Related混じるこんじるWrittenWritten style, read 「こんじる」: to be mixed in with other things; rare in modern usage.
- Related混ざり合うまざりあうNeutralIntransitive: things mix into each other, especially colors and sounds blending together.
- Related結び合わせるむすびあわせるNeutralTies or links two things together, or connects them logically; stresses forming a connection.
- Related一本化いっぽんかNeutralWritten style: consolidating scattered items — proposals, policies — into a single one.
- Antonym分かつわかつWrittenAntonym, written style: to divide or separate — the opposite of 「合わす」 bringing together.
- Antonym分けるわけるNeutralAntonym: to divide or split apart what 「合わす」 puts together.
- Antonym離すはなすNeutralAntonym: to part things that are in contact, as in 「手を離す」 — the opposite of fitting together.
Use 「合わす」 to bring things into accord — matching rhythm or speed, joining hands: 「手を合わす」「顔を合わす」. In modern Japanese 「合わせる」 is the usual form; 「合わす」 now sounds colloquial or dialectal. For combining parts into a set say 「組み合わせる」, and for mixing or stirring say 「混ぜる」. The rest are narrower: 「混ぜ合わせる」 blends ingredients evenly, 「合体」 is physical merging, 「合同」 is joint action, 「調合」 is mixing to a formula, 「合成」 is synthesis, 「当てはめる」 is applying rules to cases. Opposites: 「分ける」, 「離す」, and written 「分かつ」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
- あうようにする。
- 調合する。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
