noun
Slang term borrowed from Chinese 朋友 (péngyou), used mainly among younger speakers or in casual, trendy contexts. Carries a slightly playful or international feel compared to native 友達.
from Chinese péngyou
See also: 朋友 (ほうゆう)
彼は俺の一番のポンユーだ。
He's my best friend.
新しいクラスでポンユーができた。
I made a new friend in my new class.
The older Sino-Japanese reading ほうゆう is a formal or literary term for 'friend', while ポンユー is a modern slang borrowing from Chinese.
The standard, neutral Japanese word for 'friend'. ポンユー is more casual and trendy, often used by younger people or in pop culture.
Borrowed from Chinese 朋友 (péngyou, 'friend'). The reading ポンユー reflects a Japanized approximation of the Chinese pronunciation, and the term is used as slang.