Looking up...
親友を失う
shinyū o ushinau
lose a close friend
彼は親友を失って、しばらく立ち直れなかった。
He couldn’t recover for a while after losing his close friend.
formal
To no longer have a close friend due to death, betrayal, or separation.
彼女は長年の親友を失い、深い悲しみに暮れている。
She lost her lifelong close friend and is grieving deeply.
会社のリストラで、彼は大事な親友を失った。
Due to company layoffs, he lost an important close friend.
Often implies emotional loss beyond just separation. The relationship is typically long-standing.
Collocations
親友を失う痛手the pain of losing a close friend親友を失う悲しみthe sorrow of losing a close friend親友を失って立ち直るto recover after losing a close friend
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Emotional nuance of 失う
The verb '失う' (ushinau) is stronger than 'なくす' (nakusu) in Japanese. While 'なくす' can mean 'to lose' in a general sense, '失う' often implies a more profound or irreversible loss, especially in emotional or personal contexts. For example, '命を失う' (to lose one's life) is more severe than '命をなくす'.
Gold Rule
Using を with 失う
The object marker 'を' is required when using '失う' with a person or thing that is lost. For example, '友達を失う' (to lose a friend) is correct, while '友達が失う' is ungrammatical. This is a common structure in Japanese for expressing loss.
Word Origin
親友 (shinyū) = 'close friend' (親 = close/intimate + 友 = friend) + を (object marker) + 失う (ushinau) = 'to lose'. The phrase combines the emotional weight of 'close friend' with the verb 'to lose', emphasizing the significance of the loss.
Usage Notes
This phrase is used in both personal and professional contexts. It carries a stronger emotional connotation than simply '友達を失う' (losing a friend), as '親友' implies a deep, long-term bond. The verb '失う' (to lose) suggests the loss is irreversible or deeply impactful.
Word Breakdown
親友
close friend
nounを
object marker
particle失う
to lose
verb和英辞典