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)
He's my best friend.
I made a new friend in my new class.
Standard kanji spelling, directly borrowed from Chinese 朋友 (péngyou).
Alternate spelling using katakana ポン for the first syllable; less common but seen in casual writing.
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.