収集 en 30 secondes
- 収集 means systematic collection of items or data.
- Commonly used for hobbies (stamps), waste (garbage), and research (information).
- It is a formal Suru-verb: 収集する (shūshū suru).
- Do not use it for gathering people; use 'atsumeru' instead.
The term 収集 (しゅうしゅう - shūshū) is a cornerstone of the Japanese lexicon, particularly when discussing the systematic gathering of items, data, or materials. At its core, it combines two powerful kanji: 収 (shū), meaning to obtain, reap, or settle, and 集 (shū), meaning to gather, meet, or congregate. Together, they describe a deliberate and often organized process of bringing disparate elements into a single location or record. Unlike casual gathering, shūshū implies a sense of purpose, whether for hobbyist enjoyment, scientific research, or administrative necessity.
- Primary Usage
- Physical collection of objects (stamps, waste, artifacts).
- Secondary Usage
- Abstract gathering of information, evidence, or data points.
- Nuance
- Often implies a systematic or repetitive action rather than a one-time event.
"彼は長年にわたって、世界中の珍しい切手を収集している。" (He has been collecting rare stamps from around the world for many years.)
In a modern context, you will encounter this word daily in Japan, most notably on garbage collection signs (ごみ収集日). However, in professional settings, it shifts toward the intellectual realm. A researcher might talk about 情報収集 (jōhō shūshū - information gathering) as a critical first step in a project. This versatility makes it a B1-level essential; it bridges the gap between everyday survival Japanese and more sophisticated academic or business communication.
"研究のために、アンケートでデータを収集した。" (I collected data through surveys for my research.)
Furthermore, the word carries a neutral to positive connotation in most contexts. However, when applied to people, it can sometimes imply a cold, clinical approach to gathering facts about someone. It is rarely used to mean 'gathering people' (for that, you would use atsumeru or shūgō). Understanding this boundary is key to natural-sounding Japanese. The word is also frequently used in compound nouns, which we will explore in the following sections.
"警察は現場で証拠を収集している。" (The police are gathering evidence at the scene.)
- Formal vs. Informal
- 収集 is a formal kango (Sino-Japanese word). In casual speech, people often use the verb 集める (atsumeru).
"趣味で古いコインを収集しています。" (I collect old coins as a hobby.)
Using 収集 correctly requires understanding its role as a Suru-verb (noun + する). It is most effective when the object of the collection is something that can be categorized or archived. In Japanese grammar, it typically follows the pattern: [Object] + を + 収集する. This structure is ubiquitous in reports, news, and formal instructions.
- Grammar Pattern 1
- Noun + 収集 (e.g., 情報収集 - Data collection)
- Grammar Pattern 2
- Object + を収集する (e.g., 資料を収集する - To collect materials)
When discussing hobbies, shūshū adds a layer of seriousness. If you say "I collect cards" using shūshū, it sounds like you have a massive, well-organized binder. If you use atsumeru, it might just mean you have a few lying around. This distinction is vital for B1 learners moving into B2 territory. In business, shūshū is the standard term for market research and competitive analysis.
"市場の動向を収集し、レポートを作成した。" (I gathered market trends and created a report.)
Another critical area of usage is public services. In Japan, garbage disposal is highly regulated. You will see signs for ごみ収集車 (garbage truck) and 収集予定表 (collection schedule). In this context, the word is strictly functional. It refers to the act of the municipality picking up items from designated spots. Using any other word here would sound unnatural to a native speaker.
"燃えるごみの収集は、毎週月曜日と木曜日です。" (Combustible waste collection is every Monday and Thursday.)
In academic writing, shūshū is often paired with 分析 (bunseki - analysis). The phrase 収集・分析 (collection and analysis) is a standard methodology heading. If you are writing a thesis or a business proposal, this pair is indispensable. It shows a logical progression from gathering raw facts to interpreting them.
"データの収集方法について説明します。" (I will explain the method of data collection.)
- Common Collocations
- 情報収集 (Information gathering), 証拠収集 (Evidence collection), 標本収集 (Specimen collection).
You will encounter 収集 in four primary environments: the street, the office, the classroom, and the digital world. Each environment uses the word with a slightly different flavor, but the core meaning of 'organized gathering' remains constant. Recognizing these contexts will help you decode the speaker's intent immediately.
1. The Street (Public Administration): As mentioned, the most common place to see this word is on street signs and garbage bins. It is part of the vocabulary of daily life. If you hear a loudspeaker announcement in a residential area, it might be about a change in the 収集時間 (collection time) due to a holiday.
"年末年始は、ごみの収集がお休みになります。" (Garbage collection will be suspended during the New Year holidays.)
2. The Office (Business/IT): In the corporate world, data is king. You will hear managers asking for 情報収集 (jōhō shūshū). This doesn't just mean googling; it means a comprehensive search for facts to support a decision. In IT, ログ収集 (log collection) refers to the automated gathering of system performance data.
