仲間|なかまnakama[3]odaka (tail-high)

1. nouncompanion; fellow; friend; mate; comrade; partner; colleague; coworker; associate
   田中たなかさんは父ちちのつり仲間なかまの一人ひとりだ。↗

   Mr. Tanaka is one of my father's fishing companions.
2. noungroup; company; circle; set; gang
3. nounmember of the same category (family, class)

• Synonym友達ともだちNeutralA friend you're personally close to; the everyday default. 「仲間」 stresses doing things together or belonging to the same circle rather than private affection.
• Synonym友人ゆうじんWrittenThe formal counterpart of 「友達」, used mostly in writing or when introducing a friend on formal occasions; 「仲間」 centers on shared activity.
• Synonym友ともWrittenA literary word for friend, as in 「生涯の友」; also figurative for something kept constantly at your side, as in 「酒を友とする」.
• Synonym朋友ほうゆうWrittenWritten-style word for friend, rare in modern Japanese; say 「友達」 for friends in daily speech and 「仲間」 for companions.
• SynonymフレンドCasualLoanword seen mostly for in-game or online friends and in proper names; in everyday speech 「友達」 is the normal choice.
• Synonym群れむれNeutralMostly groups of animals; can also describe crowds of people, sometimes with contempt, as in 「不良の群れ」.
• Synonym相棒あいぼうCasualA partner you work alongside, typically one of a pair; strongly colloquial.
• Synonym同士どうしNeutralMostly a suffix marking people of the same kind or in the same relationship, as in 「友達同士」「恋人同士」.
• Synonym味方みかたNeutralSomeone on your side, opposed to 「敵」; stresses standing together, not shared activities.
• Synonym連中れんちゅうCasualA bunch or lot of people, often with a dismissive or offhand tone, as in 「あの連中」.
• Related知り合いしりあいNeutralSomeone you know, with no implication of a deep bond; 「仲間」 is a companion you share activities with.
• Related仲良しなかよしCasualA close, chummy friend; colloquial and affectionate, as in 「仲良しの二人」. 「仲間」 doesn't require personal closeness.
• RelatedメンバーNeutralLoanword for the members of a group or team, stressing their status as members; 「仲間」 carries a feeling of camaraderie.
• Related常連じょうれんNeutralA familiar face you see often, especially a shop's regular customers; no emphasis on doing things together.
• Related同朋どうぼうWrittenWritten, archaic word for companions; also the 「同朋衆」 attendants of the Ashikaga shoguns in the Muromachi period; rare today.
• RelatedグループNeutralA small group or team as such; 「仲間」 can also mean a circle, but stresses the bond between companions.
• Related会員かいいんNeutralA member of an association or club, with formal membership status; 「仲間」 implies no such status.
• Related集団しゅうだんNeutralA gathering of people described objectively; 「仲間」 adds a sense of closeness and camaraderie.
• Related知人ちじんWrittenThe written-style equivalent of 「知り合い」: someone you know, not necessarily close; 「仲間」 shares activities with you.
• Related同僚どうりょうNeutralSomeone of comparable rank working at the same workplace; limited to work settings, while 「仲間」 ranges far wider.
• Related一員いちいんNeutralOne member of a group, as in 「チームの一員」; stresses belonging to it.
• Related親友しんゆうNeutralA very close, bosom friend — more intimate than 「友達」 or 「仲間」.
• Related馴染みなじみNeutralFamiliarity or a familiar person, as in 「幼馴染み」「馴染みの店」; stresses long association, not doing things together.
• Related茶飲み友達ちゃのみともだちCasualA friend you casually chat with over tea; also a spouse married late in life for companionship.
• Antonym敵てきNeutralRead 「かたき」: an enemy, rival or foe — the opposite of 「仲間」 pulling together.
• Antonym他人たにんNeutralAn unrelated outsider with no connection to you — the opposite of the close ties of 「仲間」.
• Antonym異分子いぶんしWrittenSomeone who doesn't fit into a group — the opposite of 「仲間」 as fellow members of one circle.

Use 「仲間」 for people you do things with or share a circle with. For personal friends say 「友達」 (formal 「友人」, very close 「親友」); for workmates 「同僚」; for a partner 「相棒」; for mere acquaintances 「知り合い」. Words like 「メンバー」「会員」「集団」「グループ」 name members or the group itself without the warmth of 「仲間」, and 「味方」 is about being on your side. Opposites: 「敵」, 「他人」, 「異分子」.

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

1. ある物事ものごとを一緒いっしょにする間柄あいだがら。
2. 同おなじ種類しゅるい。
3. 近世きんせい、商工業しょうこうぎょう者しゃの同業どうぎょう組合くみあい。