集まる

• Reading: あつまる
• Romaji: atsumaru
• Kanji breakdown: 集 (shuu/atsu) — gather, collect; bird (隹) on a tree (木)
• Pronunciation: /a.t͡sɯ.ma.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To gather; to assemble; to come together. Describes people or things congregating in one place.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the る row (集まらない, 集まります, 集まった). This is the intransitive form — the subjects gather of their own accord. Used for crowds assembling, people meeting at a location, or things accumulating naturally. The transitive counterpart is 集める.

Examples

1. 公園にたくさんの人が集まりました。 A lot of people gathered at the park.
2. 毎週日曜日に友達が家に集まる。 My friends get together at my house every Sunday.
3. 駅前に猫が集まっていた。 Cats had gathered in front of the station.

Usage Guide

Context: events, daily life, community

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Shares the same kanji 集 as 集める. The kanji shows a bird (隹) atop a tree (木), representing birds naturally flocking together — the intransitive form captures this spontaneous gathering.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal