The Meaning of kumiawase [組み合わせ] In Japanese

組み合わせ
くみあわせ
Romaji: kumiawase N4

What does 組み合わせ mean?

Translation and Meaning

combination, pairing, arrangement

Definition

組み合わせ means the act or result of putting together two or more elements to form a single set or arrangement; it describes how items are linked, matched, or organized to create a coherent whole.

Type

noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • The act of combining elements to form a whole, a set, or a sequence.
  • A specific pairing or arrangement of items designed to work together or fit a purpose.
  • In math and computing contexts, a distinct selection or ordering of elements as in combinatorics or configuration planning.

Composition

  • 組 indicates grouping or arranging items into a unit.
  • 合 in the component 合わせ conveys matching or fitting together; together with み (mi) and the overall form, it expresses the act of bringing elements together.

Usage

Used across everyday speech and specialized fields to describe how items are paired or configured; as a noun it is neutral and formal, and it can take the verb 組み合わせる to express the action of combining; common contexts include design, product configuration, meal planning, scheduling, and algorithmic or combinatorial discussions.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think of 組 as a group and 合 as matching—imagine assembling a choir where voices are grouped and then made to fit together to form harmony.

Variations

  • 取り合わせ (とりあわせ, tori-awase) — arrangement or coordination
  • 組合せ (くみあわせ, kumiawase) — kanji variant spelling
  • 取り合わせる (とりあわせる, tori-awaseru) — verb form meaning to arrange or coordinate

Example Phrases

  • 今日は いろいろな 洋服の 組み合わせ を 試着 した。
    Kyou wa iroiro na youfuku no kumiawase o shichaku shita.
    Today I tried on various combinations of outfits.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • いろいろな (iroiro na) – various
    • 洋服の (youfuku no) – of clothes
    • 組み合わせ (kumiawase) – combination
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 試着 (shichaku) – try-on
    • した (shita) – did
    O termo 「組み合わせ」 significa ‘combinação’; aqui ele aparece em 洋服の組み合わせ para dizer ‘a combinação de roupas’. O を marca o objeto de 試着.
組み合わせ