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友達 (ともだち) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

友とも達だち

と

も

だ

ち

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 500

Meanings

1

noun

friend; companion

General term for a friend; used for close friends, casual acquaintances, and companions. Often used with counters like 一人, 二人.

彼かれは私わたしの一いち番ばんの友とも達だちです。
He is my best friend.
友とも達だちと映えい画がを見みに行い

っ

た

。

I went to see a movie with a friend.

Written forms

友とも達だちUsage79%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
友ともだちUsage19%
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling, especially in informal writing or for learners.
ともだちUsage1%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.
トモダチUsage<1%
search-only kana form

Kanji

友friend
達accomplished, reach, arrive

Similar words

友ゆう人じん
More formal than 友達; often used in writing or polite speech.
仲なか間ま
Refers to a companion, colleague, or member of a group; implies shared activity or belonging.

Etymology

Compound of 友 (とも, 'friend') + 達 (たち, pluralizing suffix). Originally meant 'friends' as a plural, but now used for both singular and plural.