Getting along with 気が合う
The expression 気が合う means “to get along well” or “to be on the same wavelength” with someone. It describes a sense of compatibility, mutual understanding, or shared preferences between people.
Your 気 (spirit) does the action of 合う (to match). When your 気 matches someone else’s 気, the two of you get along. You are kindred spirits.
Dictionary Definition
考え方や感じ方が通じ合う。
The way of thinking and feeling is understood by each other.
Goo Dictionary
Further Reading
- 気が合う｜慣用句 (edewakaru.com)
Examples
Kindred spirits in golf with 気が合う
Takeo’s girlfriend Rinko visits to study with him, but Takeo’s parents take turns interrupting them to get to know her better. Takeo’s father, Yutaka, asks if she watches golf.
- 凛子:
- 「あ ゴルフですか。あんまり観ないです」
- “Ah, golf? I don't watch a lot of it.”
- 豊:
- 「おもしろいよー！石川くんとか知ってる？」
- “It's fun! Do you know about Ishikawa-kun?”
- 凛子:
- 「ハイ。家でお父さんが観てます」
- “I do. My father watches it at home.”
- 豊:
- 「お父さん ゴルフする人なの。気が合うね」
- “So your dad's a golf guy. We're kindred spirits, eh?”
Kindrid spirits in drinking tea with 気が合う
Hinata escorts a classmate to the school nurse. There, she meets an elderly man sipping tea. Seeing her interest, the old man offers her a cup.
- 日向:
- 「……オレもっ 学校でお茶が飲めて嬉しーですっ」
- “It also makes me happy when I can drink tea at school.”
- おじいさん:
- 「おやぁ 気が合いますね」
- “Oh, we're kindred spirits, huh?”