合わせます（あわせます、awasemasu）
- to combine

The Japanese verb 合わせます (pronounced あわせます, *awasemasu*) primarily means "to combine," "to put together," "to match," "to join," or "to fit." It implies bringing things or ideas into a state of agreement, connection, or harmony. The core meaning revolves around the act of bringing two or more things together in some way. The action of 合わせ means "matching" or "merging." This can apply to various scenarios, from physical objects to abstract concepts.

⚫︎意見を合わせます Translation: To agree on opinions. ⚫︎二つの部品を合わせます Translation: To put two parts together. ⚫︎味を合わせます Translation: To adjust the taste (to match).

This versatile verb can be used in a wide range of situations. ⚫︎When combining physical objects, like assembling furniture. ⚫︎When agreeing with someone's opinion or coordinating actions. ⚫︎When matching colors or styles. ⚫︎When adjusting or modifying something to fit or align properly. Consider the context to determine the exact nuance of the meaning.

合わせます is typically written in hiragana as あわせます. The kanji form is 合わせます. The kanji 合 means "to join," "to fit," or "to suit," and the verb suffix せる signifies causative, or "to cause to" or "to make." The okurigana (*suffix hiragana*) is always せます for the *masu* form. The dictionary form is 合わせる (*awaseru*). The negative form is 合わせません (*awasemasen*), the past tense is 合わせました (*awasemashita*), and the past negative is 合わせませんでした (*awasemasendeshta*). The potential form is 合わせられます (*awaserasemasu*).

⚫︎組み合わせる (*kumiawaseru*) - to combine, to put together ⚫︎一致する (*itchisuru*) - to match, to agree ⚫︎統合する (*tougousuru*) - to integrate ⚫︎繋げる (*tsunageru*) - to connect, to link ⚫︎合わせる (awaseru) - the dictionary form of 合わせます

⚫︎分ける (*wakeru*) - to divide, to separate ⚫︎離す (*hanasu*) - to separate, to detach ⚫︎解体する (*kaitaisuru*) - to dismantle

会議でみんなの意見を合わせます ・Translation: We'll align everyone's opinions in the meeting. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 合わせます to describe the act of coordinating or bringing together different opinions during a meeting to reach a consensus.

このボタンをここに合わせます ・Translation: I'll match this button to this spot here. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 合わせます in a physical context, where something is being fitted or aligned.

The verb is formed from the kanji 合 (meaning "to fit", "to match", or "to join") and the verb suffix せる which is added to a verb stem to create a causative verb. This structure has become commonly used in Japanese.