友達になりたい
tomodachi ni naritai
The English phrase 'want to be friends' is translated to Japanese as 友達になりたい (tomodachi ni naritai).
This phrase is used to express a desire to start a friendship with someone. In Japanese, the subject (I) and the object (you) are often omitted, so 友達になりたい can mean 'I want to be friends (with you)' or 'I want to be friends (with them)' depending on the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 友達 (tomodachi) meaning 'friend', に (ni) acting as a particle indicating a change of state and なりたい (naritai) meaning 'want to become'. Literally, it translates to 'want to become friends'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can adjust the politeness and tone of the phrase by adding specific particles or verbs. To make the phrase polite and suitable for speaking to someone you have just met or someone older than you, add です to the end to get 友達になりたいです. To make the desire sound like a soft, personal thought or a gentle suggestion rather than a direct demand, add the particle な to the end to get 友達になりたいな.
How do you pronounce it?
tomodachi ni naritai
Did you know?
- If someone says 友達になりたい to a superior or a teacher, it can be perceived as a request to remove the social hierarchy. This may be shocking because Japanese society relies heavily on defined social ranks.
- The word 友達 (tomodachi) consists of two characters meaning 'same' and 'companion'. This reflects the cultural value of equality and shared status within a friendship.
- In many anime and manga, characters might use the even more casual term 仲間 (nakama) instead of 友達, which carries a much stronger sense of being 'comrades' or 'comrades-in-arms' than just 'friends'.
Examples in context
- 友達になりたいの。I want to be friends with you.This sentence is useful for expressing the desire to be friends with someone using 友達になりたい.Tatoeba #9343040 by small_snow, translation #8540646 by CK
- すみません、一緒にお茶でも飲んで仲良くなりませんか？Excuse me, would you like to have tea together and become friends?
- お互いの趣味が似てるね！だから一緒に遊びに行って、仲良くしよう！Our hobbies are similar! So let's go hang out together and be friends!
- もっと皆と友達になりたいです。Motto mina to tomodachi ni naritai desu.I want to become friends with everyone more.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren is talking to Himari at a community event.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんと友達になりたいです。Himari-san to tomodachi ni naritai desu.I want to be friends with you, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himari嬉しい！私も、蓮さんと友達になりたいです。Ureshii! Watashi mo, Ren-san to tomodachi ni naritai desu.I'm happy! I want to be friends with you too, Ren.
- 蓮 Ren本当ですか？よかった。Hontou desu ka? Yokatta.Really? I'm glad.
- 陽葵 Himariこれからよろしくね。Kore kara yoroshiku ne.Let's be good friends from now on.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
