JLPT N3 grammar
〜合う — Meaning & Examples
Do mutually: 話し合う (discuss), 助け合う (help each other), 知り合う (get acquainted → 知り合い = acquaintance).
〜直す, 〜合う and Reading in the Wild
〜直す = do it again, properly this time.
書き直す = rewrite
やり直す = redo
考え直す = reconsider
出直す = come back another time
もう一度考え直してください。
= Please reconsider it.
〜合う = do to each other / mutually.
話し合う = to discuss (talk with each other)
助け合う = to help each other
知り合う = to get to know each other
愛し合う = to love each other
問題について話し合いましょう。
= Let's discuss the problem together.
Note 知り合い（しりあい）= acquaintance — the noun form of 知り合う. This is how a huge number of Japanese nouns are built.
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Putting it to work — read this without a dictionary:
彼は本を読みかけたが、疲れきっていたので、途中でやめた。翌日、最初から読み直して、とうとう読みきった。
= He started reading the book, but he was completely exhausted, so he stopped partway. The next day he reread it from the start and finally finished it completely.
Every one of those verbs is a stem you already know plus an ending from this lesson. That is the payoff. 📚
Practice questions
Try this question on 〜合う. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 助け合う means?
- To ask for help
- To help each other
- To finish helping
- To start helping
Show answer
Answer: To help each other
〜合う = do mutually. 助け合う = help each other, 話し合う = discuss, 知り合う = get acquainted.
Practise 〜合う in the free app
This point is part of the “🔧 Compound Verbs — 〜出す・〜続ける・〜きる・〜かける” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: 🔧 Compound Verbs — 〜出す・〜続ける・〜きる・〜かける
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜合う mean?
Do mutually: 話し合う (discuss), 助け合う (help each other), 知り合う (get acquainted → 知り合い = acquaintance).
Is 〜合う on the JLPT N3 test?
〜合う is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “🔧 Compound Verbs — 〜出す・〜続ける・〜きる・〜かける”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜合う?
Open the “🔧 Compound Verbs — 〜出す・〜続ける・〜きる・〜かける” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.