友人 (ゆうじん, yuujin) Japanese meaning: friend | KotomoraHe is an old friend of mine.
I met a friend from my university days for the first time in a while.
Usage patterns
〈人〉と友人になるto become friends with someone
I became friends with many people while studying abroad.
友人ができるto make a friend
I made a friend at my new workplace.
〈人〉を友人に紹介するto introduce someone to a friend
I had him introduced to my friend.
友人の紹介で〈事〉through a friend's introduction
I got this job through a friend's introduction.
Expressions
持つべきものは友人a friend is a good thing to have; a good friend is a great blessing
友人 is the general, register-neutral word for a friend, while 旧知 adds the nuance of a long-standing, familiar relationship and carries a literary tone.
