会 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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What does 会 mean in Japanese?

会 means to meet in Japanese. It is the kanji in 会う (au, to meet) and in 会社 (kaisha, company) and 会話 (kaiwa, conversation), some of the most frequent words in daily life and at work.

会 has two main readings. Read it as あう (au) in the verb 会う, meaning ‘to meet,’ and as カイ (kai) in compounds such as 会社 (company), 会話 (conversation), and 会議 (meeting). The core idea of people coming together connects all of these words.

Reading

On’yomi: カイ (kai), エ (e)

Kun’yomi: あ-う (a-u)

Basic Information

Kanji 会
Meaning meet, meeting
Stroke Count 6
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

会 centers on people coming together. The verb 会う is for meeting people and takes the particle に, as in 友達に会う (to meet a friend). In compounds read as カイ, it builds words for gatherings and organizations: 会社 (company), 会議 (meeting), and 大会 (tournament). As a suffix, 会 names events themselves, as in 飲み会 (drinking party).

Common Words

  • 会う（あう / au） — to meet
  • 会社（かいしゃ / kaisha） — company
  • 会話（かいわ / kaiwa） — conversation
  • 会議（かいぎ / kaigi） — meeting, conference
  • 大会（たいかい / taikai） — tournament, large event
  • 飲み会（のみかい / nomikai） — drinking party

Example Sentences

  • 駅で友達に会いました。

    えきでともだちにあいました。 / Eki de tomodachi ni aimashita.

    I met my friend at the station.

  • 父は会社で働いています。

    ちちはかいしゃではたらいています。 / Chichi wa kaisha de hataraite imasu.

    My father works at a company.

  • 毎週、日本語で会話の練習をしています。

    まいしゅう、にほんごでかいわのれんしゅうをしています。 / Maishuu, nihongo de kaiwa no renshuu o shite imasu.

    I practice conversation in Japanese every week.

Related Kanji

  • 話

    — 話 means to talk, and 会話 (conversation) joins 会 and 話 into the word every learner studies for; meeting and talking go hand in hand.

  • 人

    — 人 means person; every 会 word, from 会う to 会議, is ultimately about people coming together.

  • 出

    — 出 means to come out, and 出会う (to encounter, to come across someone) adds a sense of chance to 会う; it is also the root of 出会い (an encounter).

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

Watch the particle: Japanese says 友達に会う, not 友達を会う, which is a common early mistake. 会社 (kaisha) and 会社員 (company employee) appear in nearly every self-introduction. また会いましょう (let’s meet again) is a warm way to end a conversation, and 飲み会 (nomikai) is a word you will hear as soon as you join a Japanese workplace or club.

Summary

会 means to meet and links the verb 会う with everyday institution words like 会社 and 会話, all built on people coming together.