"競合他社の情報を収集してください。" (Please gather information on our competitors.)
3. The Classroom (Academic): Students are taught to 資料を収集する (collect materials) for their essays. Professors emphasize the importance of 一次資料の収集 (collection of primary sources). Here, the word is synonymous with academic rigor and the scientific method.
"論文を書く前に、十分な資料を収集する必要があります。" (Before writing a thesis, it is necessary to collect sufficient materials.)
4. Digital/Media: On news broadcasts, you might hear about the 証拠収集 (evidence collection) in a criminal investigation. In the world of social media, people talk about ネタ収集 (neta shūshū), which is slang for gathering interesting topics or 'material' for a post or a comedy routine.
"警察は防犯カメラの映像を収集した。" (The police collected footage from security cameras.)
- Frequency
- Very high in formal documents and news; moderate in casual conversation.
While 収集 is a versatile word, learners often trip up on its specific nuances and its phonetic similarity to other words. The most frequent error is using it where a more general or a more specific word is required. Let's break down these pitfalls to ensure your Japanese remains precise.
- Mistake 1: Confusing with 集中 (Shūjū)
- Shūjū means 'concentration' (like focusing your mind). Shūshū means 'collection'. They sound similar but have zero overlap in meaning.
- Mistake 2: Using it for People
- You cannot 'shūshū' a group of friends for a party. Use 集める (atsumeru) or 集合する (shūgō suru) instead.
Another common error is confusing 収集 with 採集 (saishū). While both mean 'collecting', saishū is specifically used for biological specimens or natural resources (like insects, plants, or shellfish). If you say you are 'shūshū-ing' butterflies, a native speaker will understand, but it sounds like you are collecting dried specimens in a box rather than catching them in the wild.
"❌ 友達を公園に収集した。" (Incorrect: Collected friends at the park.)
There is also the confusion with 徴収 (chōshū). This word is specifically for the 'collection' of taxes, fees, or fines. If you use shūshū for taxes, it sounds like you are collecting them as a hobby, which is definitely not the case for the government! Precision in these 'collecting' verbs is what separates an intermediate learner from an advanced one.
"❌ 税金を収集する。" (Incorrect: Collecting taxes as a hobby/general item.)
Finally, watch out for the phrase 収拾がつかない (shūshū ga tsukanai). Note that the second kanji is different (拾 - pick up). This phrase means 'to be out of control' or 'unmanageable'. Because it is pronounced exactly the same as shūshū, it can be very confusing in spoken Japanese. Context is your only guide here.
"事態が混乱して、収拾がつかなくなった。" (The situation became chaotic and out of control.)
- Pronunciation Tip
- Ensure the long 'u' sounds are clear: Shū-shū. Shortening them might lead to confusion with other words.
Japanese has a rich vocabulary for the act of 'gathering'. Understanding the synonyms of 収集 will help you choose the most natural word for any situation. The differences are often found in the object being gathered and the method used.
- 集める (Atsumeru)
- The general, multi-purpose verb for 'to gather'. It can be used for people, things, and money. It is less formal than 収集.
- 採集 (Saishū)
- Used for collecting things from nature, like insects (昆虫採集) or plants (植物採集).
- 募集 (Boshū)
- Used for 'recruiting' or 'inviting' applications. You 'boshū' employees or participants.
Another interesting synonym is 蒐集 (shūshū). You might notice the first kanji is different (it has the 'grass' radical). This is the older, more literary version of shūshū. It is almost exclusively used for high-end art or rare book collecting. If you see this in a book, the author is trying to convey a sense of prestige and deep obsession with the collection.
"彼は古書の蒐集家として知られている。" (He is known as a collector of rare books.)
Then there is 採取 (saishu). This is very similar to 採集 but is more often used in scientific or medical contexts, such as 血液採取 (blood sample collection) or 指紋採取 (fingerprint collection). It implies taking a small sample from a larger whole for testing.
"科学者は土壌のサンプルを採取した。" (The scientist took a soil sample.)
Finally, consider 蓄積 (chikuseki). This means 'accumulation' or 'stockpiling'. While shūshū is the act of gathering, chikuseki focuses on the result—the pile of data or wealth that has built up over time. In business, you might 'shūshū' data so that you can 'chikuseki' knowledge.
"長年の経験が知識として蓄積されている。" (Years of experience have accumulated as knowledge.)
- Summary of Synonyms
- Use 収集 for systems/hobbies, 採集 for nature, 採取 for samples, and 募集 for people/applications.
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Suru-verbs
Compound Nouns
Transitive Verbs
Noun + の + Noun
〜ために (Purpose)
Exemples par niveau
ごみ収集の場所はどこですか？
Where is the garbage collection place?
