28013
Occasionally I come across an interesting usage of 合える with a verb stem,
mostly when I listen to music. One such example can be found
[here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgSDZfcq_9o) at approximately 0:42

> 分かり合えない、あなたと私

As far as I can guess, this means "we don't understand each other, you and
I"(or lit.: our understanding cannot meet). However, since I couldn't find any
useful information using Google, I really can't be sure of it. I would really
like to know how common this kind of usage is, and in what situations it
would/wouldn't be fitting.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-09-14T18:52:42.443
28012
2022-08-09T04:57:00.570
2022-08-09T04:57:00.570
30454
11176
question
grammar verbs potential-form
Usage of 合える with verb stems
合える is the Potential conjugation of 合う。

> Attaching ~ 合う （あう）to the end of a verb stem means to do the action with
> each other or to do the action mutually with someone else.

(See more examples on the [source page](http://jvocab-of-the-
day.tumblr.com/post/52004228645/grammar-verb-stem-%E5%90%88%E3%81%86))

Attaching `〜合う` and `〜合える` in this way is pretty common.

To determine whether it would be fitting in a certain situation, a good rule
of thumb is to ask “Is the verb something you do _to_ or _amongst_ each
other?”

I advise against “ _with_ each other”, because for example you don't say
「泳{およ}ぎ合う」 to mean “swim with each other”. (In the rare case that it is used,
it means more like “swim amongst each other” as if intermingling.)

A few combinations will need special attention as they have a counterintuitive
meaning:

> 落{お}ち合う

Does not mean “drop each other”, but to “meet up”.

* * *

### Added:

A Japanese friend who is more knowledgeable than me in grammatical terms told
me that what I wanted to say in the “rule of thumb” section is better summed
up as: “ **whether the verb is intransitive (自動詞) or transitive (他動詞)** ”.
`〜合う` is only attached to transitive verbs.

A great example they gave was the verb **fly** , which can be both
intransitive (飛{と}ぶ) and transitive (飛ばす). This explains why you generally
don't say 「飛び合う」, but you can say 「飛ばし合う」.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-14T20:32:46.640
28013
2015-09-15T01:22:13.410
2015-09-15T01:22:13.410
888
888
28012
answer