Friend
友
Friend
Kun-yomi 🇯🇵:
とも (tomo)
(Japanese reading)On-yomi 🇨🇳:
ユウ (yuu)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Pronunciation rules
- とも (tomo) is the kun-yomi used in compounds like 友だち (ともだち, tomodachi: friend).
- ユウ (yuu) is the on-yomi used in compounds like 友人 (ゆうじん, yuujin: friend) and 親友 (しんゆう, shin'yuu: close friend).
- Etymology: Two right hands → help each other → friends
Examples
Kun-yomiNative Japanese Readings
友だち です。
It's a friend.
Uses kun-yomi とも (tomo) in compound 友だち
On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
友人 です。
It's a friend.
Uses on-yomi ユウ (yuu) in compound 友人
親友 です。
It's a close friend.
Uses on-yomi ユウ (yuu) in compound 親友
Quick facts
- Radical: 又 (again)
- Strokes: 4
- Common compounds: 友だち (ともだち, tomodachi), 友人 (ゆうじん, yuujin), 親友 (しんゆう, shin'yuu)
- ⚠️ Reading usage:
- In compounds: とも (tomo) or ゆう (yuu)
- Rarely used alone
Key Words
友だち - friend
友人 - friend
親友 - close friend