友(とも)

とも

noun

friend, companion

1. friend, companion

A friend or close acquaintance. More literary or formal than 友達(ともだち). Often used in compound words or literary contexts.

友(とも)あり遠方(えんぽう)より来(き)たる。

A friend comes from afar.

Famous quote from the Analects of Confucius

彼(かれ)は苦楽(くらく)を共(とも)にした友(とも)だ。

He is a friend who has shared both hardships and joys with me.

旧友(きゅうゆう)は良(よ)き友(とも)だ。

An old friend is a good friend.

困(こま)った時(とき)の友(とも)こそ真(しん)の友(とも)だ。

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

学生(がくせい)時代(じだい)の友(とも)と久(ひさ)しぶりに会(あ)った。

I met up with a friend from my school days after a long time.

USAGE: 友(とも) is more literary and formal than 友達(ともだち). It appears frequently in compounds, proverbs, and classical expressions.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

友人(ゆうじん) (friend - formal)
友情(ゆうじょう) (friendship)
親友(しんゆう) (close friend)
旧友(きゅうゆう) (old friend)
学友(がくゆう) (school friend)
戦友(せんゆう) (comrade in arms)
友好(ゆうこう) (friendship, amity)

CLASSICAL EXPRESSIONS:

友(とも)あり遠方(えんぽう)より来(き)たる (A friend comes from afar - Confucius)
良(よ)き友(とも) (a good friend)

CONTRAST:

友(とも) - literary/formal
友達(ともだち) - everyday word for friend

Related Words

Related: 友達(ともだち) (friend (common))

Related: 親友(しんゆう) (close friend)

core

Added 2026.1.12 18:48 · Revised 2026.5.26 4:11

03000/03466_tomo