腹心の友
fukushin no tomo
The English phrase "bosom buddy" is translated into Japanese as 腹心の友 (fukushin no tomo).
This phrase refers to a very close and trusted friend with whom one shares their deepest secrets.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
腹心の友 is a somewhat literary and formal way to describe a very close friend.
How do you pronounce it?
fukushin no tomo
Did you know?
- Japanese culture has a concept called 腹を割る 'splitting the belly' which means to speak honestly and openly. This is the physical metaphor for the trust required to have a 腹心の友.
- In Japanese culture, the 'center' of a person's true intentions and feelings is often thought to reside in the gut rather than the head.
- While 腹心の友 is literary, the modern slang ズッ友 'zuttomo' is used by youth to mean 'friends forever'. It is a contraction of ずっと 'always' and 友達 'friend'.
Examples in context
- 彼女は私の親友です。She is my bosom buddy.
- 私たちは昔から親友です。We have been bosom buddies since childhood.
- 彼は私の腹心の友です。Kare wa watashi no fukushin no tomo desu.He is my bosom buddy.
Example conversation
Daishō and Yui are talking about their childhood best friend.
- 大翔 Hiroto彼とはもう十年以上の付き合いなんだ。Kare to wa mō jūnen ijō no tsukiai nanda.I've known him for over ten years now.
- 結衣 Yuiそんなに長い付き合いなら、信頼しているんだね。Sonna ni nagai tsukiai nara, shinrai shite iru n da ne.If you've known him that long, you must trust him.
- 大翔 Hirotoああ、彼は私の腹心の友だからね。Aa, kare wa watashi no fukushin no tomo dakara ne.Yeah, because he is my bosom buddy.
- 結衣 Yui素敵な関係ね。私もそんな友達が欲しいわ。Sutekina kankei ne. Watashi mo sonna tomodachi ga hoshii wa.That's a wonderful relationship. I want a friend like that too.
