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Kotomora

集

gather, meet, congregate, swarm, flock

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 500Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • シュウ

Kun'yomi

  • あつ.まる
  • あつ.める
  • つど.う

Nanori

  • あつまり
  • ず

Meaning

集 centers on things coming together into one place: gathering, meeting, congregating, or swarming. The flock sense is a natural application of many individuals collecting as a group.

Most common words using 集

24 of 570
  • 集めるあつめる
    N5

    to collect; to assemble; to gather

  • 編集へんしゅう
    N2

    editing; compilation

  • 集しゅう

    collection; compilation

  • 募集ぼしゅう
    N3

    recruitment; invitation; selection; advertisement; taking applications

  • 集まるあつまる
    N4

    to gather; to collect; to assemble

  • 集中しゅうちゅう
    N3

    concentration (on a task); focusing one's attention

  • 集団しゅうだん
    N3

    group; mass

  • 特集とくしゅう
    N1

    feature (e.g. newspaper); special edition; report

  • 集合しゅうごう
    N3

    meeting up; gathering; assembly

  • 収集しゅうしゅう
    N2

    collecting; accumulating; gathering

  • 集まりあつまり
    N3

    gathering; meeting; assembly; collection; attendance

  • 集会しゅうかい
    N2

    meeting; assembly; gathering; congregation; convention; rally

  • 集計しゅうけい
    N1

    totalization; totalisation; aggregation; tally (e.g. of votes); adding up; summing up

  • 集落しゅうらく
    N1

    settlement; village; community; town

  • 集約しゅうやく

    putting together (e.g. opinions); gathering; collecting; aggregating; summarizing; integrating

  • 集うつどう

    to meet; to assemble; to congregate

  • 招集しょうしゅう

    call; summons; convening; convocation

  • 集積しゅうせき

    accumulation

  • 結集けっしゅう

    concentration (of efforts, forces, etc.); gathering together; regimentation; marshalling; mobilization

  • 集いつどい

    meeting; get-together (e.g. among friends)

  • 密集みっしゅう
    N1

    crowding together; clustering together; close formation; swarm

  • 全集ぜんしゅう
    N2

    complete works; complete collection; complete series

  • 集大成しゅうたいせい

    (large) compilation

  • 召集しょうしゅう

    convening; calling together (e.g. parliament); call-up (for military service)

Explore all words using 集 →

Study

Etymology

集 originally depicted birds (隹) gathering in a tree (木), conveying the idea of coming together. The modern form preserves this combination clearly.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture many birds (隹) flocking together on a single tree (木). They gather, meet, and swarm in one place.

Reading mnemonic

For シュウ, imagine a shoe tree where birds gather: shoe -> シュウ, and the tree is covered with birds flocking together.