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.
Learn 合う（あう） with Kanjiru
If you want to review 合う（あう） together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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