合う（あう）

合う（あう） means do something together or mutually (reciprocal action). It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to express that two or more people perform an action together or toward each other.

This grammar point often appears in neutral. If you want to describe actions done together or reciprocally between people, 合う（あう） is a useful pattern to learn.

What does 合う（あう） mean?

Use 合う（あう） when you want to express that two or more people perform an action together or toward each other.

Natural translations include:

• do something together; mutually
• do something together or mutually (reciprocal action)
• do something together

How to form 合う（あう）

Verb stem + 合う

Examples of the pattern:

• 話し合う
• 助け合う
• 分かち合う

When is 合う（あう） used?

Use 合う（あう） in situations like:

• discussing teamwork
• mutual efforts
• or back-and-forth actions

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in discussing teamwork, test questions, and written narratives

合う（あう） example sentences

• みんなで助け合って生きていく。 — We live by helping one another.
• 問題を話し合いましょう。 — Let’s discuss the problem together.
• 喜びを分かち合った。 — We shared our joy.
• 互いに尊重し合うことが大切だ。 — It’s important to respect each other.
• 二人で協力し合って仕事をした。 — The two of us cooperated and got the work done.

Nuance of 合う（あう）

The key nuance is turns a one-sided verb into a mutual or joint action.

This matters because 〜合う implies reciprocity. It builds the idea of back-and-forth or shared effort directly into the verb. Do not confuse it with 会う (to meet), which is pronounced the same..

For example:

• In discussing teamwork, it sounds natural and specific.
• Compared with 一緒に〜する, it carries a different weight and implication.

合う（あう） vs 一緒に〜する

Both 合う（あう） and 一緒に〜する can express do something together or mutually (reciprocal action), but they are different.

合う（あう）:

• builds reciprocity directly into the verb, emphasizing mutual involvement

一緒に〜する:

• states that people perform an action together, but the verb itself is not inherently reciprocal

Quick contrast examples:

• 一緒に話す。 — We speak together.
• 話し合う。 — We discuss with each other.

Common mistakes with 合う（あう）

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using it with non-action verbs where reciprocity doesn’t make sense
• Using it when the action is clearly one-directional
• Confusing it with the verb 会う (to meet), which is pronounced the same

Is 合う（あう） on the JLPT?

Yes. 合う（あう） is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for 合う（あう）

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say you and a friend helped each other.
• Describe colleagues cooperating on a project.
• Express that you and your partner respect each other.

Learning path for 合う（あう）

To learn 合う（あう） efficiently, review the formation first, then compare it with the closest existing grammar point before writing your own sentence.

1. First, make sure you can form 合う（あう） without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with 一緒に〜する. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write sentences where the grammar point’s nuance is necessary; then check whether replacing 合う（あう） with 一緒に〜する changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• 代わりに（かわりに） — because it helps express actions involving another person, viewpoint, or exchange.
• に対して（にたいして） — because it helps express actions involving another person, viewpoint, or exchange.
• にとって — because it helps express actions involving another person, viewpoint, or exchange.
• を込めて（をこめて） — because it helps express actions involving another person, viewpoint, or exchange.

Learn 合う（あう） with Hane

If you want to review 合う（あう） together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N3 grammar lessons