1.
one set; one pair
A single set or pair of items that go together, such as a set of dishes, a pair of gloves, or a deck of cards.
トランプを一組買った。
I bought one deck of playing cards.
茶碗と湯のみの一組セットをもらった。
I received a matching set of a rice bowl and a teacup.
箸を一組ください。
One pair of chopsticks, please.
2.
one group; Class 1
A single group of people, or the first class/group in a school or organizational division. Japanese schools typically label classes by number: 一組, 二組, etc.
息子は三年一組です。
My son is in Year 3, Class 1.
一組の生徒は運動場に集まってください。
Students in Class 1, please gather at the sports field.
今年の一年生は五つの組に分かれていて、うちの子は一組に入った。
This year's first graders are divided into five classes, and my child was placed in Class 1.
Composed of 一 (one) and 組 (set, group, class). The counter 組 is used for things that form a natural set or group. The reading is native Japanese (ひとくみ), not Sino-Japanese (いちくみ), following the pattern for small numbers with native counters.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一組のカップル: one couple
- 一組の布団: one set of bedding
- 一組の夫婦: one married couple
COUNTING PATTERN:
- 一組: one set
- 二組: two sets
- 三組: three sets
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 一対: one pair — more formal, used for symmetrical pairs like a pair of vases
- 一式: one complete set — implies all the necessary pieces of a full set, like a toolkit or uniform set
- 一揃い: one matching set — emphasizes that items are matched or coordinated