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疎遠 (そえん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun, na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
estrangement ; alienation ; drifting apart
Describes a relationship that has become distant due to lack of contact or emotional disconnect. Often used with になる (to become estranged) or にする (to let a relationship drift).
彼かれ
と
は
長なが
い
間あいだ
疎そ
遠えん
に
し
て
いる
。
I've been out of touch with him for a long time.
Kanji 疎 alienate, rough, neglect Similar words 絶ぜっ 交こう 絶交 implies a deliberate, often permanent cutting off of a relationship, while 疎遠 is a gradual drifting apart without necessarily a decisive break.
不ふ 仲なか 不仲 means being on bad terms or having a strained relationship, whereas 疎遠 focuses on distance and lack of contact rather than active conflict.
Etymology Compound of 疎 (so, 'distant, estranged') and 遠 (en, 'far, distant'). The combination reinforces the idea of remoteness in relationships.