合わせる・併せる・合せる|あわせるawaseru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
合わせる合わせる（あわせる） is the most common written form. It uses a mixture of kanji and kana.
併せる併せる（あわせる） is less common than 合わせる（あわせる）. It is also written with a mixture of kanji and kana.
合せる合せる（あわせる） is the least common of the three written forms. It uses a mixture of kanji and kana.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto match (rhythm, speed, etc.)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto join together; to unite; to combine; to add up
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto face; to be opposite (someone)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto compare; to check with君の答えを彼の答えと合わせてみなさい。↗Check your answers with his.
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto cause to meet (e.g. an unpleasant fate)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto place together; to connect; to overlap
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto mix; to combine
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto put blade to blade; to fight
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 合わせる（あわせる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 合わせます（あわせます） |
| Negative (nai) | 合わせない（あわせない） |
| polite (masen) | 合わせません（あわせません） |
| classical zu / nu | 合わせず・合わせぬ（あわせず・あわせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 合わせた（あわせた） |
| polite (mashita) | 合わせました（あわせました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 合わせなかった（あわせなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 合わせませんでした（あわせませんでした） |
| Te form | 合わせて（あわせて） |
| Potential | 合わせられる（あわせられる） |
| Passive | 合わせられる（あわせられる） |
| Causative | 合わせさせる（あわせさせる） |
| Causative passive | 合わせさせられる（あわせさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 合わせれば（あわせれば） |
| tara | 合わせたら（あわせたら） |
| Volitional | 合わせよう（あわせよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 合わせましょう（あわせましょう） |
| Imperative | 合わせろ（あわせろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
手を合わせる
合わさる describes things coming together on their own or being in a joined state, while 合わせる focuses on someone deliberately bringing them together.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym合わすあわすCasualA godan-conjugation variant of 「合わせる」 with essentially the same meaning; heard mostly in colloquial speech and the Kansai dialect.
- Related組み合わせるくみあわせるNeutralCombines several things into a set (「色を組み合わせる」), stressing how they are paired up. 「合わせる」 also covers matching rhythm or speed and aligning, which this does not.
- Related混ぜるまぜるNeutralStirs something else in so everything blends together (「卵を混ぜる」). 「合わせる」 is about aligning, matching or joining, and need not involve mixing.
- Related結びつけるむすびつけるNeutralTies things with string, or links two matters together (「努力を結果に結びつける」); the point is building a connection between them.
- Related交えるまじえるWrittenWritten-style: mixes something in or includes it (「冗談を交えて話す」), or covers exchanging words and crossing blades (「刃を交える」).
- RelatedはめるNeutralFits something into a hole or frame, or slips it on (「指輪をはめる」); the point is getting it into place, while 「合わせる」 is about aligning.
- Related混じるまじるNeutralIntransitive: something is mixed in among other things (「白髪が混じる」), or a person joins a group. 「合わせる」 is transitive.
- Related整えるととのえるNeutralPuts things into a neat, proper state (「髪を整える」); the point is orderliness, not the aligning or matching that 「合わせる」 expresses.
- Related混合こんごうWrittenSino-Japanese noun for things of different natures being mixed (「混合物」「男女混合」); leans written and technical.
- Related合成ごうせいWrittenCombines several things into one, or refers to chemical synthesis (「合成写真」「合成樹脂」); a technical term.
- Related混成こんせいWrittenDescribes groups made up of different kinds of people or things (「混成チーム」「混成合唱」); mostly used as a modifier.
- Related合体がったいNeutralFuses two or more things into a single body — robots, organizational mergers. 「合わせる」 need not make things one.
- Related取り合わせるとりあわせるWrittenWritten-style: picks and combines things so they go well together (「季節の花を取り合わせる」); the point is a well-matched selection.
- Related当てはめるあてはめるNeutralApplies a rule or formula to a concrete case (「条件に当てはめる」); the point is applicability rather than joining.
- Related混ざるまざるNeutralIntransitive: things end up mixed together (「水と油は混ざらない」); close to 「混じる」 but more colloquial.
- Related混ぜ合わせるまぜあわせるNeutralMixes different things thoroughly and evenly — used for cooking, seasonings, paints. Stresses two or more components more than 「混ぜる」 does.
- Relatedはめ込むはめこむNeutralSets or inlays something (「ガラスをはめ込む」), and can also mean tricking someone; stronger than 「嵌める」 in the sense of wedging something in.
- Related混じり合うまじりあうNeutralIntransitive: describes things mingling with each other (「色が混じり合う」). 「合わせる」 is transitive, the act of bringing things together.
- Related取り混ぜるとりまぜるWrittenWritten-style: mixes items of different kinds together (「大小取り混ぜて」); often used when listing a varied assortment.
- Related練り合わせるねりあわせるNeutralKneads several things together into a uniform blend (「粉と水を練り合わせる」「薬剤を練り合わせる」); 「合わせる」 involves no kneading.
- Related合するがっするWrittenFormal written word for joining or merging (「二つの川が合する」); in everyday speech say 「合わせる」 or 「合流する」.
- Antonym分けるわけるNeutralDivides a whole into parts or shares things out — the opposite of 「合わせる」, which brings things together.
- Antonym分離するWrittenWritten and technical: separates things that were mixed, detaching one from another (「油を分離する」); the opposite of 「合わせる」.
Default to 「合わせる」 for aligning or matching (rhythm, speed), joining things, or facing someone. Use 「組み合わせる」 to pair things into a set, 「混ぜる」 to stir something in, 「当てはめる」 to apply a rule, 「嵌める」「はめ込む」 to fit into a hole or frame, 「結びつける」 to link two things, 「整える」 to tidy up. The 混- words imply actual blending, which 「合わせる」 need not; 「混じる」「混ざる」「混じり合う」 are intransitive. 「交える」「取り混ぜる」「混合」「合成」「混成」「取り合わせる」「合する」 are written-style; 「合わす」 is a colloquial variant. 「合体」 is fusing into one body. Opposites: 「分ける」, 「分離する」.
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
