友達・友だち|ともだちtomodachi[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounfriend; companion
   犬いぬは人間にんげんの最もっとも親したしい友達ともだちである。↗

   Dogs are man's closest friends.

   メグは新あたらしい友達ともだちをたくさん得えた。↗

   Meg acquired many new friends.

• Synonym友人ゆうじんWrittenSino-Japanese word for friend, used in written and formal contexts, as in 「友人代表」; 「友達」 is the more colloquial everyday choice.
• Synonym友ともWrittenWord for a friend or something that keeps you company, as in 「生涯の友」 or 「本を友とする」; it has a literary, written flavor unlike 「友達」.
• Synonym朋友ほうゆうWrittenWritten word for friend, rare in Japanese and used differently from Chinese; 「友達」 is the everyday choice.
• SynonymフレンドNeutralLoanword mostly seen in compounds such as 「ボーイフレンド」; on its own it is far less common than 「友達」.
• Synonym仲間なかまNeutralPeople you do something together with, or others of the same kind, as in 「仕事仲間」; stresses shared activity, not friendship itself.
• Related仲良しなかよしNeutralA close friend, with an affectionate nuance; often used of children, narrower than 「友達」.
• Related同朋どうぼうWrittenWritten word for companions or fellows; also a historical official title. Not used in everyday conversation.
• Related味方みかたNeutralSomeone on your side, an ally, as in 「味方になる」; it is the opposite of the enemy side, not a synonym for friend.
• Related馴染みなじみNeutralRefers to familiarity built up over a long time, as in 「幼馴染み」 or 「馴染みの店」; the emphasis is on long acquaintance, not friendship per se.
• Related友垣ともがきWrittenArchaic, elegant word for a friend, seen in song lyrics and the like; not part of everyday usage.
• Related友朋ゆうほうWrittenWritten word for a friend, used extremely rarely; 「友達」 is the normal choice.
• Related知友ちゆうWrittenWritten word for a close friend who truly understands you; in everyday speech 「親友」 is what people say.
• Antonym敵てきNeutralAntonym read 「かたき」: a foe, rival or adversary, the opposite of 「友達」.

「友達」 is the default word for friend. For formal or written contexts use 「友人」; for people you do things with, 「仲間」; for someone on your side, 「味方」; for a very close friend, 「仲良し」; for long familiarity, 「馴染み」. 「友」, 「朋友」, 「同朋」, 「友垣」, 「友朋」 and 「知友」 are written, literary or rare, and 「フレンド」 mostly appears in compounds.

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

1. （古いにしえ、稀まれ）友ともの複数ふくすう表現ひょうげん。
2. （語義ごぎ1から転てんじて、単数たんすう・複数ふくすうを問とわず）とも。友人ゆうじん。親族しんぞくでなくて、仲なかの良よい存在そんざい。