Word
知り合い
Meaning in Englishacquaintance
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Sentence
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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
付き合い
tsukiai
relationship, social contact, association
N3
付き合う
tsukiau
associate with, go along with, date
N3
似合う
niau
suit, look good on, match
N3
付合う
tsukiau
to associate with, to keep company with, to get on with
N3
出合い
deai
an encounter
N3
話し合う
hanashiau
to discuss, to talk together
N4
場合
baai
case, situation, circumstance
N4
試合
shiai
match, game, competition
N4
知らせる
shiraseru
notify, inform, let know
Kanji