Noun + の + 収集
切手の収集は楽しいです。
Collecting stamps is fun.
Simple noun usage
明日はごみ収集の日です。
Tomorrow is garbage collection day.
Common daily phrase
カードを収集しています。
I am collecting cards.
Object + を + 収集している
きれいな石を収集しました。
I collected pretty stones.
Past tense
収集車が来ました。
The collection truck has come.
Compound noun: 収集 + 車
これは私の収集品です。
This is my collection (item).
収集品 (shūshū-hin) means 'collection item'
データを収集します。
I will collect data.
Basic future/habitual use
趣味で古いコインを収集しています。
I collect old coins as a hobby.
趣味で (as a hobby)
ごみ収集のルールを守ってください。
Please follow the garbage collection rules.
守る (to follow/protect)
情報を収集するために本を読みます。
I read books to gather information.
〜ために (in order to)
彼は珍しい虫を収集するのが好きです。
He likes collecting rare insects.
〜のが好き (likes doing...)
市役所がごみを収集します。
The city hall collects the garbage.
Subject + が
資料の収集に時間がかかりました。
It took time to collect the materials.
〜に時間がかかる
このアプリでニュースを収集できます。
You can gather news with this app.
〜できる (can do)
収集したごみを捨てに行きます。
I am going to throw away the collected trash.
収集した (past participle use)
レポートを書く前に、十分な情報収集が必要です。
Before writing the report, sufficient information gathering is necessary.
情報収集 (information gathering) as a compound noun
警察は事件の証拠を収集しています。
The police are collecting evidence of the incident.
Progressive form (〜ている)
インターネットは情報収集にとても便利です。
The internet is very convenient for gathering information.
〜に便利 (convenient for...)
アンケートで利用者の意見を収集した。
We collected users' opinions through a survey.
〜で (by means of)
彼は世界中の切手を収集しているコレクターだ。
He is a collector who gathers stamps from all over the world.
Noun modification
効率的にデータを収集する方法を考えましょう。
Let's think of a way to collect data efficiently.
効率的に (efficiently)
この地域のごみ収集は有料です。
Garbage collection in this area is not free.
有料 (paid/not free)
彼は収集した情報をノートにまとめました。
He summarized the collected information in a notebook.
まとめました (summarized)
市場の動向を収集し、新商品の開発に役立てる。
We gather market trends and use them for new product development.
〜に役立てる (to put to use for...)
その学者は長年、民話を収集して歩いた。
That scholar spent years traveling and collecting folktales.
〜して歩いた (went around doing...)
プライバシーを侵害せずに情報を収集するのは難しい。
It is difficult to collect information without infringing on privacy.
〜せずに (without doing)
収集癖が高じて、家が物で溢れてしまった。
His collecting habit worsened, and his house became overflowing with things.
収集癖 (collecting habit/mania)
最新の技術を用いて、大気中のサンプルを収集する。
Using the latest technology, we collect samples from the atmosphere.
〜を用いて (using...)
文献収集は、研究の基礎となる重要な作業だ。
Collecting literature is an important task that forms the basis of research.
基礎となる (becoming the basis)
不法投棄を防ぐため、収集場所の監視を強化する。
To prevent illegal dumping, we will strengthen monitoring of collection sites.
監視を強化する (strengthen surveillance)
彼は自分の趣味のために多額の資金を収集に費やした。
He spent a large amount of money on collecting for his hobby.
〜に費やす (to spend on...)
ビッグデータの収集と分析は、現代ビジネスの鍵である。
The collection and analysis of big data is the key to modern business.
Abstract noun usage
歴史家は散逸した史料を丹念に収集した。
The historian painstakingly collected scattered historical documents.
丹念に (painstakingly)
情報の収集源を多様化することで、偏りを防ぐ。
By diversifying information sources, we prevent bias.
収集源 (source of collection)
彼は稀覯本の蒐集家として、学会でも一目置かれている。
As a collector of rare books, he is highly regarded even in academic circles.
蒐集 (literary version of 収集)
証拠収集の過程で、重大な過失が発覚した。
In the process of evidence collection, a serious negligence was discovered.
〜の過程で (in the process of)
野生生物の違法な収集は、生態系を破壊する恐れがある。
Illegal collection of wildlife may destroy the ecosystem.
〜恐れがある (there is a fear/risk that...)
彼は情報の断片を収集し、一つの仮説を立てた。
He collected fragments of information and formulated a hypothesis.
断片 (fragments)
自動化されたシステムが、リアルタイムでデータを収集する。
An automated system collects data in real-time.
リアルタイムで (in real-time)
知識の収集それ自体が目的化してはならない。
The collection of knowledge itself must not become the end goal.
目的化する (to become the goal)
彼は美学的な観点から、廃墟の写真を収集し続けている。
From an aesthetic perspective, he continues to collect photographs of ruins.
