友達

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 友達と映画を見ました。▶ —
   I watched a movie with a friend.
2. 日本人の友達がいますか。▶ —
   Do you have Japanese friends?

Collocations

Mnemonic

Tomodachi — 友 (friend) + 達 (a plural suffix). A plural ending that hardened into a singular word. The reading "tomo" is Yamato; the kanji's Sino reading is "yuu." Both live in the same character — kun and on. One single person can be "tomodachi," and the warmth lingers.

Quick check

1. How do you say "I have a friend" in Japanese?

   • 友達がいます (correct)
   • 友達があります (wrong, used for objects)
   • 友達です (= "I am a friend")
   • 友達ます (ungrammatical)