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道Nihongo Path

間柄

あいだがら

relationship, terms (between people)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 二人は何でも話せる間柄だ。

    ふたりはなんでもはなせるあいだがらだ。

    The two are on terms where they can talk about anything.

  2. 彼とはただの仕事の間柄です。

    かれとはただのしごとのあいだがらです。

    He and I are purely work associates.

  3. 遠慮のいらない間柄なので、はっきり言わせてもらう。

    えんりょのいらないあいだがらなので、はっきりいわせてもらう。

    We're on terms that need no politeness, so let me speak plainly.

Common patterns

親しい間柄
on close terms
仕事上の間柄
a working relationship
何でも話せる間柄
on terms where one can say anything

Memory tip

間 (the space between) plus 柄 (nature): the nature of the space between two people. It is nearly always preceded by a modifier saying what kind of terms they are on (親しい間柄, 〜が言える間柄); bare 関係 is the plainer everyday word.

Kanji in this word

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What does 間柄 mean?