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What exactly is the use of 合わせる here? Causative + potential?
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2023-08-01T23:23:38.050
100487
2023-09-01T04:04:20.460
55492
question
verbs potential-form causation
Causative + Potential and the verb 合わせる
Let's look at this verb. _(Note that I'm keeping the list of senses
deliberately short for the sake of simplicity.)_

合わせる is analyzable as the causative of 合う.

  * 合【あ】う: to come together, to happen together, to do together
  * 合【あ】わせる: to cause to come, happen, or do together

It is also regarded by modern Japanese resources as a verb unto itself.

  * 合【あ】わせる: to put together, to combine things (transitive)

In this second sense, we get the natural passive of that:

  * 合【あ】わせられる: to be put together, to be combined

Passives can also be used to express potential. Whether or not to translate a
passive verb as potential in English comes down to the context of the source
and what you want to emphasize.
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2023-08-02T00:14:34.523
100488
2023-08-02T00:14:34.523
5229
100487
answer