Translation guide
Expresses the idea of being physically beside someone, taking their side in a conflict, or being on their team. Japanese uses different words for physical position, support, and group affiliation.
Being physically next to someone or something.
General word for 'side' or 'beside'. Used for physical position.
彼は私の横に座った。
He sat beside me.
Next to, adjacent. Often implies immediate proximity.
隣に立ってください。
Please stand next to me.
Near, by one's side. Conveys closeness, often emotional.
いつもそばにいてくれてありがとう。
Thank you for always being by my side.
Supporting one person over another in a dispute.
To side with, to take someone's side. 味方 means ally or supporter.
私は彼の味方をします。
I'll take his side.
Literally 'to hold someone's shoulder', meaning to support or side with them. Slightly colloquial.
彼女はいつも弟の肩を持つ。
She always takes her younger brother's side.
To take the side of, to align with. 側 (がわ) means side in the sense of faction.
どちらの側につくの？
Whose side are you on?
Belonging to the same side in a game, competition, or broader context.
Side as in team or faction. Used in compounds like こっち側 (our side).
彼は私たちの側です。
He's on our side.
Loanword for team. Often used in sports or work contexts.
同じチームで戦おう。
Let's fight on the same side.
A person's viewpoint or version of events.
One's side of the story, what one has to say. Used when hearing both sides.
彼の言い分も聞いてみよう。
Let's hear his side of the story too.
One's position or standpoint. More formal.
彼の立場も理解できる。
I can understand his side too.
横 (よこ) is the most general for 'beside'. 隣 (となり) implies immediate adjacency, often for things in a row. そば conveys emotional or physical closeness, not necessarily right next to.
横に置いてください。
Please put it beside (me).
隣の席は空いていますか？
Is the seat next to you free?
そばにいてほしい。
I want you to be by my side.
そば means physical or emotional nearness. To express 'taking someone's side' in a dispute, use 味方をする or 肩を持つ.