合

• Pinyin: hé
• Hanzi breakdown: 合 = 亼 (lid/cover on top) + 口 (mouth/opening) — a lid fitting onto a container

Meaning

To fit; to match; to combine; to close. Indicates things coming together or being suitable.

A versatile character with several uses: (1) to suit or fit — 合适 (suitable), 合口味 (suit one's taste); (2) to combine or join — 合在一起 (put together); (3) to close — 合上书 (close a book), 合上眼 (close one's eyes). Also a key component in many compound words.

Examples

1. 这双鞋的大小正好合脚。 These shoes fit perfectly.
2. 把这两张纸合在一起。 Put these two pieces of paper together.
3. 她合上书，站了起来。 She closed the book and stood up.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, description, action

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 这件衣服很合身。(This piece of clothing fits very well.)
• 请合上你的课本。(Please close your textbook.)

Don't Say

• 我想合你一起去。(Don't use 合 to mean 'with' — that's 和 or 跟. Say 我想和你一起去.)

Origin & History

Pictograph of a lid fitting onto a container. The top part represents a lid and the bottom a vessel, suggesting a perfect fit.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal