親しい|したしいshitashii[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. i-adjectiveclose (e.g. friend); familiar; friendly; intimate
    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.
    ジョンは私の親したしい友人ゆうじんです。↗
    John is a good friend of mine.
  2. i-adjectivefamiliar (e.g. story); well-known (to one)
  3. i-adjectiveclose (relatives); closely related
Conjugation
Plain form親しい(したしい)
Polite (desu)親しいです(したしいです)
Negative (kunai)親しくない(したしくない)
polite (ku arimasen)親しくありません(したしくありません)
Past (katta)親しかった(したしかった)
Past negative (kunakatta)親しくなかった(したしくなかった)
Te form (kute)親しくて(したしくて)
Adverbial (ku)親しく(したしく)
Conditional (kereba)親しければ(したしければ)
kattara親しかったら(したしかったら)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym気安いきやすいNeutralDescribes an easy, unrestrained atmosphere rather than a close bond, as in 「気安く話しかける」; can carry a negative nuance of being overly familiar.
  • Synonym親密しんみつNeutralA rather written word for a very close relationship, as in 「親密な関係」; deeper in degree than 「親しい」.
  • Synonym懇意こんいWrittenWritten and rather formal, for a deep friendship, as in 「懇意にしている」.
  • Synonym心安いこころやすいNeutralDescribes a familiar relationship where no formality is needed, as in 「心安い仲」; a somewhat dated expression.
  • Synonym近しいちかしいNeutralMuch like 「親しい」 in meaning close ties, but leans toward written style.
  • Synonym昵懇じっこんWrittenA written word for being intimate and well acquainted; rare in modern usage.
  • Related気さくきさくNeutralDescribes an easygoing, unpretentious personality, as in 「気さくな人」.
  • Related親身しんみNeutralMeans caring for someone as if they were family, as in 「親身になって相談に乗る」; stresses devoted concern.
  • Related身近みぢかNeutralMeans close at hand or personally relevant, as in 「身近な問題」, or people near you, as in 「身近な人」; stresses proximity, not affection.
  • RelatedフレンドリーNeutralA loanword meaning friendly and easygoing; common in everyday speech.
  • Related社交的しゃこうてきNeutralDescribes a sociable personality who enjoys mixing with people; says nothing about any particular relationship.
  • Related親しみやすいしたしみやすいNeutralMeans approachable and easy to warm up to; used of people, writing, or designs. 「親しい」 describes a relationship that is already close.
  • Related親しみ深いしたしみぶかいNeutralDescribes an attitude or atmosphere that feels warm and inviting, not an existing close relationship.
  • Related人懐っこいひとなつっこいNeutralDescribes a personality that loves approaching people, even strangers, as in 「人懐っこい子犬」.
  • Related友好的ゆうこうてきNeutralMeans friendly or amicable, mostly for relations between countries or groups; fairly formal.
  • Related愛想のいいあいそのいいNeutralDescribes someone pleasant and agreeable with others; focuses on outward manner rather than real closeness.
  • Related懇篤こんとくWrittenA written word for warm, attentive kindness; rare in modern usage.
  • Related懐こいなつこいNeutralMeans endearing and eager to be close to people; close in meaning to 「人懐っこい」.
  • Related懐っこいなつっこいCasualColloquial for loving to get close to people; usually used with 「人」.
  • Related好意的こういてきNeutralMeans having a favorable attitude, as in 「好意的な反応」; about one's stance, not a relationship.
  • Antonym遠いとおいNeutralAntonym: far away, and by extension a distant relationship; the opposite of 「親しい」.
  • Antonym疎いうといNeutralAntonym: emotionally distant, or unfamiliar with something; the opposite of 「親しい」.

Use 「親しい」 for an existing close bond between people. For a very deep relationship, 「親密」 goes further; for someone approachable, 「親しみやすい」 or 「気さく」; for devoted, family-like care, 「親身」. 「懇意」 and 「昵懇」 are written words for close ties, 「身近」 stresses nearness rather than affection, and 「友好的」 suits relations between countries or groups. The opposite is 「疎い」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. したしい
  2. ちかしい
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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