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 2026.3.1 8:29
03000/03466_tomo