Japanese word

友

Pronunciation

Romajitomo

Meaning

  • nounfriend

Example

本は一生の友です。hon wa is shō no tomo de su

Books are friends for life.

Illustration for 友 (friend)

More examples

放課後、私は友と公園で遊びます。hō ka go watashi wa tomo to kō en de aso bi ma su

I play in the park with a friend after school.

Core concept

Describes someone with whom a person shares a familiar, trusting relationship and an ongoing connection.

Common phrases

  • 友と話すtomo to hana su

    talk with a friend

  • 友に会うtomo ni a u

    meet a friend

  • 友と遊ぶtomo to aso bu

    play with a friend

Similar words

友達tomodachi: A common conversational term for a person with whom someone shares a friendly relationship.
友人yūjin: A friend mentioned in formal speech or writing.
親友shinyū: A friend who has an especially close and lasting relationship with someone.

Definition in Japanese

親しい関係にあり、助け合ったり語り合ったりする相手。shita shi i kan kei ni a ri tasu ke a tta ri kata ri a tta ri su ru ai te

Word origin

The native Japanese word 友 (tomo, "friend") is an old Japanese term represented in writing by a character whose early form depicts two hands working together.

Usage tips

  • In casual speech, 友達 (tomodachi) is usually more natural than 友 (tomo) for "a friend," while 友 remains common in compounds and formal or poetic wording.

Opposites

Word lists with this word