Translation guide
The English verb "combine" covers several distinct actions in Japanese. The best translation depends on whether you are mixing ingredients, merging organizations, joining forces, or blending abstract qualities. This guide breaks down the most common uses for learners.
To physically mix two or more things together into a single substance, especially in cooking or chemistry.
Combine flour and sugar. · Combine the ingredients in a bowl.
The most common verb for mixing ingredients or substances. Used for combining flour and sugar, paint colors, etc.
Please combine the flour and sugar.
I combined paints to make a new color.
Literally 'to put together', used for combining ingredients or components, often with a sense of bringing them into one mixture.
Combine the eggs and milk and mix well.
A compound verb emphasizing thorough mixing or blending of multiple ingredients.
Please combine all the ingredients.
To join two or more companies, departments, teams, etc. into a single entity.
The two departments were combined. · They combined their businesses.
The standard term for corporate mergers or institutional consolidation.
The two companies combined to form a large corporation.
Used for integrating systems, organizations, or data, often with a nuance of unification.
Combine departments to improve efficiency.
A casual, everyday expression meaning 'to put together' or 'to combine' groups or items.
To unite efforts, skills, or resources to achieve a common goal.
We combined our efforts to finish the project. · They combined forces to fight the enemy.
Means 'to cooperate' or 'to combine efforts'. Very common for teamwork.
We combined our efforts to solve the problem.
Literally 'to combine strength', a natural phrase for joining forces.
Let's combine our efforts and do our best.
Means 'to do jointly' or 'to collaborate', often used in formal contexts.
To possess two different qualities, features, or functions simultaneously, or to perform two activities together.
The job combines my interests in art and technology. · She combines work with pleasure.
Used when something combines multiple desirable qualities or features. Often for people or products.
He combines talent and hard work.
Means 'to serve two purposes' or 'to do two things at once'. Often used in the pattern Aを兼ねてBする (do B while also serving as A).
Means 'to balance' or 'to manage both', used for combining work and family, study and club activities, etc.
To bring together different abstract concepts, styles, or elements into a unified whole.
The movie combines humor and drama. · Combine different colors to create a unique look.
The most versatile verb for combining elements, ideas, or items in a deliberate way to create something new.
A design that combines tradition and modernity.
Means 'to fuse' or 'to blend', used when different elements merge seamlessly into a new whole.
This music combines jazz and classical.
混ぜる (mazeru) is for physically mixing substances. 合わせる (awaseru) often implies bringing things together into one mixture or set. 組み合わせる (kumiawaseru) is for combining distinct items or ideas into a new arrangement without necessarily losing their individual identities.
English 'combine' is often used where Japanese prefers a more specific verb. For example, 'combine efforts' is naturally 協力する, not 混ぜる. Always consider the context.
They combined the two classes and held the lesson.
The two companies combined to develop a new product.
This smartphone combines high performance and good design.
勉強を兼ねて日本へ旅行した。
I traveled to Japan, combining it with study.
This room combines as a study.
It's hard to combine work and family.
Combine knowledge from different fields to solve problems.
Literally 'to tie together', used for linking or combining ideas, concepts, or things in a logical or practical way.
It's important to combine theory and practice.