1.
old acquaintance; childhood friend; old friend
A person one has known since long ago, typically from childhood or youth. Implies a deep, long-standing familiarity.
彼とは昔馴染みだ。
He and I are old friends.
昔馴染みの店に久しぶりに行った。
I went to a shop I've known for ages after a long time.
同窓会で昔馴染みに再会して、懐かしい話に花が咲いた。
I reunited with old friends at a class reunion, and we blossomed into nostalgic conversation.
Composed of 昔 (the past, long ago) + 馴染み (familiarity, acquaintance). Can refer to people, places, or shops that one has known for a long time.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 昔馴染みの友人: an old friend from way back
- 昔馴染みの店: a shop one has frequented for years
- 昔馴染みに再会する: to reunite with an old acquaintance
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 幼馴染み: childhood friend — specifically someone known since early childhood; stronger implication of having grown up together
- 旧友: old friend — more formal and literary
- 知り合い: acquaintance — neutral, without the nostalgic or long-standing nuance
NUANCE:
Carries a warm, nostalgic tone. Unlike 幼馴染み}, which specifically refers to childhood, 昔馴染み can refer to any long-standing connection from the past.