交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)

Compound of 交友(こうゆう) ('friendship; companionship') and 関係(かんけい) ('relationship; connection'). A useful term for discussing social dynamics, parenting concerns, and personal development. Commonly used when describing someone's social circle as a whole.

Usage

• Often paired with 広(ひろ)い ('wide') or 狭(せま)い ('narrow') to describe the size of one's social circle.
• Parents and educators use it when discussing children's peer relationships.
• In police or news contexts, 交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)を調(しら)べる means to investigate someone's social connections.

Common collocations

• 交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)が広(ひろ)い: to have a wide circle of friends
• 交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)が狭(せま)い: to have a small circle of friends
• 交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)を広(ひろ)げる: to expand one's circle of friends
• 交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)を調(しら)べる: to investigate someone's social connections

Similar words

• 人間関係(にんげんかんけい): human relationships — broader term covering all interpersonal relationships, not just friendships
• 友人関係(ゆうじんかんけい): friendship; friend relationship — near-synonym focusing specifically on friends
• 人脈(じんみゃく): personal connections; network — emphasizes professional or strategic connections rather than casual friendships