Japanese grammar
What does ～合う mean? Japanese grammar N4
～合う means to ~ each other, to ~ together.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V(ます形) + 合う |
| Romaji | ~ au |
| Meaning | to ~ each other, to ~ together |
Forming it
| Formula | V (drop ます) + 合う — 話します → 話し合う・助けます → 助け合う |
|---|---|
| Subject | usually plural, or 「A と B が ～合う」 |
| Conjugation | 合う is a Group 1 verb: 合います・合った・合って |
How to use it
Expresses a reciprocal action between two or more parties.
- 合う attaches after V(ます form) meaning "do ~ TO EACH OTHER": 「話し合う」(discuss with each other), 「助け合う」(help each other), 「見つめ合う」(look at each other).
- Since it expresses a RECIPROCAL action, the subject must be two or more parties: 「私たちは助け合っています」 or 「田中さんと山田さんが話し合いました」. This pattern is meaningless with a single-person subject.
- Distinguish from ～と＋ plain V: 「友だちと話しました」(talked with a friend — could be just me talking) ↔ 「友だちと話し合いました」(discussed with a friend — both exchanged opinions, serious, aiming for a conclusion). 話し合う emphasizes substantive RECIPROCITY.
- Commonly used group of words: 話し合う・助け合う・愛し合う・知り合う・出し合う・分け合う. Among these, 知り合う (get to know each other, become acquainted) produces the noun 知り合い (an acquaintance) — an important N4 vocabulary word.
Examples
この問題についてみんなで話し合いましょう。
Let's all discuss this problem together.
困った時は助け合うことが大切です。
It is important to help each other in times of trouble.
田中さんとは去年の夏に知り合いました。
I got to know Mr. Tanaka last summer.
Keep in mind
- Don't confuse this with the standalone verb 合う meaning "to fit, to suit": 「このシャツは私に合います」 (this shirt fits me) — that's an independent verb, not a suffix.
- 知り合い (an acquaintance) is a noun derived from this pattern — commonly seen in the reading section.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong昨日、天気について先生と話し合いました。
Yesterday I talked with the teacher about the weather.
Correct昨日、天気について先生と話しました。
話し合う means to DISCUSS back and forth SERIOUSLY in order to reach a conclusion. Small talk about the weather isn't an issue that needs "discussing" — it's just ordinary conversation, so 話す should be used.
-
Wrong私は一人で話し合いました。
I discussed it with a friend.
Correct私は友だちと話し合いました。
合う expresses a RECIPROCAL action → it must involve two or more parties, and cannot be used with 一人で (alone).
Exam tips
- Remember 知り合い (an acquaintance) — a noun derived from 知り合う, appearing very often in the N4 reading section.