合

hé
#171 most
frequent character
close, shut, be equal to, add up to
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

合 shows a mouth speaking downward and another mouth below, so it first meant 'to answer'. From answering came 'to meet', 'to close, shut', and 'to conform to'. Later it also meant 'to be fitting' and 'together'.

Drawn as: mouth speaking downward; mouth below

合 as a component in other characters

meaning1 character
盒
sound17 characters
给答哈恰拾盒鸽洽颌蛤龛袷饸铪荅峇
picture2 characters
翕搿
empty1 character
拿

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Example Sentences

请你把窗户合上。
qǐng nǐ bǎ chuānghù hé shàng 。
Please close the window.
这两块木头合在一起。
zhè liǎng kuài mùtou hé zàiyīqǐ 。
These two pieces of wood join together.
如果数字合不起来，那就不对。
rúguǒ shùzì hé bù qǐlái ， nàjiù búduì 。
If the numbers do not add up, then it is incorrect.

Same Characters, Different Readings

合gě
100 ml, one-tenth of a peck
合hé
close, shut, be equal to, add up to

Words with similar meanings

关闭guānbì
to close
More formal usage, often associated with closing doors or devices.
连接liánjiē
to connect
Focuses on the act of joining things together, often used in technical contexts.

Homophones

HSK 3
河hé
river
盒hé
box, case
核hé
nuclear

Words Starting With 合

合格hé gé
qualified; meeting a standard; eligible (voter)
合适hé shì
suitable; fitting; decent; to fit
合作hé zuò
to cooperate; to collaborate; to work together; cooperation
合同hé tong
(business) contract
合影hé yǐng
joint photo; group photo

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