あう (会う・合う): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples)
Why one verb has so many meanings
At first あう seems to split cleanly in two: 会う is "meet" and 合う is "match." But say them out loud and you'll notice they're the same word — and that's no accident. Both describe two things arriving at the same point and coming together.
When the two things are people, "coming together" is a meeting: 友達に会う. When they're a key and a lock, a shirt and a body, or your answer and the correct answer, "coming together" means they fit, suit, or agree: サイズが合う, 答えが合う. Same mental picture — two sides meeting — just different stuff on each side. Hold that image and you won't have to memorize "two verbs."
One structural note before the meanings: あう is intransitive (it describes a state of coming-together, not something you force onto an object). That's why, as you'll see, the person you meet is marked with に, not を.
The meanings, most common first
1. To meet a person (会う)
ヤッタンは友達に会う。
ヤッタンは ともだちに あう。
Yattan meets a friend.
The person you meet takes に, not を — 友達に会う, never 友達を会う.
2. To meet up / see someone (会う)
モチは先生に会った。
モチは せんせいに あった。
Mochi met (saw) the teacher.
会う covers both a planned meet-up and simply running into someone.
3. To match / fit (size, shape) (合う)
この服はヤッタンに合う。
この ふくは ヤッタンに あう。
These clothes suit Yattan.
4. To be the right size (サイズが合う)
この靴はヤッタンの弟にサイズが合わない。
この くつは ヤッタンの おとうとに サイズが あわない。
These shoes aren't the right size for Yattan's little brother.
5. To be correct / agree (an answer) (合う)
ヤッタンの答えは合っていた。
ヤッタンの こたえは あっていた。
Yattan's answer was correct.
答えが合う = the answer matches the right one, i.e. it's correct.
6. To get along / see eye to eye (意見が合う)
モチとヤッタンは意見が合う。
モチと ヤッタンは いけんが あう。
Mochi and Yattan see eye to eye.
意見が合う = opinions match; 気が合う means two people just click.
7. To suit / go well together (合う)
この味は弟に合うと先生が言った。
この あじは おとうとに あうと せんせいが いった。
Sensei said this flavor suits Yattan's little brother.
The same "come together" image stretches a little further as a suffix, 〜合う, meaning to do something to each other / mutually (around N3): 話し合う = to discuss (talk together), 助け合う = to help each other, 知り合う = to get to know one another. You don't need these for N5 — just notice that "together" is still the thread.
Common collocations worth memorizing
Some あう phrases come up so often that it's easiest to learn them as fixed chunks. Note which kanji each one uses:
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 友達に会う | to meet a friend |
| 駅で会う | to meet at the station |
| サイズが合う | to be the right size |
| 答えが合う | to be correct (the answer matches) |
| 意見が合う | to agree / share an opinion |
| 気が合う | to get along, to click |
| 時間が合う | (schedules) to line up |
| 話し合う | to discuss (N3, suffix use) |
Kanji & related あう verbs
Both main verbs share the reading あう, but the kanji tells you the meaning:
- 会う — to meet (people). The 会 in 会社 (company) and 会議 (meeting) is the same "people gathering" kanji.
- 合う — to match / fit / suit / be correct / agree (things, sizes, answers, opinions). The 合 in 合格 (passing an exam) and 試合 (a match/game) is this one.
There's also a third, above-N5 kanji to be aware of:
- 遭う (あう, N2+) — to encounter something unpleasant, like an accident or bad weather: 事故に遭う (to have an accident), 雨に遭う (to get caught in rain). Same reading, but reserved for unwelcome experiences.
At N5, focus on 会う (meet) and 合う (match/fit). Just know 遭う exists so it doesn't surprise you later.
会う vs 合う — which kanji?
Because both are read あう, the JLPT loves testing whether you pick the right kanji. The rule is simple — what's coming together?
| Form | Core idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 会う (meet) | Two people come together; person marked with に | 友達に会う = to meet a friend |
| 合う (match/fit) | Things, sizes, answers, or opinions line up | サイズが合う = to be the right size |
A quick test: if you could point to a person you're seeing, it's 会う. If you're describing whether two things line up or are correct, it's 合う. And remember the particle trap — 会う takes に for the person (友達に会う), never を.
Quick recap
- One image powers both: two things coming together so they line up.
- 会う = meet a person; the person takes に (友達に会う), never を.
- 合う = match / fit / suit / be correct / agree (サイズが合う, 答えが合う, 意見が合う).
- It's an intransitive Group 1 (う-)verb: あって, あわない, あった.
- 〜合う as a suffix (話し合う, 助け合う) means "do mutually" — handy later (N3).
- 遭う (encounter something bad) shares the reading but is N2+.
Your turn
Ready to test your N5 vocabulary in context?
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Is あう a ru-verb or u-verb?
あう is a Group 1 (う-verb / godan) verb. It conjugates as あい-ます, te-form あって, negative あわない, past あった. This is true for both 会う and 合う.
Which particle does 会う take — に or を?
会う takes に for the person you meet: 友達に会う. It is intransitive, so を is wrong here. Saying 友達を会う is a common beginner mistake.
What is the difference between 会う and 合う?
会う means to meet a person (友達に会う). 合う means to match, fit, suit, be correct, or agree (サイズが合う, 答えが合う, 意見が合う). Same reading, different kanji — ask yourself whether people or things are coming together.
What about 遭う?
遭う (also read あう) means to encounter something unpleasant, like 事故に遭う (to have an accident). It's above N5 (N2+), so just recognize it for now.