絡み合う

• Reading: からみあう
• Romaji: karamiau
• Kanji breakdown: 絡 (raku) — entwine, connect, coil; 合 (gou) — together, mutually
• Pronunciation: /ka.ɾa.mi.a.ɯ/

Meaning

To be intertwined; to be tangled together; for multiple factors, interests, or relationships to be intricately interconnected.

A Group 1 (godan) verb emphasising the mutual, reciprocal nature of entanglement. Used literally for physical entwining of vines, ropes, or bodies, and figuratively for complex entanglements of interests, causes, or emotions. The figurative sense often carries a nuance of complexity that makes resolution difficult. Particularly common in political, sociological, and literary contexts where multiple forces are at play simultaneously.

Examples

1. 複数の利害関係が絡み合っているため、問題の解決は一筋縄ではいかない。 Because multiple competing interests are intertwined, resolving the problem is far from straightforward.
2. 愛と嫉妬が絡み合った感情は、時に人を予測不能な行動へと駆り立てる。 Emotions in which love and jealousy are intertwined can sometimes drive a person to unpredictable actions.
3. ツタが建物の外壁に絡み合いながら、何十年もかけて全体を覆っていった。 Ivy entwined itself around the outer walls of the building, slowly covering the entire structure over decades.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, sociology, literature, nature writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 絡む (to entwine, to coil around, to involve) and 合う (to mutually do). Together they emphasise that the entanglement is two-directional and inseparable.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: All classes