How to Say Friend in Japanese
Learn how to say friend in Japanese. 'Tomodachi' (友達) is the standard word for friend. Pronunciation guide + best friend, levels of friendship, and casual terms.
Published · 2 min read · Free · No sign-up
Quick answer
To say friend in Japanese, say 'Tomodachi' (友達, toh-moh-dah-chee). It's the standard word for friend and works for any gender (Japanese doesn't change it by gender). For best friend, say 'Shin'yū' (親友). Close casual friends might be called 'nakama' (comrades/crew) or, borrowing from English, 'furendo.'
友達
/toh-moh-dah-chee/ — Japanese
How to Say Friend in Japanese
Friendship words in Japanese are refreshingly simple in one way — tomodachi doesn’t change by gender — but the culture of honorifics and friendship levels adds rich nuance.
The Word: Tomodachi
友達 — Tomodachi — pronounced toh-moh-dah-chee
Four even, light syllables: to-mo-da-chi.
Copy the Phrase
The Japanese word for “friend” is 友達 (Tomodachi, toh-moh-dah-chee).
No Gender Change
Unlike Spanish (amigo/amiga) or French (ami/amie), Japanese tomodachi does not change for gender — the same word covers male friends, female friends, and friends in general. Japanese nouns generally have no grammatical gender.
To specify when needed:
- 男の友達 (otoko no tomodachi) — male friend
- 女の友達 (onna no tomodachi) — female friend
Levels of Friendship
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 友達 | Tomodachi | Friend (general) |
| 親友 | Shin’yū | Best/close friend (deep bond) |
| 一番の友達 | Ichiban no tomodachi | Number-one friend (best friend) |
| 仲間 | Nakama | Comrade, crew, ally (shared purpose) |
| 知り合い | Shiriai | Acquaintance |
Tomodachi vs. Nakama
A meaningful distinction:
- Tomodachi (友達) — personal friendship
- Nakama (仲間) — comrades / crew / teammates united by a common goal or belonging
Nakama carries a strong sense of shared purpose and belonging — a beloved theme in manga and anime (famously in One Piece). It’s about being part of a group with a bond, not just personal friendship.
Best Friend: Shin’yū
親友 (Shin’yū, shin-yoo) = best/close friend:
- 親 (shin) — intimate, close
- 友 (yū) — friend
It’s deeper than tomodachi, reserved for true close friends.
Honorifics with Friends’ Names
Japanese attaches honorific suffixes to names, and the choice signals closeness:
| Suffix | Feel |
|---|---|
| -san | Polite, neutral |
| -chan | Cute, affectionate (close friends, often female) |
| -kun | Often for boys/younger males |
| (no suffix) | Yobisute — very close friends, family |
Close friends often use -chan/-kun or drop the suffix entirely to show their bond.
Friendship Phrases
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 友達になろう | Tomodachi ni narō | Let’s be friends |
| 私たちは友達です | Watashitachi wa tomodachi desu | We are friends |
| 親友だよ | Shin’yū da yo | You’re my best friend (casual) |
| 友達ができた | Tomodachi ga dekita | I made a friend |
Pronunciation Recap
- Tomodachi — toh-moh-dah-chee (four even syllables)
- Shin’yū — shin-yoo (hold the final “yoo”)
- Nakama — nah-kah-mah
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Tomodachi?
'Tomodachi' is pronounced toh-moh-dah-chee (友達). Four even syllables: to-mo-da-chi. Keep them light and equal — no heavy stress. The final 'chi' is like the 'chee' in 'cheese.' It's one of the more straightforward Japanese words to pronounce.
Does Tomodachi change for male or female friends?
No — unlike Spanish (amigo/amiga) or French (ami/amie), Japanese 'tomodachi' (友達) does NOT change by gender. The same word is used for a male friend, a female friend, or friends in general. Japanese nouns generally don't have grammatical gender. To specify, you'd add context: 'otoko no tomodachi' (male friend) or 'onna no tomodachi' (female friend).
How do you say best friend in Japanese?
'Shin'yū' (親友, shin-yoo) means best friend or close/bosom friend — 'shin' (親, intimate/close) + 'yū' (友, friend). It's deeper than 'tomodachi.' 'Ichiban no tomodachi' (一番の友達, number-one friend) is another way to say best friend. For a true close friend you'd use 'shin'yū' to emphasize the depth of the bond.
What is the difference between Tomodachi and Nakama?
'Tomodachi' (友達) = friend (personal friendship). 'Nakama' (仲間) = comrade, ally, member of a group/crew/team — people united by a common goal or belonging (teammates, crewmates, a band of companions). 'Nakama' has a strong sense of belonging and shared purpose (it's a beloved theme in manga/anime like One Piece), while 'tomodachi' is about personal friendship.
Do you add -san or -chan to a friend's name in Japanese?
Yes — Japanese uses honorific suffixes with names. With friends, casual suffixes are common: '-chan' (cute/affectionate, often for close friends, especially female), '-kun' (often for boys/younger males), or just the name with no suffix (yobisute) for very close friends. '-san' is more polite/neutral. Close friends often drop suffixes or use -chan/-kun to show closeness.