友達になってくれる？
Tomodachi ni natte kureru?
In Japanese, "can I be your friend?" is expressed as 友達になってくれる？ (Tomodachi ni natte kureru?)
This phrase is a request used to ask someone if they would like to start a friendship with you. The Japanese word for "friend" is 友達. This specific form is most naturally used in casual settings, such as among students or peers, rather than in formal business environments.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 友達になってくれる？ literally translates to "Will you do me the favor of becoming friends?"
How does it change in a sentence?
Using the form 友達になってくれますか？ makes the request more polite.
How do you pronounce it?
Tomodachi ni natte kureru?
Did you know?
- Using 友達になってくれる？ can sound like something from a manga or anime. In real-life adult conversations, saying this directly can seem overly childish or strangely intense.
- Japanese culture distinguishes between 友達 and 知り合い, which means 'acquaintance'. Many people an English speaker would call 'friends' are categorized as 知り合い in Japan.
- In Japan, asking to be someone's 友達 can actually sound quite heavy or serious, as many people prefer to bond through shared activities or 'circles' rather than by explicitly labeling a friendship.
Examples in context
- 山田さん、友達になってもいいですか？Mr./Ms. Yamada, can I be your friend?
- さやか、友達になってもいい？Sayaka, can I be your friend?
- 友達になってくれる？tomodachi ni natte kureru?Can I be your friend?
- もしよかったら、友達になってくれる？moshi yokattara, tomodachi ni natte kureru?If you're okay with it, can we be friends?
- ねえ、友達になってくれる？nee, tomodachi ni natte kureru?Hey, can we be friends?
Example conversation
Ren asks Himari to be friends at school.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さん、友達になってくれる？Himari-san, tomodachi ni natte kureru?Himari, can I be your friend?
- 陽葵 Himariえっ、いいよ！e, ii yo!Eh, sure!
- 蓮 Ren本当？嬉しいよ。honto? ureshii yo.Really? I'm happy.
- 陽葵 Himariこちらこそ、よろしくね、蓮くん。kochira koso, yoroshiku ne, Ren-kun.Likewise, nice to meet you, Ren.
