“tomodachi” vs. “shin’yū” vs. “nakayoshi”：They All Mean “Friend” But Different

“tomodachi” vs. “shin’yū” vs. “nakayoshi”：They Mean “Friend” But Different

What is the difference between “友達ともだち(tomodachi), 親友しんゆう(shin’yū) and 仲良なかよし(nakayoshi)”? Which is used as the meaning of “best friend”? 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)

Friend / 朋友 / 친구 / Bạn bè

“友達ともだち (tomodachi)” means “Friend” and which has been used as the meaning of “someone who you know well and like, but who is not related to you”. The basic ways to use it are that “___は私わたしの友達ともだちだ。(___ is my friend.)”, etc. For instance, “彼かれは私わたしの友達ともだちだ。(He is my friend.)”, ”ミクは私わたしの友達ともだちだ。(Miku is my friend.)”, etc. The tips for using it are that “友達ともだち” is used as the meaning of “A PERSON WITH WHOM YOU SHARE SOMETHING.” Everyone could use “友達ともだち” as casual, polite and formal such as “ミクは友達ともだちだよ。(Miku is my friend.)” as casual “ミクは友達ともだちです。(Miku is my friend.)” as polite and formal.

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Sample

yuka

ミクは同おなじクラスの友達ともだちで、たまにみんなで遊あそぶよ。 (Miku is my friend in the same class and we sometimes hang out with other friends.) (未来是同班同学，有时候会和大家一起玩。) (미쿠는 같은 반 친구인데 가끔 다 같이 놀아.) (Miku rất ít chơi với bạn bè cùng lớp đấy.) (miku wa onaji kurasu notomodachi de, tamani min’na de asobu yo.)

tatsuya

高校こうこうの時ときの友達ともだちと遊あそびました。 (I hung out with a friend from High School.) (我和高中朋友一起去玩了。) (고등학교 친구들과 놀았습니다.) (Tôi đã chơi với bạn bè thời cấp ba.) (kōkō no toki notomodachi to asobi mashita.)

yuka

日本人にほんじんの友達ともだちは何人なんにんいますか？ (How many Japanese friends do you have?) (你有多少日本朋友？) (일본인 친구는 몇 명 있나요?) (Bạn có bao nhiêu bạn bè là người Nhật?) (nihonjin no tomodachi wa nan nin imasu ka?)

親友しんゆう (shin’yū)

Best friend / 好朋友 / 친한 친구 / Bạn thân

“親友しんゆう(shin’yū)” means “Best friend” and which has been used as the meaning of “A person’s closest friend”. The basic ways to use it are that “___は私わたしの親友しんゆうだ。(___ is my best friend.)”, etc. For instance, “彼かれは私わたしの親友しんゆうだ。(He is my best friend.)”, ”ミク私わたしの親友しんゆうだ。(Miku is my best friend.)”, etc. The tips for using it are that “親友しんゆう” is used as the meaning of “A PERSON WITH WHOM YOU SHARE EVERYTHING”. Everyone could use “親友しんゆう” as casual, polite and formal such as “ミクは親友しんゆうだよ。(Miku is my best friend.)” as casual “ミクは親友しんゆうです。(Miku is my best friend.)” as polite and formal.

Sample

tatsuya

レイは親友しんゆうだから、毎日まいにち遊あそぶよ。 (Rei is my best friend so I hang out with him every day.) (雷是我最好的朋友，所以我们每天都会一起玩。) (레이는 친한 친구니까 매일 놀거야.) (Vì Rei là bạn thân nên chúng tôi chơi với nhau mỗi ngày đấy.) (rei washin’yū dakara, mainichi asobu yo.)

yuka

昨日きのう、親友しんゆうと買かい物ものに行いったよ。 (I went shopping with my best friend yesterday.) (昨天我和我闺蜜一起去买东西了。) (어제 친한 친구랑 쇼핑하러 갔어.) (Hôm qua, tôi đã đi mua sắm với người bạn thân.) (kinō,shin’yū to kaimono ni itta yo.)

tatsuya

親友しんゆうはいますか？ (Do you have your best friend?) (你有知心的好朋友吗？) (아주 친한 친구가 있나요?) (Bạn có bạn thân không?) (shin’yū wa imasu ka?)

仲良なかよし (nakayoshi)

Good friend, Close / 关系好 / 절친 / Bạn tốt

“仲良なかよし(nakayoshi)” means “Good friend or Close” and which has been used as the meaning of “A person’s close friend”. The basic ways to use it are that “___は仲良なかよしだ。(___ is close.)”, etc. For instance, “私達わたしたちは仲良なかよしだ。(We are close.)”, ”ミクと私わたしは仲良なかよしだ。(Miku and I are close.)”, etc. The tips for using it are that “仲良なかよし” is used as the meaning of “A PERSON WITH WHOM YOU SHARE ANYTHING” and “仲良なかよし” is used for the state of being in a good term. Everyone could use “ミクと仲良なかよしだよ。(Miku and I are close.)” as casual “ミクと仲良なかよしです。(Miku and I are close.)” as polite. Additionally, “仲良なかよ” sounds a little bit childish, so “仲なかがいい” is better if you are an adult.

Sample

yuka

ミクと仲良なかよしだから、ほぼ毎日まいにち遊あそぶよ。 (Miku and I are close so I hang out with her almost every day.) (我和未来关系很好，我们几乎每天都在一起玩。) (미쿠랑은 절친이라서 거의 매일 같이 놀아.) (Vì tôi với Miku là bạn tốt của nhau, nên hầu như mỗi ngày chúng tôi đều chơi với nhau đấy.) (miku to nakayoshi dakara, hobo mainichi asobu yo.)

tatsuya

妹いもうとと仲なかがいいですね。 (You are close with your sister.) (跟妹妹关系很好。) (여동생과 사이가 좋네요.) (Thân thiết với em gái nhỉ.) (imōto tonaka ga ī desu ne.)

yuka

仲なかがいい日本人にほんじん友達ともだちは何人なんにんいますか？ (How many Japanese friends do you have?) (你有多少关系好的日本朋友啊？) (친하다고 할 수 있는 일본인 친구는 몇 명 있나요?) (Bạn có bao nhiêu bạn bè là người nhật mà có mối quan hệ tốt?) (naka ga ī nihonjin tomodachi wa nan nin imasu ka?)

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