合
Meanings
gō; traditional volume unit; about 180 ml
Traditional Japanese unit of volume, especially still common for rice and sake. One 合 is about 180 ml; ten 合 make one 升.
I cooked two gō of rice.
I ordered just one gō of sake.
traditional area unit; about 0.33 square meters
Traditional unit of area equal to one-tenth of a 坪, about 0.33 square meters. This is uncommon in ordinary modern conversation and is more likely in old measurements or records.
In the old land register, the area is recorded as three tsubo and five gō.
one-tenth stage of a mountain ascent
Used in mountain-stage expressions such as 五合目, where the climb from base to summit is divided into ten parts.
We went by bus as far as the fifth station of Mt. Fuji.
Astronomy term for conjunction, especially when a celestial body appears in the same direction as the sun or another body. Often appears in compounds such as 内合 and 外合.
See also: 衝
The astronomical calendar lists the date of Venus's inferior conjunction.
Short or table-style use corresponding to 合計. It is more natural in headings, forms, ledgers, or labels than as an ordinary standalone word in conversation.
See also: 合計
The final column of the slip is marked 合 to show the total amount.
synthesis in dialectics
Philosophical term in dialectics, especially in the triad 正・反・合, corresponding to synthesis after thesis and antithesis.
In dialectics, synthesis is explained as arising from the conflict between thesis and antithesis.
minor premise in hetuvidya
Specialized term in Buddhist/Indian logic, called hetuvidya in English. This is not a general modern use of 合.
In explanations of hetuvidya, 合 may be treated as the term corresponding to the minor premise.
counter for covered containers
Counter use for lidded or covered containers. It is limited and uncommon in present-day everyday Japanese, so it is most likely to be encountered in specialized, historical, or dictionary contexts.
In an older usage for counting lidded containers, one may say ichigō, nigō.
Usage patterns
- 〈数〉合の酒... gō of sake (a traditional volume measure)
He drank one gō of sake.
- 米を〈数〉合炊くto cook ... gō of rice
I cook two gō of rice every day.
- 〈数〉合目the ...-tenth stage of a mountain climb
We took a break at the fifth stage marker.
- 一合交えるto exchange a blow (in a sword fight); to clash briefly
The two swordsmen exchanged a blow.