〜観点から (from the perspective of)
膨大な情報の収集は、時に真実を覆い隠してしまう。
The collection of vast amounts of information sometimes obscures the truth.
覆い隠す (to cover up/obscure)
その博物館は、植民地時代の略奪品を収集していた歴史がある。
The museum has a history of collecting looted items from the colonial era.
略奪品 (looted goods)
個人の嗜好を収集・数値化するアルゴリズムの是非を問う。
We question the pros and cons of algorithms that collect and quantify personal preferences.
是非を問う (to question the right or wrong of...)
蒐集という行為は、人間の所有欲の現れに他ならない。
The act of collecting is nothing but a manifestation of human possessiveness.
〜に他ならない (is nothing but...)
彼は生涯をかけて、消えゆく方言の音声を収集した。
He spent his entire life collecting audio of disappearing dialects.
生涯をかけて (over a lifetime)
情報の無差別な収集は、監視社会への道筋となり得る。
Indiscriminate collection of information can become a path to a surveillance society.
〜となり得る (can become)
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Highly formal, suitable for writing.
収集 is for items/data; 集める is for people/general.
- Using 収集 to mean 'gathering of people'.
- Pronouncing it as 'shuju' instead of 'shūshū'.
- Confusing it with 集中 (concentration) in listening.
- Using it for collecting money/taxes (use 徴収 instead).
- Writing the second kanji as 拾 (which is for 'shūshū' as in 'settling').
Astuces
Garbage Days
Always check your local 'gomi shūshū' calendar when moving to a new area in Japan.
Research Papers
Use 'shūshū' when describing how you got your data for a more professional tone.
Serious Collecting
If you are a serious collector, use 'shūshū' to describe your hobby to Japanese friends.
Suru-Verb
Remember that 収集 is a noun that becomes a verb by adding 'suru'.
Kanji Meaning
Both kanji mean 'gather', making it easy to remember the core concept.
Announcements
Listen for this word in train stations or public broadcasts regarding lost items.
Market Research
In a meeting, use 'jōhō shūshū' to talk about researching competitors.
Synonyms
Learn 'saishū' alongside 'shūshū' to distinguish between nature and objects.
Compound Nouns
Many useful words are formed by adding 収集 to another noun.
Confidence
Using kango like 'shūshū' instead of simple verbs makes you sound more advanced.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Sino-Japanese (Kango)
Contexte culturel
High value placed on complete and pristine collections.
Strict rules for sorting trash before collection.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"何か収集しているものはありますか？ (Is there anything you collect?)"
"この辺のごみ収集は何時ですか？ (What time is the garbage collection around here?)"
"情報収集はどうやってしていますか？ (How do you go about gathering information?)"
"最近、何か面白いデータを収集しましたか？ (Have you collected any interesting data lately?)"
"子供の頃、何か収集していましたか？ (Did you collect anything when you were a child?)"
Sujets d'écriture
私が収集しているものについて書く。 (Write about things I collect.)
効率的な情報収集の方法について。 (About efficient information gathering methods.)
日本のゴミ収集ルールについて感じること。 (My feelings on Japanese garbage collection rules.)
もし何でも収集できるなら、何を集めるか。 (If I could collect anything, what would it be?)
デジタル情報の収集とプライバシー。 (Collection of digital information and privacy.)
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, 収集 is used for objects and information. To gather people, use 集める (atsumeru) or 集合する (shūgō suru).
収集 is formal and implies a systematic process. 集める is general and can be used for anything, including people.
Yes, it is the standard word for garbage collection in Japan (ごみ収集).
You can say 'コレクションがあります' or '収集品があります'.
It means a 'collecting habit' or a tendency to collect things, sometimes to an obsessive degree.
Both are correct, but 収集する is more common as a verb.
Yes, 情報収集 (information gathering) and データ収集 (data collection) are very common.
It is Heiban (flat), meaning the pitch stays level.
Yes, but 蒐集 is more literary and often used for high-end art or book collecting.
It sounds the same but uses a different kanji. It means a situation is out of control.
Teste-toi 180 questions
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use '収集' when you are talking about an organized, purposeful gathering of objects or information. It is the standard term for garbage collection and professional data gathering.
- 収集 means systematic collection of items or data.
- Commonly used for hobbies (stamps), waste (garbage), and research (information).
- It is a formal Suru-verb: 収集する (shūshū suru).
- Do not use it for gathering people; use 'atsumeru' instead.
Garbage Days
Always check your local 'gomi shūshū' calendar when moving to a new area in Japan.
Research Papers
Use 'shūshū' when describing how you got your data for a more professional tone.
Serious Collecting
If you are a serious collector, use 'shūshū' to describe your hobby to Japanese friends.
Suru-Verb
Remember that 収集 is a noun that becomes a verb by adding 'suru'.
Exemple
研究のためにデータを収集しています。
