Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
組合 (くみあい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun
association ; union ; guild
Refers to an organized group of people with a common purpose, such as a labor union, trade association, or cooperative. Often used in compound terms like 労働組合 (labor union) or 農業協同組合 (agricultural cooperative).
この 地ち 域いき に は 漁ぎょ 業ぎょう 協きょう 同どう 組くみ 合あい が いくつ か ある 。
There are several fishery cooperatives in this area.
Written forms 組くみ 合あい Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and general use.
クミアイ Usage <1%
組く み 合あ い
Alternate spelling with okurigana; rarely used compared to 組合.
Kanji 組 association, braid, plait Similar words 協きょう 会かい 協会 is often used for professional or cultural associations (e.g., 医師協会), while 組合 emphasizes mutual benefit or cooperative action, especially in labor or trade contexts.
連れん 合ごう 連合 refers to a federation or alliance of multiple groups, whereas 組合 is a single organized body.
Etymology Compound of 組み (kumi, 'grouping' or 'set') and 合い (ai, 'mutual' or 'together'), from the verb 組み合う (kumiau, 'to unite' or 'to join together'). The kanji 組 means 'group' or 'assemble', and 合 means 'fit' or 'join'.
