友とも達だち以い上じょう恋こい人びと未み満まん

Meanings

expression, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective

more than friends, less than lovers

Describes a relationship that is emotionally or physically closer than friendship but not yet a full romantic partnership. Often used in youth culture and romance contexts.

私わたしたちは友とも達だち以い上じょう恋こい人びと未み満まんの関かん係けいがもう半はん年としも続つづいている。
We've been in a 'more than friends, less than lovers' relationship for half a year now.
友とも達だち以い上じょう恋こい人びと未み満まんって、一いち番ばんもどかしい距きょ離りかもしれない。
Being more than friends but less than lovers might be the most frustrating distance.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Kanji

友friend
達accomplished, reach, arrive
以by means of, because, in view of
上above, up
恋romance, in love, yearn for
人person
未un-, not yet, hitherto
満full, fullness, enough

Related words

友とも達だち
Plain 'friend'; lacks the romantic nuance of the target phrase.
恋こい人びと
A clear romantic partner; the target phrase describes a stage before this.

Built from

友とも達だち+以い上じょう+恋こい人びと+未み満まん

Written forms

友とも達だち以い上じょう恋こい人びと未み満まん
Standard kanji spelling for this set phrase.
友ともだち以い上じょう恋こい人びと未み満まん
Variant with だち in kana; slightly softer or more casual feel.

Etymology

A modern set phrase combining 友達 (friend) + 以上 (more than) + 恋人 (lover) + 未満 (less than). The exact origin is uncertain, but it became popular in youth media and everyday conversation to describe ambiguous romantic relationships.