幼馴染(おさななじみ)

おさななじみ
noun
childhood friend
person
1. childhood friend, friend from one's early years
A person one has known and been close to since childhood. The relationship implies a deep, long-standing bond that began in one's formative years.
彼(かれ)は幼馴染(おさななじみ)だ。
He is my childhood friend.
幼馴染(おさななじみ)と久(ひさ)しぶりに再会(さいかい)した。
I was reunited with a childhood friend after a long time.
彼女(かのじょ)とは幼馴染(おさななじみ)で、幼稚園(ようちえん)の頃(ころ)から一緒(いっしょ)に遊(あそ)んでいた仲(なか)だ。
She and I are childhood friends — we've been playing together since kindergarten.

Common patterns

幼(おさな) (young, childish) + 馴染(なじみ) (familiarity, acquaintance). Also written 幼(おさな)なじみ or おさななじみ in kana.

Usage

幼馴染(おさななじみ) specifically refers to a friend known since early childhood, not just any long-term friend. It carries a warm, nostalgic connotation and implies a uniquely close bond. The term is widely used in everyday conversation, literature, and is particularly prominent in manga and anime as a common character archetype — the childhood friend who may also be a romantic interest.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 旧知(きゅうち) (old acquaintance)
general
Added 2026.2.21 15:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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