集 Meaning, Reading, and Vocabulary | Onyomi シュウ, Kunyomi あつ.まる
The kanji 集 (to gather) depicts birds gathered on a tree.
The onyomi is シュウ, and the kunyomi are あつ.まる (to gather) and あつ.める (to collect).
It is an essential kanji frequently used in daily life and JLPT exams, in words like '集中' (concentration) and '集まり' (gathering).
Kanji at a glance
Core meaning / core image
集 originates from the image of three birds (隹) gathered on a tree (木). It represents multiple things coming together in one place, or the act of collecting people or objects.
Kanji structure breakdown
Mnemonic story
Imagine small birds (隹) chirping and 'gathering' on a tree (木). You can also picture friends gathering under a large tree at a meeting spot.
On'yomi and kun'yomi
On reading
Kun reading
Commonly used words
Example sentences
Mini quiz
What is the correct meaning of '集める'?
One-line summary
集 originates from the image of birds (隹) gathering on a tree (木), and means 'to gather' or 'to collect'.
FAQ
What is the difference between 集まる and 集める?
集まる (あつまる) is an intransitive verb meaning 'to gather', indicating a state where people or things naturally come together in one place. On the other hand, 集める (あつめる) is a transitive verb meaning 'to collect', indicating the intentional action of bringing people or things together.
What are some common words that use the onyomi 'シュウ' for 集?
The most frequently used words include 集中 (しゅうちゅう, concentration), 集合 (しゅうごう, gathering/assembly), and 募集 (ぼしゅう, recruitment).
