How to say “friend” in Japanese | 友人 (ゆうじん、yūjin)

The Japanese vocabulary「友人 (ゆうじん、yūjin)」means “friend.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese Vocabulary and the Meaning

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

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It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

I had a friend listen to my complaints about work.

※ We try to align our English translations as much as possible with Japanese grammar.
It has a nuance similar to “I vented to a friend about work.”

Plain Form:

友人ゆうじんに仕事しごとの愚痴ぐちを聞きいてもらった。
Yūjin ni shigoto no guchi o kiite moratta.

Polite Form:

友人に仕事の愚痴を聞いてもらいました。
Yūjin ni shigoto no guchi o kiite moraimashita.

I bought a book recommended by a friend.

Plain Form:

友人ゆうじんがおすすめする本ほんを購入こうにゅうした。
Yūjin ga osusume no hon o kōnyū shita.

Polite Form:

友人がおすすめする本を購入しました。
Yūjin ga osusume no hon o kōnyū shimashita.

I suddenly heard from an old friend.

Plain Form:

昔むかしの友人ゆうじんから突然連絡とつぜんれんらくが来きた。
Mukashi no yūjin kara totsuzen renraku ga kita.

Polite Form:

昔の友人から突然連絡が来ました。
Mukashi no yūjin kara totsuzen renraku ga kimashita.

I had a great time at a cafe with a friend.

Plain Form:

友人ゆうじんとカフェで楽たのしい時間じかんを過すごした。
Yūjin to kafe de tanoshī jikan o sugoshita.

Polite Form:

友人とカフェで楽しい時間を過ごしました。
Yūjin to kafe de tanoshī jikan o sugoshimashita.