知り合い
shiriainoun★Intermediate
informal
An acquaintance; someone you know but are not close friends with
彼は私の知り合いです。
He is an acquaintance of mine.
知り合いからパーティーに誘われた。
I was invited to a party by an acquaintance.
💡
This term is commonly used to describe someone you know casually, often through work, school, or social circles.
Collocations
知り合いになるto become acquainted知り合いの知り合いa friend of a friend
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
知り合いを作るphrase
to make an acquaintance
💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Usage
In formal contexts, '知人' (chijin) may be used instead of '知り合い' (shiriai).
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
While '知り合い' is useful for casual relationships, overusing it for close friends may sound impersonal.
📖Word Origin
Derived from the verb '知る' (to know) and the nominalizer '合い' (connection), indicating a connection through mutual knowledge.
📝Usage Notes
While '知り合い' can sometimes be translated as 'friend,' it typically implies a more distant relationship than '友達' (tomodachi).
Word Breakdown
知る
to know
root合い
connection
suffix和英辞典