顔 見 知(かおみし)り

かおみしり

noun

acquaintance, familiar face

person

1. acquaintance, someone whose face you know

A person you recognize by sight and may greet, but don't know well; someone between a stranger and a friend.

彼(かれ)とは顔見知(かおみし)り程度(ていど)の関係(かんけい)だ。

He and I are just acquaintances.

近所(きんじょ)に顔見知(かおみし)りが増(ふ)えてきた。

I've gotten to know more people in the neighborhood by sight.

駅(えき)で顔見知(かおみし)りに会(あ)って挨拶(あいさつ)した。

I ran into an acquaintance at the station and greeted them.

友達(ともだち)というより顔見知(かおみし)りだ。

They're more of an acquaintance than a friend.

顔見知(かおみし)り describes someone you recognize but don't know well.

Etymology

顔(かお) (face) + 見知(みし)り (from 見知(みし)る, to come to know by sight) - someone whose face you have come to know.

Usage

Implies a limited relationship - you might nod or say hello when you see them, but you wouldn't socialize or share personal matters. Often used to describe neighbors, regular customers, or people from the same school/workplace you don't interact with closely.

Common expressions

顔見知(かおみし)り程度(ていど) - just an acquaintance (emphasizes the limited nature)
顔見知(かおみし)りになる - to become acquaintances

Similar words

顔見知(かおみし)り vs. 知(し)り合(あ)い: Similar meaning, but 顔見知(かおみし)り emphasizes recognizing by face; 知(し)り合(あ)い can include people you know by name/reputation
顔見知(かおみし)り vs. 友達(ともだち): 顔見知(かおみし)り is more distant than 友達(ともだち)

Related Words

Related: 知(し)り合(あ)い (acquaintance)

Compare: 友達(ともだち) (friend (closer))

Related: 見知(みし)る (to know by sight)

Compare: 旧知(きゅうち) (old acquaintance)

general

Added 2026.1.18 16:41 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

06500/06834_kaomishiri