How to say "friendship" in Japanese

• 友情ゆうじょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe bond of affection and trust between friends; the default word when 'friendship' means the personal feeling itself. Typical in talk of deepening or treasuring a friendship between individuals.
  彼かれには友情ゆうじょうというもののよさが理解りかいできない。↗

  He cannot appreciate friendship.
• 友好ゆうこうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounFriendly relations between nations, organizations, or groups rather than individuals, as in amity between neighboring countries. For a personal friendship this is not the usual word.
• 親和しんわCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbMainly affinity, rapport, or harmony—the sense of people or things blending well together. It is a rather marginal way to say 'friendship'; for that meaning 友情 is usually what you want.
• 親善しんぜんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounGoodwill and friendly relations between countries, cities, or organizations, as in diplomatic or exchange contexts. Like 友好, it is about relations between parties, not a private bond between friends.
• 交際こうさいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbAssociation or keeping company with people; the social fact of mingling or seeing someone rather than the warm feeling of friendship. Also commonly used for dating or courting a romantic partner.

Use 友情 for emotional bonds between friends, 友好 and 親善 for good relations between countries or groups, 交際 for association or company between people, and 親和 mainly for affinity or rapport.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 友情ゆうじょうfriendship
• 友好ゆうこうfriendship
• 親和しんわfriendship
• 親善しんぜんfriendship
• 交際こうさいcompany
• 親密しんみつintimacy
• 懇親こんしんfriendship
• 親睦しんぼくfriendship
• 懇意こんいfriendship
• 交遊こうゆうfriendship
• 友誼ゆうぎfriendship
• 親交しんこうintimacy
• 友愛ゆうあいfraternity
• 修好しゅうこうamity
• よしみfriendship
• 和親わしんfriendship
• フレンドシップfriendship
• 交誼こうぎfriendship
• 親好しんこうfriendship
• 交情こうじょうintimacy
• 厚誼こうぎkindnesses
• 親密感しんみつかんfeeling of affinity
• 義理合いぎりあいsocial relationship
• 友好関係ゆうこうかんけい(establish) friendly (cordial) relations (with, between)
• 交友こうゆうfriendship
• 慇懃いんぎんfriendship