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知人 (ちじん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Meanings 1
noun
acquaintance ; friend
Refers to someone you know, but not necessarily a close friend. Often used for people you have met or have a social connection with, but without the intimacy of 友人.
介かい
で
その
会かい
社しゃ
に
入はい
っ
た
。
I joined the company through an introduction from an acquaintance.
Similar words 友ゆう 人じん 友人 implies a closer, more personal friendship, while 知人 is a broader term for someone you know, including casual acquaintances.
友とも 達だち 友達 is the most common word for 'friend' in casual contexts, whereas 知人 is more formal and often used in business or social settings to refer to non-close contacts.
Etymology Compound of 知 (chi, 'to know') and 人 (jin, 'person'), literally 'known person'. The reading is on'yomi.