Translation and Meaning of: 友達 - tomodachi

The Japanese word 友達 (ともだち, tomodachi) is one of the first we learn when studying the language. It represents a universal concept: friendship. But do we really know all the details behind this common term? In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and cultural uses of 友達, as well as practical tips for those who want to memorize it or understand its role in everyday Japanese life. If you have already used the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you know how important it is to go beyond simple translation.

Meaning and use of 友達 in everyday Japanese

友達 is a word composed of the kanji 友 (friend) and 達 (a suffix that indicates plurality), forming the meaning of "friends." Unlike the English "friend," which can be singular or plural depending on the context, 友達 already carries a notion of collectivity. In daily life, Japanese people use this word to refer to close friends, but not necessarily intimate ones like 親友 (shinyuu), which indicates best friends.

An interesting fact is that, although the kanji 達 suggests plural, 友達 can be used for both a single friend and a group. For example, saying "Tomodachi ga iru" (友達がいる) can mean "I have a friend" or "I have friends," depending on the context. This flexibility is common in Japanese and can confuse beginners.

The origin and components of 友達

The etymology of 友 dates back to ancient Chinese, where the character represented two hands helping each other — an image that reflects the concept of friendship well. Meanwhile, 達 originally conveyed the idea of "reaching" or "connecting," but in modern Japanese, it primarily functions as a marker of plurality for people or living beings.

It is worth noting that 友達 (tomodachi) is one of the few words in Japanese where the suffix 達 (tachi) is used in a lexicalized way, meaning it has fused with the root and cannot be separated without losing its meaning. This distinguishes it from constructions like 先生達 (sensei-tachi), where the suffix is productive and can be removed.

Friendship in Japanese culture and society

In Japan, the concept of friendship has specific nuances. While in some Western cultures it is common to refer to acquaintances as "friends," the Japanese tend to reserve 友達 for more established relationships. Research shows that Japanese adults, on average, have fewer 友達 than Brazilians or Americans, but with more lasting bonds.

In the media, 友達 often appears in animes and dramas, frequently as a central theme. Series like "Natsume Yuujinchou" explore the depth of this word, while romantic comedies use the tension between "tomodachi" and "koibito" (boyfriend/girlfriend) as a plotline. This duality reflects how friendship is valued — and sometimes feared — in Japanese culture.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 仲間 (nakama) - Companion, comrade, someone with whom one shares a goal or interest.
• 仲良し (nakayoshi) - Close friend or buddy, a person with whom one has a friendly and warm relationship.
• 友人 (yuujin) - Friend, a person with whom one has a friendship, usually in a more formal or distant relationship.
• お友達 (otomodachi) - Friend, a more respectful or affectionate way to refer to a friend.
• フレンド (furendo) - Friend, a word borrowed from English, used in informal contexts and on social media.

友達

Romaji: tomodachi
Kana: ともだち
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: friend

Meaning in English: friend

Definition: To get along well with friends and colleagues.

Example Sentences - (友達) tomodachi

See below some example sentences:

中学で友達をたくさん作りました。

Chuugaku de tomodachi wo takusan tsukurimashita

I made many friends in high school.

• 中学 - Secondary school
• で - particle that indicates the place where something happened
• 友達 - friends
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• たくさん - many
• 作りました - made, created

友達に囲まれて幸せです。

Tomodachi ni kakomarete shiawase desu

I'm happy surrounded by friends.

I am happy to be surrounded by friends.

• 友達 (tomodachi) - means "friends" in Japanese
• に (ni) - a Japanese particle that indicates the target or recipient of the action
• 囲まれて (kakomarete) - a Japanese verb form meaning "to be surrounded"
• 幸せ (shiawase) - means "happy" in Japanese
• です (desu) - a polite way of saying "is" or "are" in Japanese

周りにはたくさんの友達がいる。

Mawari ni wa takusan no tomodachi ga iru

There are many friends nearby.

• 周り (mawari) - around
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target or destination of the action
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• たくさん (takusan) - many
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 友達 (tomodachi) - friends
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• いる (iru) - verb that indicates existence or presence

小学校で友達を作るのは楽しいです。

Shougakkou de tomodachi wo tsukuru no wa tanoshii desu

Making friends in elementary school is fun.

It's fun to make friends in elementary school.

• 小学校で - in primary school
• 友達を - friends
• 作る - make
• のは - is
• 楽しい - fun
• です - (sentence ending particle)

彼女は私を友達に紹介してくれました。

Kanojo wa watashi o tomodachi ni shōkai shite kuremashita

She introduced me as a friend.

She introduced me to my friend.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私 (watashi) - I
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 友達 (tomodachi) - amigo/amiga
• に (ni) - target particle
• 紹介してくれました (shoukai shite kuremashita) - introduced me

校庭で友達と遊ぶのが好きです。

Kōtei de tomodachi to asobu no ga suki desu

I like to play with my friends in the school courtyard.

I like to play with friends in the school courtyard.

• 校庭 (koutei) - schoolyard
• で (de) - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 友達 (tomodachi) - amigo/amiga
• と (to) - particle indicating company
• 遊ぶ (asobu) - play/play/have fun
• のが (noga) - particle indicating that the phrase is an expression of preference
• 好き (suki) - like
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

滅多に会えない友達を大切にしよう。

Mettani aenai tomodachi wo taisetsu ni shiyou

Let's value the friends we can rarely find.

Take good care of friends you rarely know.

• 滅多に (metta ni) - rarely
• 会えない (aenai) - cannot find
• 友達 (tomodachi) - friend
• を (wo) - object particle
• 大切に (taisetsu ni) - with care, with affection
• しよう (shiyou) - let's do it

私は友達の飲み代を立て替えた。

Watashi wa tomodachi no nomidai wo tatekaereta

I paid my friend's drinks bill.

I changed my friend's drink.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 友達 (tomodachi) - Japanese noun meaning "friend"
• の (no) - possessive particle that indicates that the friend is the owner of the action
• 飲み代 (nomidai) - Japanese noun that means "drinks bill"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating the direct object of the action
• 立て替えた (tatekaeta) - Japanese verb in the past that means "to advance the money."

私は友達からプレゼントを貰う予定です。

Watashi wa tomodachi kara purezento o morau yotei desu

I have plans to receive a gift from a friend.

I plan to get a gift from a friend.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - Japanese noun meaning "friend"
• から (kara) - particle indicating the origin or starting point, in this case "from"
• プレゼント (purezento) - Japanese noun meaning "gift"
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the target of the action, in this case "present"
• 貰う (morau) - Japanese verb meaning "to receive"
• 予定 (yotei) - Japanese noun meaning "plan" or "schedule"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

私は友達を連れて行きます。

Watashi wa tomodachi o tsurete ikimasu

I will take my friend together.

I take my friends.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 連れて行きます (tsurete ikimasu) - verb meaning "to take along" or "to accompany", conjugated in the present/future polite tense