How to say "acquaintance" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 知り合いしりあいnounThe everyday word for an acquaintance as a person: someone you know, typically less close than a friend. This is usually the word you want when referring to a person.どこで彼女と知り合いになったのか。↗Where did you get to know her?
- 交わりまじわりnounReally means relations, fellowship or association with others, so it fits 'acquaintance' only in that abstract sense; for a specific person you know, it is seldom the word you want.
- 知人ちじんnounA person one knows; broader than 知り合い, since it can also mean a friend. A slightly formal term for referring to someone by their relationship to you.
- 面識めんしきnounDenotes the fact of being acquainted with someone — knowing them from having met — rather than the person; used when saying whether you have met someone before, and not for the person themselves.私はスミス氏と面識がある。↗I am acquainted with Mr Smith.
- 近づきちかづきnounCan mean a person one has come to know or the act of making someone's acquaintance, suggesting getting close to someone; for an ordinary acquaintance it is seldom the word you want.
Use 「知り合い」 or 知人 for an acquaintance as a person, 面識 for the fact of having met someone, 「交わり」 for association or fellowship, and 「近づき」 for getting to know someone or the person so known.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 知り合いしりあいacquaintance
- 交わりまじわりacquaintance
- 知人ちじんfriend
- 面識めんしきacquaintance
- 近づきちかづきacquaintance
- 知己ちきacquaintance
- 顔なじみかおなじみacquaintance
- 顔見知りかおみしりacquaintance
- 交友こうゆうfriend
- 交際こうさいcompany
- 馴染みなじみfamiliarity
- 見知りみしりrecognition
- 由縁ゆえんacquaintance
- 知る辺しるべacquaintance
- 知り人しりびとacquaintance
- 相識そうしきacquaintance
- お近づきおちかづきacquaintance
- 辱知じょくちacquaintance
- アクウェインタンスacquaintance
- 知る人しるひとacquaintance
- ご存知ごぞんじ(an) acquaintance
- 案内あんないacquaintance
- ご案内ごあんないacquaintance
See also
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