合 hé — close, join · English

合

hé

close, join

At a glance · 合

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文、金文从亼（集）从口，会意器盖与器身相合。隶楷作「合」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「合」本指闭合、聚合，引申为符合、共同。

Structure

会意字，从亼从口，上下相合之形。

At a glance

Pinyinhé

Radical口

Strokes6

UnicodeU+5408

Character type会意

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English close, join To close, combine, or suit; to match.

Français fermer, joindre Fermer, combiner ou convenir; correspondre.

Español cerrar, unir Cerrar, combinar o convenir; coincidir.

العربية يجمع، يُغلق يُغلق أو يجمع أو يوافق.

Русский закрывать, соединять Закрывать, соединять или подходить; совпадать.

Common words

合作hé zuòcooperate
合hétogether

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