友
とも
friend, companion
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
彼は長い間の友だ。
かれはながいあいだのともだ。
He is a friend of many years.
まさかの時の友こそ真の友。
まさかのときのともこそしんのとも。
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
本は一生の友になる。
ほんはいっしょうのともになる。
Books become companions for life.
Common patterns
- 良き友
- a good friend
- 一生の友
- a friend for life
- 友を作る
- make friends
Memory tip
The literary, formal form of 友達. You meet it in proverbs, songs and writing rather than in everyday speech, where 友達 is the normal word.
Kanji in this word
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does 友 mean?