相 棒(あいぼう)

あいぼう

noun

partner; sidekick; buddy

1. partner; sidekick; the person one always teams up with

The colleague, teammate, or accomplice you regularly work alongside and trust. Warmer and more informal than パートナー, and it implies a pair rather than a group.

長年(ながねん)の相棒(あいぼう)だ。

He's my partner of many years.

彼(かれ)とは高校(こうこう)のときからの相棒(あいぼう)だ。

He and I have been a pair since high school.

刑事(けいじ)ドラマでは性格(せいかく)の違(ちが)う二人(ふたり)が相棒(あいぼう)になることが多(おお)い。

In detective dramas, two people with clashing personalities often end up as partners.

Originally the other person carrying a palanquin pole — literally "the one on the matching pole."

Common collocations

長年(ながねん)の相棒(あいぼう): longtime partner
相棒(あいぼう)を組(く)む: to pair up with someone
いい相棒(あいぼう): a good partner
相棒(あいぼう)同士(どうし): the two partners together

Similar words

仲間(なかま): companion, member of a group — not limited to two people
同僚(どうりょう): colleague — a workplace relation with no warmth implied
パートナー: partner — neutral and businesslike; also used for a spouse

Also used affectionately of a favourite object one works with daily, such as a well-worn tool or a bicycle.

Related Words

Compare: 仲間(なかま) (companion, member of a group)

Compare: 同僚(どうりょう) (colleague)

Compare: パートナー (partner)

general

Added 2026.8.28 21:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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