戦 友(せんゆう)

せんゆう

noun

comrade-in-arms; fellow soldier; war buddy

relationship military

1. comrade-in-arms; fellow soldier

A person who fought alongside someone in war or battle. Implies a deep bond formed through shared hardship.

彼(かれ)は戦友(せんゆう)だった。

He was a comrade-in-arms.

戦友(せんゆう)との絆(きずな)は一生(いっしょう)続(つづ)く。

The bond with fellow soldiers lasts a lifetime.

戦争(せんそう)で亡(な)くなった戦友(せんゆう)のことを今(いま)でも思(おも)い出(だ)す。

I still think about my fallen comrades from the war.

2. comrade; close ally through shared struggle

Used figuratively for someone who has been through difficult experiences together, such as demanding work, sports, or other challenges.

受験(じゅけん)の戦友(せんゆう)と再会(さいかい)した。

I reunited with my study buddy from exam prep days.

一緒(いっしょ)に苦労(くろう)した戦友(せんゆう)だから信頼(しんらい)できる。

I can trust him because he's a comrade I went through hardship with.

新入社員(しんにゅうしゃいん)時代(じだい)の戦友(せんゆう)たちと飲(の)みに行(い)った。

I went out for drinks with my buddies from when we were new hires.

Compound of 戦(せん) (war/battle) and 友(ゆう) (friend/companion). Originally a military term, now widely used figuratively to describe people who shared difficult experiences.

Common collocations

戦友(せんゆう)との絆(きずな): bond with comrades
かつての戦友(せんゆう): former comrade
戦友(せんゆう)を失(うしな)う: to lose a comrade
戦友(せんゆう)と再会(さいかい)する: to reunite with a comrade

Similar words

仲間(なかま): companion, group member — broader and more casual; no implication of shared hardship
同志(どうし): comrade — implies shared ideals or goals, often political
盟友(めいゆう): sworn ally — a formal, literary term for someone united by a common purpose

Note on homophones

Not to be confused with 占有(せんゆう) (exclusive possession), which has the same reading.

Related Words

Compare: 仲間(なかま) (companion, group member)

Compare: 同志(どうし) (comrade)

general

Added 2026.3.28 14:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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