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N5 · 4 strokes · — · Irodori #39 · Starter L11
友
friend
Stroke diagrams © KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Readings
- On’yomi
- ユウ
- Kun’yomi
- とも
Example words
友
とも
friend; companion
友
ゆう
friend
友情
ゆうじょう
friendship; fellowship
友達
ともだち
friend; companion
Memory aids
Guided learn session →How to remember
Shape
Two right hands (ナ) reaching toward each other — friends.
Components
Remember "friend" (友) by connecting it to its Irodori vocabulary context.
Anchor word
友だち (ともだち) — your first meeting with this kanji in Irodori.
Readings
First learned in 友だち (ともだち) — recall the word to unlock the reading. Kun'yomi: とも — often used in native Japanese words (like 友だち). On'yomi: ユウ — common in compound words (熟語).