同
Meanings
Prefix attached to nouns, especially dates, people, companies, schools, and other referents. It can mean 'the same ...' or, in formal and news-style writing, 'the said/aforementioned ...'.
The two graduated from university in the same year.
Yamada Electric announced a new product, and the company's stock price rose.
unclassified
Terse written use in lists, tables, forms, and similar contexts, indicating that the item is the same as the one just mentioned. This is not the normal spoken word for 'likewise'.
In the roster, the second person's affiliation field said 'same as above.'
Usage patterns
- 同〈人〉the aforementioned person (referring back to someone just named)
Mr. Yamada stepped down last month; a successor for him has not yet been decided.
- 同〈場所〉the same place just mentioned (news/formal style)
The company moved its headquarters to Osaka and also plans to build a new factory in that same city.
- 同〈時〉the same time/date as previously mentioned
The meeting was held on the 3rd, and the results were announced that same day.