How to say "companion" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 相手あいてnounThe person on the other side of an interaction or shared activity — a partner, opponent, or someone keeping you company; it frames the companion as the other party, not as a friend.
- 友達ともだちnounA friend — use it when 'companion' simply means a friend or buddy you are close to, not someone defined by a role or activity.
- 仲間なかまnounA comrade or mate — someone who belongs to the same group, team, or circle as you; it stresses shared belonging and camaraderie rather than one-to-one friendship.
- 同士どうしnoun, noun (suffix)Really a way of saying 'mutual' or 'fellow' — that people share the same position or are each other's counterparts; on its own it is seldom the word you want for a companion.
- 供ともnoun, suru verb, transitive verbAn attendant or follower who accompanies someone — a member of a person's retinue or party; it implies attending on another rather than friendship, so it suits 'companion' only in that attendant sense.
Choose 相手 for the other party in a shared activity, 友達 for a friend, 仲間 for a comrade in the same group, 同士 for mutual or fellow rather than a companion, and 供 for an attendant or retinue member.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 相手あいてcompanion
- 友達ともだちfriend
- 仲間なかまcompanion
- 同士どうしfellow
- 供ともcompanion
- 友ともfriend
- 伴侶はんりょcompanion
- 連れつれcompanion
- 同伴者どうはんしゃcompanion
- 交友こうゆうfriend
- 朋友ほうゆうfriend
- 話し相手はなしあいてperson with whom to speak
- 相方あいかたpartner (esp. in manzai)
- 伴いともないcompanion
- 供人ともびとcompanion
- 同行者どうこうしゃcompanion
- 構い手かまいてcompanion
- お連れおつれcompanion
- 同席者どうせきしゃcompanion
- ナカーマcompanion
- 朋友ポンユーfriend
- お供おともattendant
- 遊び友達あそびともだちplaymate
- 御相おあいsitting between the host and guest of honour at a drinking party (honor)
- コンパニオンcompanion
- サイドキックsidekick
See also
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