1.
to gather; to assemble; to come together
For people to come together in one place, typically with a shared purpose or bond. More literary and evocative than 集まる.
仲間が集った。
Our companions gathered.
同じ志を持つ人たちが集う場がほしい。
I want a place where people with the same aspirations can come together.
毎年この祭りには全国から大勢の人が集い、町は活気にあふれる。
Every year, large crowds gather from all over the country for this festival, and the town overflows with energy.
USAGE:
集う is a literary, slightly elevated synonym of 集まる. It implies people coming together with a shared sense of purpose, bond, or spirit — not just randomly being in the same place. It is common in written language, event names, and poetic contexts.
ASPECT (ている):
集っている describes a state of being gathered together.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 仲間が集う (companions gather)
- 人が集う場 (a place where people come together)
- ～のもとに集う (to gather under the banner of ~)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 集う: to gather (literary; implies shared purpose or bond)
- 集まる: to gather, to assemble (everyday; neutral)
- 寄り集まる: to get together (casual, spontaneous feeling)
RELATED:
The noun form is 集い (a gathering, assembly).