Translation guide
This proverb means that people with similar interests, personalities, or backgrounds tend to associate with each other. In Japanese, there are several equivalent proverbs and expressions, ranging from direct translations to more culturally specific sayings.
Expressing the idea that people who are alike tend to form groups or be friends
A common Japanese proverb meaning 'like calls to like' or 'birds of a feather flock together'. It literally says 'similar kinds call friends'. This is the most direct and widely used equivalent.
彼らはすぐに仲良くなった。類は友を呼ぶんだね。
They became friends right away. Birds of a feather flock together, huh.
A slightly more formal or literary version meaning 'to gather by kind'. It conveys the same idea but is less common in everyday speech.
趣味のサークルには同じような人が集まる。類をもって集まるというわけだ。
People with similar hobbies gather in clubs. That's what they mean by birds of a feather flock together.
A classical Chinese-derived expression meaning 'same spirit seeks each other'. It is very literary and rarely used in modern conversation, but may appear in writing.
彼らは考え方が似ているから自然と一緒にいる。まさに同気相求むだ。
They naturally stay together because their ways of thinking are similar. Truly, birds of a feather flock together.
Both mean the same thing, but 類は友を呼ぶ is more conversational and widely used. 類をもって集まる sounds slightly more formal or explanatory.
あの二人はすぐに意気投合した。類は友を呼ぶだね。
Those two hit it off right away. Birds of a feather flock together.
同じ業界の人が集まるのは、類をもって集まるからだろう。
People from the same industry gather probably because birds of a feather flock together.