Translation and Meaning of: 集まる - atsumaru

If you've ever wondered how to say "gather" or "collect" in Japanese, the word 集まる (あつまる) is one of the most useful to learn. In this article, we will explore its etymology, everyday usage, and even tips to memorize this essential verb. Besides the basic meaning, you'll discover how the kanji 集 reveals a lot about the idea of grouping and how the Japanese use this word in social and practical contexts. Here at Suki Nihongo, you'll also find examples of ready-made sentences to add to your Anki and supercharge your studies!

Etymology and Pictogram of 集まる

The kanji 集, which forms 集まる, is a visually intuitive combination: it merges the radical for "bird" (隹) with the component for "tree" (木). Imagine birds landing on a tree — this perfect image of gathering explains why the character gained the meaning of "to group." Interestingly, the ancient version of the kanji depicted three birds (雧), further emphasizing the idea of plurality. It’s no wonder that words like 集中 (shuuchuu, "concentration") and 集合 (shuugou, "meeting") share this root.

In modern writing, the upper horizontal stroke of the tree (木) merged with the birds, but the essence remains. If you have ever seen a flock of sparrows gathering on a power line in Japan, you can visualize exactly what 集まる represents. This connection between form and meaning makes this kanji one of the easiest to associate mentally.

Practical Use in Daily Life

The Japanese use 集まる in varied situations, such as friends gathering in an izakaya or data accumulating in a spreadsheet. A classic example is the phrase 人が集まる (hito ga atsumaru, "people gather"), which you will hear at street events or even at train stations during rush hour. Companies also love this verb: 意見が集まった (iken ga atsumatta) means "the opinions were collected," something common in meetings.

A subtle detail is that 集まる implies an organic movement — things or people naturally come to a central point. Compare this with 集める (atsumeru, "to actively collect"), where someone is doing the action of gathering. This difference appears in public notices: ゴミはここに集めてください (gomi wa koko ni atsumete kudasai) asks to "collect the trash here," using the transitive form. Meanwhile, in 落ち葉が自然に集まる (ochiba ga shizen ni atsumaru), the fallen leaves "gather naturally."

Memory Tips and Popular Searches

Those who search 集まる on Google often ask about its conjugation (past 集まった, negative 集まらない) or get confused with 集める. An infallible technique is to create a mental image: visualize the kanji as a magnet (磁石) attracting objects — after all, 集 even has a sound similar to "ats" from "attract." Another common query is "集まる vs 会う," but while 会う (au) means "to meet someone specifically," 集まる suggests a larger and less planned group.

To train, try to describe everyday scenes: 猫が公園に集まっている (neko ga kouen ni atsumatte iru, "cats are gathering in the park") or このアプリで情報が集まる (kono apuri de jouhou ga atsumaru, "information collects in this app"). If you're a fan of games, notice how アイテムが集まる (aitemu ga atsumaru) appears in RPGs when items are collected automatically. These small contextual hooks fix the vocabulary in memory almost unconsciously.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 集まる

• 集まる - Infinitive base form
• 集まります - Affirmative present form
• 集まりました - Affirmative past form
• 集まれ - imperative form

Synonyms and similar words

• 集う (Tsudou) - Meet,
• 会う (Au) - Meet, gather with someone
• 集合する (Shuugou suru) - Meet, assembly
• 集中する (Shuuchuu suru) - Concentration, gathering attention or efforts in one point
• 集める (Atsumeru) - Collect, gather (items or people)
• 取り集める (Toriatsumeru) - Collect (items or people) with more emphasis on gathering various ones.
• 招集する (Shousuu suru) - Call, gather (a group for a specific purpose)
• 呼び集める (Yobitsumeru) - Call and gather people, summon.
• 一堂に会する (Ichidou ni kaisuru) - Gather in one place, t event.
• 一堂に集まる (Ichidou ni atsumaru) - Converge in one place, similar to "一堂に会する".