組

• Reading: くみ
• Romaji: kumi
• Kanji breakdown: 組 (kumi/so) — group, assemble, braid
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.mi/

Meaning

Class; team; group; set. A unit of people or things grouped together.

A versatile noun and suffix. As a standalone noun, it refers to a class (in school), team, or organized group. As a suffix, it forms counting words for sets or pairs (一組, one set). Also appears in compound words like 番組 (program) and 仕組み (mechanism).

Examples

1. 私は三年二組の田中です。 I'm Tanaka from class 3-2.
2. この食器は六人分の組になっている。 This tableware comes as a set for six people.
3. 同じ組のメンバーと協力して作業した。 I worked together with the members of my group.

Usage Guide

Context: school, teamwork, counting sets

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the verb 組む (kumu, to assemble/cross). The kanji 組 combines 糸 (thread) and 且 (moreover), evoking the image of threads woven together into a unified group.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal