Translation guide
The act of becoming a member of a group, organization, or activity, or the act of connecting or combining things.
To express the act of entering or enrolling in a group, club, company, or organization.
The most common word for joining a formal organization, club, or society. Often used for memberships.
来月、テニスクラブに入会するつもりです。
I plan on joining the tennis club next month.
Used for joining systems, insurance, unions, or formal groups. Slightly more administrative than 入会.
健康保険に加入していますか。
Are you enrolled in health insurance?
Means 'participation' and is used for joining events, activities, or projects rather than formal membership.
明日の会議に参加しますか。
Will you join tomorrow's meeting?
Specifically for joining a company as an employee.
彼は四月に大手企業に入社した。
He joined a major company in April.
Specifically for entering a school or university.
娘は来年、大学に入学します。
My daughter will enter university next year.
To express the physical act of connecting two or more things together.
General term for connecting things, especially in technical contexts like cables, pipes, or networks.
このケーブルをパソコンに接続してください。
Please connect this cable to the computer.
Implies a stronger, more permanent joining, often used in chemistry, engineering, or abstract unions.
Used for linking things in a chain or series, like train cars or data sets.
A common, everyday verb meaning 'to connect' or 'to link'. Can be used for physical objects, hands, or abstract connections.
Means 'to combine' or 'to merge', often used in fiction for robots or in casual contexts for groups uniting.
To express the act of getting in line or joining a queue.
The standard way to say 'join a line' or 'get in line'.
チケットを買うために列に並んだ。
I joined the line to buy tickets.
Specifically means 'join the end of the line'. Often seen on signs.
こちらが最後尾です。ここにお並びください。
This is the end of the line. Please line up here.
To express the act of taking part in an ongoing activity or conversation.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to join in' or 'to participate'. Used for joining a group activity or conversation already in progress.
私たちのゲームに加わりませんか。
Won't you join our game?
Intransitive verb meaning 'to mix' or 'to blend in'. Used casually for joining a group or crowd.
入会 (にゅうかい) is for clubs and societies with membership. 加入 (かにゅう) is for systems like insurance or unions. 参加 (さんか) is for events and activities without formal membership.
The loanword ジョインする exists but is not natural in most contexts. Use the appropriate Japanese verb instead.
会議に参加する。
Join a meeting.
これらの部品を結合して一つのユニットにする。
Join these parts together to make one unit.
列車を連結する作業は慎重に行われる。
The work of coupling train cars is done carefully.
Let's walk holding hands.
パソコンをインターネットにつなぐ。
Connect the computer to the internet.
二つの会社が合体して大きな会社になった。
The two companies merged to become a big company.
He quickly joined in with the locals.