Japanese word

知り合う

Pronunciation

Romajishiriau

Meaning

  • verbget to know each other

Example

大学で知り合いました。dai gaku de shi ri a i ma shi ta

We got to know each other at college.

Illustration for 知り合う (get to know each other)

More examples

アルバイト先で同じ趣味の人と知り合いました。a ru ba i to saki de ona ji shu mi no hito to shi ri a i ma shi ta

I got to know someone with the same hobby at my part-time job.

Core concept

Describes two or more people moving from not knowing one another to having personal familiarity.

Common phrases

  • 学校で知り合うgak kō de shi ri a u

    get to know each other at school

  • 偶然知り合うgū zen shi ri a u

    happen to get acquainted

  • 知り合う機会shi ri a u ki kai

    chance to get to know each other

Definition in Japanese

面識のなかった人同士が、互いに相手を知るようになること。men shiki no na ka tta hito dō shi ga taga i ni ai te o shi ru yō ni na ru ko to

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 知り合う (shiriau) combines 知る (shiru, "know") in its continuative form 知り (shiri) with 合う (au, "mutually"), giving the sense of coming to know one another.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 知り合う (shiriau) often describes the point when people first become acquainted, so it commonly appears with places or occasions such as college or a party.

Other meanings

  • become acquaintedverb

Related words

Word lists with this word