Meaning and Usage
"合同" (ごうどう) primarily means "joint," "combined," or "united." It is often used to describe events, organizations, or actions involving multiple parties coming together. For example, "合同会社" refers to a limited liability company formed by multiple investors.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "合同" in business and organizational contexts, such as "合同会議" (joint meeting) or "合同練習" (joint practice). It implies cooperation or collaboration between groups or individuals.
Collocations and Patterns
- 合同会社: a type of company formed by multiple people
- 合同練習: joint practice or training session
- 合同会議: joint meeting or conference
Register and Nuance
"合同" is a formal term used in business, legal, and official contexts. It is not casual and usually appears in written or formal spoken Japanese.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "合同" with "合同," which is incorrect. Also, "合同" should not be used to mean "agreement" or "contract" (契約). It specifically refers to the act of combining or joining together.