朋
companion, friend
JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes8
Readings
On'yomi
- ホウ
Kun'yomi
- とも
Meaning
朋 centers on a close personal bond: a companion or friend, someone who stands beside you.
Most common words using 朋
- 朋友ほうゆう
friend; companion
- 同朋どうぼう
companions; fellows
- 桐朋学園大学とうほうがくえんだいがく
Toho Gakuen School of Music
- 友朋ゆうほう
friend
- 同朋大学どうほうだいがく
Doho University
- 朋党ほうとう
faction; clique
- 朋友ポンユー
friend; companion
- 朋輩ほうばい
comrade; friend; associate; colleague; fellow student; fellow apprentice
- 桐朋学園大学院大学とうほうがくえんだいがくいんだいがく
Toho Gakuen Graduate School
- 桐朋学園芸術短期大学とうほうがくえんげいじゅつたんきだいがく
Tōhō Gakuen College of Drama and Music
- 知己朋友ちきほうゆう
intimate friends and acquaintances
Study
Etymology
朋 is traditionally explained as two 月 (moon) components side by side, suggesting two people walking together as companions.
Meaning mnemonic
Two moons 月月 side by side, like two friends walking together under the same sky.
Reading mnemonic
For ホウ, imagine two friends holding hands and shouting 'Ho! U!' together: Ho-U -> ホウ, a companion's cheer.