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友人
yūjin
friend
彼は私の良い友人です。
He is a good friend of mine.
formal
A person whom one knows and has a bond of mutual affection with, not a member of one's immediate family.
友人は私を支えてくれました。
My friend supported me.
More formal than 友達 (tomodachi), often used in writing or polite speech.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Casual Friends
Use 友人 (yūjin) in formal settings or when referring to acquaintances. Use 友達 (tomodachi) with close friends or in casual contexts.
Gold Rule
Politeness in Speech
When introducing someone as a friend in a polite or professional context, 友人 is the safer choice. For example, in a business email: '友人の山田さんがお会いしたいと申しております。' (Mr. Yamada, a friend of mine, would like to meet you.)
Word Origin
From 友 (yū, 'friend') + 人 (jin, 'person'), literally 'friend person'. The kanji compound dates back to classical Chinese and was adopted into Japanese with the same meaning.
Usage Notes
友人 is more formal and literary than 友達 (tomodachi), which is casual and commonly used in speech. 友人 is often used in written contexts, business, or polite conversation.
Word Breakdown
友
friend
root人
person
root和英辞典