寄せる

• Reading: よせる
• Romaji: yoseru
• Kanji breakdown: 寄 (ki/yo) — approach, draw near, gather
• Pronunciation: /jo.se.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To bring near; to gather; to draw close. To collect things together or move something closer.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Very versatile: used for physically moving things closer (椅子を寄せる = to pull up a chair), gathering resources (寄付を寄せる = to collect donations), and receiving abstract things (期待を寄せる = to place expectations on, 信頼を寄せる = to place trust in). Also used for waves coming to shore (波が寄せる).

Examples

1. 彼に大きな期待を寄せている。 I have high expectations for him.
2. もう少し椅子をこちらに寄せてください。 Could you pull your chair a little closer this way?
3. 全国から支援の声が寄せられた。 Messages of support poured in from all over the country.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, news, formal writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Transitive form of 寄る (yoru, to approach). The kanji 寄 combines 宀 (roof) and 奇 (strange/rare), originally meaning to come under someone's roof — to draw near.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal