Japanese word

合わせる

Pronunciation

Romajiawaseru

Meaning

  • verbadjust

Example

みんなの速さに歩く速さを合わせます。mi n na no haya sa ni aru ku haya sa o a wa se ma su

I match my walking speed to everyone else's.

Illustration for 合わせる (adjust)

More examples

みんなの速さに合わせます。mi n na no haya sa ni a wa se ma su

I adjust to everyone's speed.

時計の針を正確な時刻に合わせます。tokei no hari o sei kaku na ji koku ni a wa se ma su

I set the clock to the correct time.

Core concept

Means making one's actions correspond to the timing or character of something else.

Common phrases

  • 音楽に合わせるon gaku ni a wa se ru

    adjust to the music

  • 時計を合わせるtokei o a wa se ru

    set the clock

  • 高さを合わせるtaka sa o a wa se ru

    match the height

Similar words

調整するchōseisuru: To change something so that it fits a desired time, level, or condition.
そろえるsoroeru: To make two or more things match in timing, position, shape, or amount.

Definition in Japanese

音楽などの調子や進み方にそろうように自分の動きや行動を調節する。on gaku na do no chō shi ya susu mi kata ni so ro u yō ni ji bun no ugo ki ya kō dō o chō setsu su ru

Word origin

合わせる (awaseru) comes from 合う (au, "fit or match") and uses せる (seru) to express causing a match, so it denotes adjusting something to fit another thing.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses this verb for coordinating movements with music in activities such as dancing, marching, and group performances.

Opposites

Related words

  • 合わせ方awasekataway of adjustingnoun
  • 合わせ目awasemeseamnoun

Word lists with this word