友達 ともだち tomodachi
Friend (noun)
So nice of you to show up to class. Can we begin now?
I’m your Japanese language teacher—a patient, wise, but mainly sarcastic guide to your Japanese learning journey. You can just call me Sensei–mostly because my real name would be too hard for you to pronounce correctly. Don’t worry, I’m here to help… and to judge you.
Our first word is tomodachi. It means "friend," though I wonder if your Netflix account qualifies. But hey, everyone has to start somewhere, and tomodachi is essential if you want to convince people that you have a social life.
Here’s your sentence of the day:
友達と公園でピクニックをしました。
Tomodachi to kouen de pikunikku o shimashita.
"I had a picnic in the park with my friend."
So wholesome, isn’t it? Whether it’s an actual friend or someone you bribed with snacks, this is a great way to make your Japanese sound both casual and convincing. Now, get out there and use it!
Collocations:
友達の家 (tomodachi no ie) - friend's house
友達と話す (tomodachi to hanasu) - talk with a friend
友達を作る (tomodachi o tsukuru) - make friends
友達と遊ぶ (tomodachi to asobu) - hang out with friends
親しい友達 (shitashii tomodachi) - close friend
友達の誕生日 (tomodachi no tanjoubi) - friend's birthday
共通の友達 (kyoutsuu no tomodachi) - mutual friend
昔の友達 (mukashi no tomodachi) - old friend
新しい友達 (atarashii tomodachi) - new friend
友達と旅行する (tomodachi to ryokou suru) - travel with a friend
Let’s make tomodachi one of your best friends in Japanese, shall we?