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.

Related Words

Compare: 知(し)り合(あ)い (acquaintance)

Compare: 旧友(きゅうゆう) (old friend)

Compare: 幼馴染(おさななじみ) (childhood friend)

Compare: 顔見知(かおみし)り (someone one knows by face)

general

Added 2026.3.30 1:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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