擦り合わせる

• Reading: すりあわせる
• Romaji: suriawaseru
• Kanji breakdown: 擦 (suri) — to rub, grind; 合 (awa) — to combine, align
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.ɾi.a.wa.se.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To coordinate; to align; to reconcile; to rub together. To compare and adjust two things until they match or mesh smoothly.

A Group 2 (ichidan) compound verb. In business and organisational contexts, 擦り合わせる (often written in hiragana as すり合わせる) is the standard term for aligning positions, coordinating policies, or reconciling different views before a decision. スケジュールをすり合わせる (to sync schedules), 意見をすり合わせる (to align opinions). This figurative use — coordination through mutual adjustment — is ubiquitous in Japanese business culture and reflects a collaborative decision-making style.

Examples

1. 会議の前に関係部署と情報をすり合わせておくことが重要だ。 It is important to align information with the relevant departments before the meeting.
2. 両社の担当者がスケジュールを擦り合わせ、共同発表の日程を決めた。 The representatives of both companies coordinated their schedules and settled on a date for the joint announcement.
3. 個々の意見をすり合わせた結果、最終的に全員が納得できる案が生まれた。 Through the process of reconciling individual opinions, a proposal emerged that everyone could ultimately accept.

Usage Guide

Context: business, coordination, meetings, project management

Tone: neutral, professional

Origin & History

Compound of 擦る (su-ru — to rub, grind) and 合わせる (awaseru — to combine, align). The physical image of two surfaces rubbed together until smooth extends to harmonising different views or schedules. This business usage became prominent in postwar Japan.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adult professional

Social background: Business, educated