顔かお見み知しり

か

お

み

し

り

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

acquaintance; someone you know by sight

Refers to a person you know well enough to recognize and exchange greetings, but not a close friend. Often used in contrast with 友達 (friend).

彼かれはただの顔かお見み知しりで、友とも達だちではない。
He's just an acquaintance, not a friend.
近きん所じょに顔かお見み知しりが何なん人にんかいる。
I have a few acquaintances in the neighborhood.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉と顔かお見み知しりになるto become acquainted with someone (by sight)
近きん所じょの人ひとと顔かお見み知しりになった。
I've become acquainted with my neighbor.

Kanji

顔face, expression
見see, hopes, chances
知know, wisdom

Related words

知しり合あいN3
知り合い is a general word for anyone you know, while 顔見知り specifically stresses recognizing someone by face without necessarily talking much.
顔かおなじみN1
顔見知り and 顔なじみ both mean someone you recognize by face, but 顔なじみ implies more repeated, friendly contact (like a regular at a shop) while 顔見知り is more neutral, simple recognition.
面めん識しき
顔見知り is a casual term for recognizing someone by face without necessarily interacting, while 面識 is more formal and stresses documented personal contact.

Opposites

他た人にんN3
顔見知り means someone you recognize and greet, while 他人 refers to a complete stranger with no personal connection.

Don't confuse with

顔かおなじみN1
顔見知り just means you recognize someone's face, whereas 顔なじみ implies a more familiar, regular relationship built from repeated contact.

Built from

顔かお+見み知しる

Etymology

Compound of 顔 (face) and 見知り (knowing by sight, from 見る 'to see' and 知る 'to know').