On wanikani the meaning of 総合 is “overall” or “comprehensive” but on jisho it means “synthesis” or “combination”. Is this an error?
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.
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.
Wish I saw your post first. Would have saved me some typing.
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