Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 15/22

合(あ)う

To or for one another, Mutually, With

Structure

Verb［ます］+ 合(あ)う

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About 合う

When following the conjunctive form of another verb, the う - Verb 合(あ)う means to do that action in concert with another person/group. This is often translated as 'to mutually do (A)', or 'to do (A) for one another'. Realistically, it just means 'to do (A) reciprocally', with involvement from both sides being required. In this usage, 合(あ)う is considered to be a suffix.
This construction is often used with expressions like お互(たが)いに 'mutually', which simply emphasizes the point.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)と将来(しょうらい)の事(こと)を話(はな)し合(あ)う。
    I am going to talk with my girlfriend about our future.
  • 子供(こども)たちがおもちゃを取(と)り合(あ)うのを見(み)てお兄(にい)ちゃんの事(こと)を思(おも)い出(だ)した。
    The kids were fighting with each other over a toy, and that reminded me of my older brother.
  • 友達(ともだち)とポケモンカードを見(み)せ合(あ)う。
    My friend and I showed each other our Pokemon cards.
Fun Fact
While 合(あ)う is regularly translated as 'to fit', or 'to meet' in English, its meaning is somewhat broader in Japanese. 合(あ)う means to perform an action 'as one', where it is not possible (or would be difficult) to complete the action by oneself. Due to this, it is regularly used to describe ideal situations in which individuals should be doing something together, without thinking about their own personal gain.
  • こういう時(とき)こそ、助(たす)け合(あ)うのが大切(たいせつ)だよ。
    At times like this, it is important to help each other out.
  • 私達(わたしたち)は夫婦(ふうふ)なんだから、どんなことがあっても協力(きょうりょく)し合(あ)わないといけないよ。
    We are husband and wife, so no matter what happens, we need to cooperate.
Caution
合(あ)う may also be used to in regard to sports/contests. In these cases, it may seem like players are not doing the action 'for' each other, but involvement from both sides is required to make the act possible.
  • 全(ぜん)チームが賞金(しょうきん)をかけて競(きそ)い合(あ)う。
    Every team competed against each other with the prize money on the line.

Examples

  • 「友達(ともだち)が苦(くる)しんでる時(とき)は、助(たす)け合(あ)うべきだね。」

    'Friends ought to help one another in times of trouble, right?'

  • かなださき：「私達(わたしたち)、同時(どうじ)に告白(こくはく)し合(あ)ったんだよ！」

    Saki Kanada: 'We professed our love for one another at the same time!'

  • 私達(わたしたち)はそのとき協力(きょうりょく)し合(あ)うべきだったのに。

    We should have cooperated (with each other) at that time...

  • 買(か)い物(もの)袋(ぶくろ)を交代(こうたい)しながら運(はこ)び合(あ)ったので、家(いえ)に早(はや)く帰(かえ)ることができた。

    We came home early because we took turns carrying the groceries.

  • お互(たが)いに助(たす)け合(あ)って、理解(りかい)できるようになったから、付(つ)き合(あ)うようになった。

    Since we were mutually dependant on one another and came to be able to understand one another we ended up dating.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

合う – Grammar Discussion

    There's currently no discussion for 合う
    Ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!

Join the Discussion