1.
comrade-in-arms; fellow soldier
A person who fought alongside someone in war or battle. Implies a deep bond formed through shared hardship.
彼は戦友だった。
He was a comrade-in-arms.
戦友との絆は一生続く。
The bond with fellow soldiers lasts a lifetime.
戦争で亡くなった戦友のことを今でも思い出す。
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.
受験の戦友と再会した。
I reunited with my study buddy from exam prep days.
一緒に苦労した戦友だから信頼できる。
I can trust him because he's a comrade I went through hardship with.
新入社員時代の戦友たちと飲みに行った。
I went out for drinks with my buddies from when we were new hires.
Compound of 戦 (war/battle) and 友 (friend/companion). Originally a military term, now widely used figuratively to describe people who shared difficult experiences.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 戦友との絆: bond with comrades
- かつての戦友: former comrade
- 戦友を失う: to lose a comrade
- 戦友と再会する: to reunite with a comrade
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 仲間: companion, group member — broader and more casual; no implication of shared hardship
- 同志: comrade — implies shared ideals or goals, often political
- 盟友: sworn ally — a formal, literary term for someone united by a common purpose
NOTE ON HOMOPHONES:
Not to be confused with 占有 (exclusive possession), which has the same reading.