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
N3
会合
kaigou
meeting, gathering, assembly
N3
組合
kumiai
association, union, cooperative
N3
合格
goukaku
passing, success in exam
N3
合計
goukei
total, sum total
N3
知恵
chie
wisdom, practical intelligence, idea
N3
知事
chiji
governor, prefectural governor
N3
知識
chishiki
knowledge, information
N3
知能
chinou
intelligence, mental ability
N3
通知
tsuuchi
notification, notice
Kanji