Word
知り合い
Meaning in Englishacquaintance
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Word context
What it means
What does 知り合い mean? It denotes a person you know by social connection rather than a close friend, used to refer to someone you have met or are familiar with in everyday life.
Main meanings
- acquaintance; a person you know but not close with
- a known person within your social or professional networks
- a casual, non-intimate reference to someone you have met
How to use it
知り合い refers to a person you know but not necessarily a close friend; it is common in casual speech and expresses a lighter level of familiarity than friend terms. It can be used with の to indicate the person’s relation, and phrases like 知り合いになる describe becoming acquainted; in formal contexts or when a closer relationship is intended, 知人 or 友人 may be preferred.
Variants and close terms
- 知人 (ちじん, chijin) — acquaintance; more neutral or formal
- 友人 (ゆうじん, yūjin) — friend; closer relationship
- 同僚 (どうりょう, dōryō) — coworker; a known person from the workplace
Composition
- 知: to know
- り: continuative form linking to the next element
- 合い: from 合う meaning to meet or come together; when combined, it yields a noun indicating a mutual, recognized relationship
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N2
話合い
hanashiai
discussion, talk
N2
話し合い
hanashiai
discussion, talk, conference
N2
待合室
machiaishitsu
waiting room
N2
待ち合わせる
machiawaseru
to rendezvous, to meet at a prearranged place and time
N2
連合
rengou
union, alliance
N2
割合に
wariaini
relatively, comparatively
N3
知らせ
shirase
notice, news, notification
N3
合図
aizu
signal, sign, cue
N3
合わせる
awaseru
combine, match, adjust, unite
Kanji