旧知(きゅうち)

きゅうち
noun
old acquaintance; long-standing friendship
1. old acquaintance; long-standing friendship
A person one has known for a long time, or the relationship of having known someone for many years. A somewhat literary or formal word.
彼(かれ)とは旧知(きゅうち)の仲(なか)だ。
He and I are old acquaintances.
旧知(きゅうち)の友人(ゆうじん)と久(ひさ)しぶりに再会(さいかい)した。
I reunited with an old friend after a long time.
二人(ふたり)は旧知(きゅうち)の間柄(あいだがら)で、学生(がくせい)時代(じだい)からの付(つ)き合(あ)いだという。
The two are old acquaintances, having been friends since their student days.

A formal or literary word for a long-standing acquaintance or friendship. Composed of 旧(きゅう) (old/former) + 知(ち) (knowing/acquaintance). Often appears in set phrases like 旧知(きゅうち)の仲(なか) or 旧知(きゅうち)の間柄(あいだがら).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 旧知(きゅうち)の仲(なか): an old acquaintanceship
  • 旧知(きゅうち)の間柄(あいだがら): a long-standing relationship
  • 旧知(きゅうち)の友人(ゆうじん): an old friend
  • 旧知(きゅうち)を温(あたた)める: to renew an old friendship

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 知(し)り合(あ)い: acquaintance — everyday word, no implication of length
  • 旧友(きゅうゆう): old friend — specifically a friend, not just an acquaintance
  • 幼馴染(おさななじみ): childhood friend — friends since childhood specifically
  • 顔見知(かおみし)り: someone one knows by face — casual and superficial acquaintance

REGISTER:
Formal and slightly literary. More common in written Japanese, news, and formal speech than in casual conversation.

general
Added 2026.3.30 1:23
20500/20512_kyuuchi