Translation guide
The English word "combination" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese. The most common equivalent is 組み合わせ (kumiawase), but depending on whether you mean a mixture, a pairing, a set, or a coordinated action, different words and patterns are used.
Referring to a mixture of elements, ingredients, or factors that produce a combined effect.
The most general and common word for a combination of things, often implying a deliberate selection or arrangement.
The color combination is beautiful.
This dish has an exquisite combination of spices.
Loanword from English, often used for blends in food, music, or casual contexts.
This juice is a fruit mix.
Used for precise combinations of ingredients or materials, often in technical, industrial, or pharmaceutical contexts.
The combination of active ingredients in this medicine is important.
Describing two or more things that are meant to be used together, like a lock and key, or a coordinated outfit.
Commonly used for a set of items that form a unit, like a tool set, a meal set, or a matching pair.
This dressing and salad are the best combination.
I bought a lock and key set.
Also works for sets, but セット is more common for commercial or packaged sets.
Referring to people working together, combining efforts, or coordinating moves.
Cooperation, coordination, or linkage between people, organizations, or systems.
The team's combination (coordination) was the key to victory.
Cooperation, collaboration. More general than 連携, often used for working together toward a common goal.
Referring to a code or sequence used to open a lock or access something.
The mathematical concept of selecting items from a set where order does not matter.
組み合わせ emphasizes the act of combining or the resulting arrangement. セット is a set of items that belong together, often sold as a unit. ミックス is a blend, often of ingredients or audio tracks.
When talking about people working together, directly translating 'combination' as 組み合わせ can sound unnatural. Use 連携 or 協力 instead.
What's the combination for the lock?
In casual speech, 番号 (number) is often used instead of the full term 暗証番号.
A combination of hard work and talent led to her success.
This outfit combination is stylish.
Loanword often used in sports or teamwork contexts for a combination play or coordinated effort.
Their combination is perfect.
両社の協力で新製品が生まれた。
The combination of the two companies' efforts produced a new product.
I changed the combination of the safe.
Also used in mathematics, but 組み合わせ is more common in textbooks.
We learned about combinations in math.