Translation guide
The English word "fellow" has several distinct meanings. It can refer to a man or boy (often in a casual or old-fashioned way), a companion or peer, a member of a scholarly society, or be used as an adjective meaning "sharing a situation." This guide covers natural Japanese equivalents for each use.
Referring to a man or boy in a casual, sometimes old-fashioned or slightly condescending way.
A general word for 'man' or 'guy'. Can be used casually, but may sound blunt depending on context.
あの男は誰ですか。
Who is that fellow?
A very casual, sometimes rough word for 'guy' or 'fellow'. Often used among close friends or when speaking down to someone.
あのやつ、また遅刻だ。
That fellow is late again.
Kanji form of やつ, often used in writing. Same casual/rough nuance.
あの奴は信用できない。
That fellow can't be trusted.
Neutral word for 'person'. Can be used to refer to a fellow without specifying gender, but lacks the casual tone of 'fellow'.
あの人はいい人だ。
That fellow is a good person.
Formal word for 'male' or 'man'. Not casual; used in official contexts.
その男性は会社員です。
That fellow is an office worker.
Referring to someone who shares an activity, status, or experience with you; a comrade or colleague.
A companion, mate, or member of one's group. Implies a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
彼は私の釣り仲間です。
He is my fishing fellow.
仕事の仲間と飲みに行った。
I went drinking with my work fellows.
A colleague or coworker. Specifically for professional settings.
A friend or companion. Slightly literary or poetic, but can be used in everyday speech.
彼は生涯の友だ。
He is a lifelong fellow.
A partner or buddy, often used for a close working partner or sidekick. Has a slightly dramatic or buddy-cop feel.
Referring to a member of an academic or professional organization, such as a fellow of a college or institute.
Direct loanword from English, commonly used in academic contexts for 'fellow' (e.g., research fellow).
彼は大学の研究フェローです。
He is a research fellow at the university.
A member of a society or association. More general than 'fellow' but can be used when the specific title isn't needed.
A specific term for a research fellow, often used in Japanese institutions like JSPS fellows.
彼女は日本学術振興会の特別研究員です。
She is a JSPS fellow.
Used as an adjective to describe someone who shares the same condition, experience, or group membership.
Use 同じ (same) before a noun to express 'fellow' in the sense of sharing a characteristic. Common and natural.
彼は同じクラスの仲間だ。
He is a fellow classmate.
同じ日本人として誇りに思う。
I'm proud as a fellow Japanese.
Attach 仲間 to a noun to mean 'fellow X' (e.g., 仕事仲間 = fellow worker). Implies camaraderie.
彼は私の旅行仲間です。
He is my fellow traveler.
Suffix meaning 'mutual' or 'fellow'. Used for people sharing a relationship or category (e.g., 友達同士 = fellow friends).
隣人同士助け合うべきだ。
Fellow neighbors should help each other.
English often uses 'fellow' as an adjective (fellow student, fellow citizen). In Japanese, there is no single equivalent; instead use patterns like 同じ〜 or suffixes like 〜仲間, 〜同士. Direct translations like フェロー学生 are not natural.
彼は同じ学校の生徒です。
He is a fellow student.
やつ is very casual and can be rude if used inappropriately. 男 is neutral but can sound blunt. 人 is the safest, most neutral word for 'person', but loses the casual 'fellow' feel. Choose based on your relationship and the situation.
彼は私の同僚です。
He is my fellow worker.
彼は俺の相棒だ。
He's my fellow (partner).
彼は学会の会員です。
He is a fellow of the academic society.