添う (そう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

添そう

そ

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

添う · godan verb (-u)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	添そう	添そわない
Polite	添そいます	添そいません
Past polite	添そいました	添そいませんでした
Past	添そった	添そわなかった
Te-form	添そって	添そわないで
Desire	添そいたい	添そいたくない
Potential	添そえる	添そえない
Passive	添そわれる	添そわれない
Causative	添そわせる	添そわせない
Causative passive	添そわせられるalso 添そわされる	添そわせられないalso 添そわされない
Volitional	添そおう
Polite volitional	添そいましょう
Imperative	添そえ	添そうな
Conditional	添そえば	添そわなければ
Tara conditional	添そったら	添そわなかったら

Pairs with添える

Meanings

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

meet; satisfy; comply with

Used for wishes, expectations, conditions, or purposes being fulfilled. Often appears as 〜に添う.

Kanji

添annexed, accompany, marry
副vice-, assistant, aide

Transitive / intransitive

添そえるN2
添う is the intransitive counterpart meaning to be added to or accompany something, while 添える is the transitive verb meaning to add something as an accompaniment.

Related words

付つき添そうN1sense 2
付き添う specifically means to escort or attend someone in a caregiving or formal role, whereas 添う is a more general, often literary word for simply being with someone.
連つれ添そう sense 4
連れ添う is the common word for living together as husband and wife, while 添う in this sense is an older, more literary way of saying 'to marry'.
応おうじるN3sense 1
応じる is the everyday verb for responding to or complying with a request, while 添う (as in 〜に添う) is a more formal, often written expression for meeting expectations or wishes.
寄より添そうN1sense 2
寄り添う emphasizes drawing close physically or emotionally to someone, while 添う is a broader, more literary term for accompanying or staying by someone's side.

Don't confuse with

沿そうN2
添う means to accompany a person or meet an expectation, while 沿う (same reading) means to run along or follow a physical line such as a road or river.
沿そって
沿って comes from 沿う, meaning to run alongside something like a road or river, while 添う (also read そう) means to stay close to or accompany someone, and the two are often confused because they sound identical.

Word family· 13

付つき添そい
attendance; accompanying; chaperoning · attendant; escort; chaperon; entourage
添そい寝ね
sleeping together; sharing a bed
寄より添そうN1
get close; snuggle up; nestle close

Written forms

添そう
Primary kanji form; especially common for senses of accompanying, marrying, and being added.
そうUsage100%
副そう
Rare alternate kanji; may appear in older texts.

Etymology

The verb 添う is native Japanese. The kanji 添 carries the meaning 'to add' or 'to accompany,' which aligns with the verb's core senses. The historical derivation is uncertain.

添そう

Meanings

Usage patterns

Expressions