友達（ともだち、tomodachi）
- friend

The Japanese word 友達 (ともだち, *tomodachi*) means "friend". It refers to a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. It implies a close relationship, often involving shared experiences, trust, and companionship. 友達 can describe both male and female friends. The level of closeness implied can vary, but generally suggests a friendly and supportive relationship.

⚫︎ 私には親しい友達がいます。 Translation: I have close friends. ⚫︎ 彼女は新しい友達を作った。 Translation: She made new friends. ⚫︎ 週末は友達と映画を見に行く予定です。 Translation: I plan to go see a movie with my friends this weekend.

You use 友達 when referring to your friends or talking about friendships in general. It's a common and versatile word that can be used in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal discussions. You can use it to describe someone you consider a close friend, an acquaintance, or even a group of friends. It is appropriate to use with people of all ages, though in some situations, more formal or specific terms might be preferred.

友達 is typically written in kanji as 友達, but it can also be written in hiragana as ともだち. The kanji form is more common, particularly in written Japanese. The okurigana (送りがな, the hiragana that follows a kanji) is not applicable here as the word is 友達, which is a single word and not a compound word. There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ 友人（ゆうじん, *yuujin*): This is a more formal term for "friend". ⚫︎ 仲間（なかま, *nakama*): This word implies a group or comrades. It can mean friends or people with shared interests. ⚫︎ 親友（しんゆう, *shinyuu*): This means "close friend" or "best friend". ⚫︎ 相棒（あいぼう, *aibou*): This word means “partner” or “buddy,” often used between people who support each other.

⚫︎ 敵（てき, *teki*): This word means "enemy". ⚫︎ 知らない人（しらないひと, *shiranai hito*): This means "stranger" or "someone you don't know".

私は小学生のときからの友達と旅行に行くのが楽しみです。 ・Translation: I am looking forward to going on a trip with my friend since elementary school. ・Explanation: This sentence shows the speaker's anticipation of a trip with a long-time friend, emphasizing the close bond.

困ったときに助けてくれる友達がいるのはありがたい。 ・Translation: It's nice to have a friend who helps you when you're in trouble. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the supportive aspect of friendship and the importance of having friends.

The etymology of 友達 isn't definitively known, but it's believed to be a combination of the characters: 友（とも, *tomo*) meaning "friend" and 達（たち, *tachi*), which functions as a plural marker (though it's not strictly plural in this case, but rather suggests a group or relationship).