知り合い|しりあいshiriai[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounacquaintance
   どこで彼女かのじょと知り合しりあいになったのか。↗

   Where did you get to know her?

• Synonym顔見知りかおみしりNeutralSomeone you have met and recognize, but without a deep relationship — a shallower connection than 「知り合い」.
• Synonym知人ちじんWrittenCovers acquaintances and friends; more formal than 「知り合い」 and at home in both writing and speech.
• Synonym知己ちきWrittenHas two senses: a close friend who truly understands you — a deeper bond than 「知り合い」 — and, broadly, any acquaintance. Carries a strong written flavor.
• Synonym知る辺しるべWrittenArchaic term for an acquaintance, also someone you can count on; hardly used in modern Japanese.
• Synonym知り人しりびとWrittenOld-fashioned way to say acquaintance; seldom heard today.
• Related近づきちかづきNeutralMeans acquaintance or becoming acquainted, but usually appears in the polite form 「お近づき」.
• Related顔なじみかおなじみNeutralSomeone you see often and know well, such as a regular customer at a shop.
• Related面識めんしきWrittenA noun for having met someone, as in 「面識がない」; focuses on whether you have met rather than the relationship itself.
• Relatedお近づきおちかづきNeutralRefers to getting acquainted, the start of a relationship, as in 「お近づきの印に」; carries a polite tone.
• Related相識そうしきWrittenWritten word for mutual acquaintance; rarely used in modern Japanese.
• Related知音ちいんWrittenWritten word for a friend who truly understands you — a kindred spirit.
• Antonym他人たにんNeutralSomeone other than yourself; an outsider or stranger. As 'stranger' it stands opposite 「知り合い」.
• Antonym見知らぬ人NeutralA total stranger you have never met; the direct opposite of 「知り合い」.

Use 「知り合い」 for someone you know in everyday speech; 「知人」 is the formal choice. 「顔見知り」 is a mere familiar face, 「顔なじみ」 someone you see often, and 「知己」 a close friend who understands you. For strangers, use 「見知らぬ人」.

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

1. お互たがいに会あうなどして相手あいてのことを知しっていること。またその人ひと。知人ちじん。