Japanese

わせる

てをあわせる
Meaning: to join hands in prayer; to press one's palms together; to compete against
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 手を合わせる 手を合わせない
Polite 手を合わせます 手を合わせません
Past 手を合わせた 手を合わせなかった
Polite + Past 手を合わせました 手を合わせませんでした
Te-form 手を合わせて 手を合わせなくて
Potential 手を合わせられる 手を合わせられない
Passive 手を合わせられる 手を合わせられない
Causative 手を合わせさせる 手を合わせさせない
Imperative 手を合わせろ 手を合わせるな

Handwriting

手
を
合
わ
せ
る

Example sentences

I quietly joined my hands in prayer in front of the Buddhist altar.
法要の際には、数珠を手に掛けて手を合わせる。
During Buddhist services, people hang prayer beads over their hands and join them in prayer.

Usage Notes

Primarily used for joining hands in prayer, gratitude, or apology. Can also mean to compete with someone.

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