Meet 合 in 合う, 合計 and 場合. Connect each whole word and its reading to a real context.

The idea

合 has 6 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 合う（あう） with 合計（ごうけい）. Learn the reading with the whole word, not the character in isolation.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
合うあうThese clothes suit me.
合計ごうけいThe total is one thousand two hundred yen.
場合ばあいIf it is inconvenient, please let me know.

Examples

  • この服ふくは私わたしに合あいます。These clothes suit me.
  • 友達ともだちと駅えきで待まち合あわせます。I will meet a friend at the station.
  • 試合しあいは午後ごご三時さんじに始はじまります。The match starts at three in the afternoon.
  • 会議かいぎの時間じかんに間まに合あいました。I arrived in time for the meeting.
  • 合計ごうけいは千二百円せんにひゃくえんです。The total is one thousand two hundred yen.
  • 都合つごうが悪わるい場合ばあい、連絡れんらくしてください。If it is inconvenient, please let me know.

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

Watch out

合う means fit or suit; 会う also sounds あう but means meet a person. The reading varies again in 合計（ごうけい） and 場合（ばあい）. Compare 合 with 全: the lower parts differ.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 合う in hiragana.

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    あう

    合う is read あう. In context: These clothes suit me.

  2. Write the reading of 合計 in hiragana.

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    ごうけい

    合計 is read ごうけい. In context: The total is one thousand two hundred yen.

  3. Write the missing kanji: 場＿（ばあい）.

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    合

    合 completes 場合, read ばあい. In context: If it is inconvenient, please let me know.

Use it today

Write 合 three times using the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 合う and 合計 aloud, then check their readings and meanings.