疎遠(そえん)

そえん
na-adjective, noun
estranged; distant; infrequent contact
familysociety
1. estranged; distant; having infrequent contact
describing a relationship where contact has become rare or the emotional distance has grown
兄(あに)とは疎遠(そえん)になった。
I've become estranged from my older brother.
疎遠(そえん)になっていた友人(ゆうじん)から連絡(れんらく)があった。
I got a call from a friend I'd lost touch with.
引(ひ)っ越(こ)してから親戚(しんせき)とは疎遠(そえん)になりがちだ。
Since moving, I tend to lose touch with relatives.

Forms

疎(そ) (distant, sparse) + 遠(えん) (far) → distant and far

Common patterns

疎遠(そえん)になる (to become estranged)
疎遠(そえん)な関係(かんけい) (an estranged relationship)
〜と疎遠(そえん)になる (to drift apart from someone; the person takes と)

Related words

Similar words

疎遠(そえん) implies a gradual drifting apart, often without active hostility. 絶縁(ぜつえん) implies a deliberate cutting of ties, often due to conflict.

Related Words

Related: 絶縁(ぜつえん) (breaking off ties (stronger))
Related: 疎(うと)い (estranged, unfamiliar)
Antonym: 親(した)しい (close, intimate)
Related: 遠(とお)ざかる (to grow distant)
general
Added 2026.1.26 13:46 · Revised 2026.9.25 18:21
08000/08372_soen