友達 vs 友人 vs 友：What is The Difference?

友達ともだち vs. 友人ゆうじん vs. 友とも：What is The Difference?

What is the difference between “友達ともだち(tomodachi), 友人ゆうじん(yuujin) and 友とも(tomo)”? Which is a casual way to use? After reading this, you would be answering this question. Let me introduce what their subtle differences are and how you correctly use them such as native speakers today!

友達ともだち(tomodachi), 友人ゆうじん(yuujin) and 友とも(tomo)

Friend(s) / 朋友, 朋友, 朋友 / 지인, 친구, 벗 / Bạn bè, Bạn thân, Bạn

“友達ともだち, 友人ゆうじん and 友とも” means “a person who you know well and who you like a lot, but who is usually not a member of your family”. The basic way to use it is “友達ともだち/友人ゆうじん/友ともと___(I ___ with my friend.)”, “友達ともだち/友人ゆうじん/友ともは/が___(My friend ___)” etc. For instance, “友達ともだち/友人ゆうじん/友ともと遊あそぶ。(I hang out with my friend.)”, “友達ともだち/友人ゆうじん/友ともが家いえに来くる。(My friend comes to my house.)”, etc. The tips for using them are that “友達ともだち” is used as casual (or polite) and a friend someone is close with, “友人ゆうじん” is used as formal and either a friend someone is close with or not, and lastly “友とも” is used as poetic. That’s the difference between them. So, if a person who is not a poet, he/she doesn’t normally use “友とも“. Furthermore, since “友人ゆうじん” is used in business situations as formal, it sounds a slight friend than “友達ともだち“. Everybody could use “友達ともだち” in daily conversations as casual and polite such as “友達ともだちと遊あそぶよ。(I hang out with my friend.)” and “友達ともだちと遊あそびます。(I hang out with my friend.)” as polite. And “友人ゆうじん” is used as polite and formal such as “友人ゆうじんと遊あそびます。(I hang out with my friend.)”. And lastly, “友とも” is used as poetic such as “友ともと遊あそぶ。(I hang out with my friend.)”.

Example

明日あした、大学だいがくの友達ともだちと遊あそぶよ。 (I’ll hang out with a friend from university tomorrow.) (我明天会和大学朋友一起玩。) (내일은 대학 친구들과 놀거야.) (Ngày mai tôi sẽ đi chơi với bạn đại học đấy.)

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ミクは地元じもとの女おんな友達ともだちだよ。 (Miku’s just a local girl friend.) (未来是我老家的女性朋友。) (미쿠는 고향의 여사친이야.) (Miku là bạn gái cùng quê của tôi đấy.)

昨日きのう、友達ともだちと映画えいがを観みに行いきました。 (I went to see a movie with my friend yesterday.) (昨天我和朋友一起去看电影了。) (어제 친구와 영화를 보러 갔었어요.) (Hôm qua tôi đã đi xem phim với bạn.)

明日あした、大学だいがくの友人ゆうじんと遊あそびます。 (I’ll hang out with a friend from university tomorrow.) (我明天会和大学的朋友一起去玩。) (내일은 대학 친구와 놉니다.) (Ngày mai tôi sẽ đi chơi với bạn thân đại học.)

レイは地元じもとの友人ゆうじんです。 (Rei’s just a local friend.) (雷是我老家的朋友。) (레이는 고향 지인입니다.) (Ray là một người bạn thân cùng quê của tôi.)

昨日きのう、友人ゆうじんと映画えいがを観みに行いきました。 (I went to see a movie with my friend yesterday.) (昨天，我和朋友一起去看电影了。) (어제 지인과 영화를 보러 갔습니다.) (Hôm qua tôi đã đi xem phim với bạn thân.)

明日あした、大学だいがくの友ともと遊あそぶ。 (I’ll hang out with a friend from university tomorrow.) (我明天会和我的大学朋友一起去玩。) (내일, 대학 친구와 논다.) (Ngày mai tôi sẽ đi chơi với bạn đại học.)