On wanikani the meaning of 総合 is “overall” or “comprehensive” but on jisho it means “synthesis” or “combination”. Is this an error?
3 Likes
It’s more a failing of translation and nuance and trying to provide a one word meaning for a concept.
It means all those things depending on the context.
総合評価 - comprehensive evaluation
総合的言語 - synthetic language
総合研究所 - Institute for General (Overall) Research
The Japanese definition (one of them) is ばらばらのものを一つにまとめあげること
Roughly translated: bringing together scattered things into a whole
So you can see how it can mean all those things depending how it’s used. For now, just roll with the WK one until you encounter the other uses.
6 Likes
Also discussed here:
Definition from Kenkyuusha
- そうごう３【総合】 ローマ字
a combination; (a) synthesis 《pl. -theses》; 【哲】 colligation.
〜する combine; synthesize; integrate; put [piece] together; 【哲】 colligate.
►小論文・面接・調査書の評価を総合して合否を判定する combine the marks for the essay, interview and report to judge whether or not to pass a candidate
・全ての話を総合してみると putting all accounts together; by all accounts.
◨個人[団体]総合 【体操】 individual [team] combined (exercises).
►小林は鈴木を破って個人総合で優勝することができた. Kobayashi succeeded in winning the individual combined title by beating Suzuki.
◧総合アミノ酸液 【薬】 an amino acid complex (solution).
総合アミノ酸製剤 【薬】 an amino acid complex (preparation).
総合安全保障 comprehensive (national) security.
総合胃腸薬 【薬】 a combined gastrointestinal drug; a general-purpose stomach medicine.
総合医療[診療] comprehensive medical care.
総合運営 integrated [well-coordinated] management.
総合卸売物価指数 the wholesale price index (略: WPI).
総合開発 overall [comprehensive] development.
総合学習 〔教科〕 comprehensive [integrated] learning.
総合格闘技 mixed martial arts (略: MMA).
総合課税 〔分離課税に対し〕 taxation on aggregate income; composite [consolidated] taxation.
総合学科 〔高等学校の〕 a general (study, studies) course.
総合感冒薬 【薬】 an agent used for common cold; a general(-purpose) cold medicine; multiple cold medicine.
総合幾何学 〔解析幾何学に対し〕 synthetic geometry.
総合競技 【体操】 combined exercises.
►個人[団体]総合競技 individual [team] combined (exercises).
総合計画 an all-out plan; a comprehensive program.
総合経済政策 a comprehensive economic policy.
総合経済対策 comprehensive economic measures; a comprehensive economic stimulus package.
総合芸術 a ┏composite [comprehensive] art.
総合口座 a combined [a general, an integrated] bank account; a combined savings and current account.
総合雑誌 a (general [general-interest]) magazine.
►高級総合雑誌 a general magazine of high quality.
総合司会 anchoring.
►「9 時のニュース」の総合司会をつとめた. He ┏was the anchor for [anchored] the Nine o’Clock News.
総合司会者 an anchorperson; an anchorman; an anchor-woman; the main broadcaster on a program.
総合指数 【経】 a composite index (略: CI).
総合収支 the ┏total [overall] balance of payments.
総合主義 【美術】 synthetism.
総合証券会社 a general securities company.
総合商社 a general trading company.
総合職 ⇒そうごうしょく.
総合所得税 〔戦前の日本で, 分類所得税に対し, 所得合計に対して課される〕 a composite income tax.
総合診療所 a polyclinic (hospital).
総合大学 a (non-specialist) university.
総合的 ⇒そうごうてき.
総合デジタル通信網 ⇒そうごうサービスデジタルつうしんもう.
総合デジタル放送 〔NHK の〕 Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (略: ISDB).
総合哲学 synthetic philosophy.
総合点 aggregate points; a combined [an aggregate] score.
►総合点で一位である be ┏first [in first position] on aggregate score.
総合図書館 a general library.
総合馬術 〔耐久・障害・馬場馬術を 3 日で行う〕 a three-day (equestrian) event.
総合判断 (an) overall judgment.
総合ビタミン剤 【薬】 a vitamin complex; multiple vitamin; a multivitamin preparation; a multiple vitamin supplement.
総合病院 a general hospital.
総合評価 an overall rating.
総合保険 comprehensive insurance.
総合メーカー a comprehensive [*an all-around] 《automobile》 maker.
総合優勝 〔競技大会などでの〕 《win》 an overall victory.
総合力 〔1 人の人間の〕 an overall ability; 〔複数の人間の力を合わせた〕 collective strength.
So yes, the base definition is to combine, synthesis, bring together disparate things, but when you combine many things then you get a comprehensive/overall result, that’s why wanikani define 総合 as comprehensive/overall.
5 Likes
Wish I saw your post first. Would have saved me some typing. 
1 Like