連合

Usage notes
The two forms of this compound and  are homophonous in Mandarin and Sino-Japanese, but not in Cantonese. Hong Kong Chinese and Cantonese strongly prefer ; the form is only used when Mainland Chinese or Japanese texts are quoted verbatim and pronounced as written.

Etymology
.

Noun

 * 1) union, alliance, combination

Verb

 * 1) federate, unite, combine