友達
tomodachi[to̞mo̞da̠t͡ɕi]
The English word friend is translated into Japanese as 友達 (tomodachi). Wiktionary also lists 友人 (yūjin) and 朋友 (hōyū).
Meaning: person whose company one enjoys (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 友達 | tomodachi | [to̞mo̞da̠t͡ɕi] (narrow) | |
| 友人 | yūjin | [jɯ̟ːʑĩɴ] (narrow) | |
| 朋友 | hōyū | [ho̞ːjɯ̟ː] (narrow) [bo̞ːjɯ̟ː] (narrow) |
uncommon |
友達 refers to a person whose company one enjoys. It is used for people of a similar social standing or age. You might encounter マブダチ to describe a close friend, as this carries a playful and affectionate connotation, implying a closer and deeper friendship.
Which one should you use?
友達 is the most common, everyday way to say 'friend' in both spoken and written Japanese. In contrast, 友人 is a more formal and literary term for 'friend' than 友達, often used in written contexts or formal introductions. The term 朋友 is uncommon.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 友達 does not change its form to indicate plurality. The context determines whether it means one friend or multiple friends.
How do you pronounce it?
tomodachi
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the word 友達 is rarely used to describe a spouse or a romantic partner, even if they are 'best friends'.
- Although 友達 is used for both one person and a group, it was originally a plural word because of the suffix 達.
- There is a distinct social difference between 友達 and 知り合い, the latter meaning 'acquaintance' and being used for people one knows but does not share a bond with.
Examples in context
- 友達に会った。I met a friend.This sentence is useful for saying you met a 友達.Tatoeba #3552041 by arnab, translation #262062 by mamat
- 友達が欲しい。I want a friend.This sentence is useful for expressing that you want a 友達.Tatoeba #8603625 by small_snow, translation #561834 by CK
- 友達にならない？Want to be my friend?This sentence is useful for asking someone to be your 友達.Tatoeba #6576395 by small_snow, translation #6586811 by foxu
- 私の友人は大学教授です。My friend is a university professor.
- 私たちは仲間です。We are friends.
- 彼は私の友達です。He is my friend.
- 彼女は私のマブダチです。She is my close friend.
- このおっちゃんは僕の友達だ。This guy is my friend.
- 527 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are talking about their childhood at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui陽太君には、子供の頃の友達がいたの？Yota-kun ni wa, kodomo no koro no tomodachi ga ita no?Yota, did you have friends when you were a child?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、公園でいつも遊んでいた友達がいたよ。Un, kouen de itsumo asonde ita tomodachi ga ita yo.Yeah, I had friends that I always played with in the park.
- 結衣 Yuiそれは楽しそうだね。Sore wa tanoshisou da ne.That sounds like fun.
- 陽太 Yota結衣ちゃんも、昔の友達と遊んだ？Yui-chan mo, mukashi no tomodachi to asonda?Did you play with your old friends too, Yui?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “friend” translations and entries 友達, 友人, 朋友, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 友達, 朋友, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
