仲良し・仲よし・仲好し|なかよしnakayoshi[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
仲良し仲良し is the most common form. Beginners should use it when writing or learning this word.
仲よし仲よし is a less common kanji-and-kana variant of 仲良し. You may encounter it in writing, but beginners should generally choose 仲良し.
仲好し仲好し is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant of 仲良し. You may encounter it occasionally, but it is not the form beginners should choose.
Definitions
- no-adjectiveclose friendship; close friend; good friend; bosom buddy; chum; pal
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbintimate relations; sexual intercourse; sex
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 仲良しする（なかよしする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 仲良しします（なかよしします） |
| Negative (nai) | 仲良ししない（なかよししない） |
| polite (masen) | 仲良ししません（なかよししません） |
| classical zu / nu | 仲良しせず・仲良しせぬ（なかよしせず・なかよしせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 仲良しした（なかよしした） |
| polite (mashita) | 仲良ししました（なかよししました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 仲良ししなかった（なかよししなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 仲良ししませんでした（なかよししませんでした） |
| Te form | 仲良しして（なかよしして） |
| Potential | 仲良しできる（なかよしできる） |
| Passive | 仲良しされる（なかよしされる） |
| Causative | 仲良しさせる（なかよしさせる） |
| Causative passive | 仲良しさせられる（なかよしさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 仲良しすれば（なかよしすれば） |
| tara | 仲良ししたら（なかよししたら） |
| Volitional | 仲良ししよう（なかよししよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 仲良ししましょう（なかよししましょう） |
| Imperative | 仲良ししろ（なかよししろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym親友しんゆうNeutralA close, trusted friend; stresses the depth of the friendship, while 「仲良し」 carries a childlike, affectionate feel.
- Synonym親密しんみつNeutralCloseness of a relationship; leans toward written style, while 「仲良し」 is more colloquial.
- Synonym懇親こんしんWrittenSocializing and building friendliness, as in 「懇親会」; 「仲良し」 describes being on good terms.
- Synonym朋友ほうゆうWrittenA written, somewhat archaic word for a friend; in everyday speech say 「友達」 or 「仲良し」.
- SynonymフレンドNeutralA loanword for friend, used mostly on social media.
- Synonym親交しんこうWrittenFriendship and friendly dealings; leans written, while 「仲良し」 is more colloquial.
- Synonym馴染みなじみNeutralFamiliarity or an old acquaintance, as in 「幼馴染み」; 「仲良し」 focuses on a close, friendly relationship.
- Synonym昵懇じっこんWrittenWritten language for a deep friendship, with an old-fashioned air; 「仲良し」 is more colloquial.
- Synonym別懇べっこんWrittenWritten language for an especially close relationship; rare, and 「仲良し」 is the colloquial choice.
- Synonym親近しんきんWrittenDrawing close to someone; can also mean a trusted close retainer; 「仲良し」 is more everyday.
- Synonym知友ちゆうWrittenA written, refined word for a close friend; in speech use 「親友」 or 「仲良し」.
- Synonym昵近じっきんWrittenA rare written word for closeness and familiarity; colloquially say 「仲良し」.
- Synonym親しさしたしさNeutralA noun for the degree of closeness; 「仲良し」 refers to a good friend or being on good terms.
- Synonym爾汝の交わりじじょのまじわりWrittenAn old-fashioned set phrase for an intimate friendship where the two can address each other without honorifics.
- Related仲間なかまNeutralCompanions or fellows, stressing membership in the same group; 「仲良し」 stresses personal closeness.
- Related友達ともだちNeutralThe most common word for a friend; 「仲良し」 emphasizes that the two are especially close.
- RelatedおなじみNeutralBeing familiar or well known, or a regular customer, as in 「おなじみの店」.
- Related朋友ポンユーWrittenA written, somewhat archaic word for a friend; in everyday speech say 「友達」 or 「仲良し」.
- Related友垣ともがきWrittenAn archaic word for friends with a classical-poetry flavor; today say 「友達」.
- Related友朋ゆうほうWrittenA rare written word for friends; 「友達」 is the usual term.
- Related茶飲み友達ちゃのみともだちNeutralA friend you casually chat with over tea; can also mean a companion spouse married late in life.
- Antonym不和ふわNeutralDiscord or a strained relationship; the opposite of the close, friendly ties of 「仲良し」.
- Antonym仲悪しNeutralBeing on bad terms; the direct opposite of 「仲良し」.
Use 「仲良し」 for being on good terms or a close friend, as in 「仲良し三人組」. For a friend in general say 「友達」; for a best friend 「親友」; for companions in a group 「仲間」; for an old familiar acquaintance 「馴染み」. Many alternatives here are written or archaic (昵懇, 朋友, 別懇, 友垣, 友朋, 知友, 昵近, 親交, 爾汝の交わり), so prefer 「仲良し」 or 「友達」 in speech. For discord use 「不和」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
