Explore 集 through collecting and gathering. The examples connect whole words and their readings to everyday contexts.

The idea

集 has 12 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Read 集まる（あつまる） and 集める（あつめる） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
集まるあつまるThe town’s young people gathered at the station.
集めるあつめるI like collecting stamps.
集合しゅうごうWe meet at nine.

Examples

  • 町まちの若者わかものが駅えきに集あつまりました。The town’s young people gathered at the station.
  • 切手きってを集あつめることが好すきです。I like collecting stamps.
  • 先生せんせいがプリントを集あつめます。The teacher collects the handouts.
  • 友達ともだちが家いえに集あつまります。Friends gather at my home.
  • 集合しゅうごうは九時くじです。We meet at nine.
  • 駅えきに人ひとがたくさん集あつまりました。Many people gathered at the station.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

集める means someone collects something; 集まる means people or things gather. Compare を with が in the examples. Compare the shape of 集 with 住.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 集まる in hiragana.

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    あつまる

    集まる is read あつまる. In context: The town’s young people gathered at the station.

  2. Write the reading of 集める in hiragana.

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    あつめる

    集める is read あつめる. In context: I like collecting stamps.

  3. Complete the missing kanji: ＿まる（あつまる）［集／住］.

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    集

    集 completes 集まる, read あつまる. In context: The town’s young people gathered at the station.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 集 from memory, and read 集まる and 集める aloud. Then check their readings and make a sentence.