友 — Friend
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Start 7-Day Free Trial →Visual Radical Families for 友 (Friend)
These kanjis share the same recurring visual building block in Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics. Tap any small tile to compare its story:
Common Japanese Words with 友 (Friend)
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A person (人) who is your friend (友) is a friend (formal).
A loyal friend (友) is a great friend.
Frequently Asked Questions About 友 (Friend)
What is the best kanji mnemonic for 友 (Friend)?
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The Shibashi Japanese kanji mnemonic for 友 ("Friend", read as ゆう) is: Tomato model (とも) youth (ゆう) love to compete with their tomato friends. Using visual kanji mnemonics that combine the character's radicals, meaning, and reading into a single illustrated scene makes 友 effortless to recall.
What does the kanji 友 mean and how is it read in Japanese?
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The Japanese kanji 友 means "Friend". Its primary reading is ゆう (On'yomi: ゆう; Kun'yomi: とも). Our Japanese kanji mnemonics tie the reading directly into the visual story so you remember both the meaning and pronunciation together.
What are common Japanese words and compounds with 友?
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Essential Japanese vocabulary words containing 友 include: 友人 (ゆうじん - friend), 友 (とも - friend, companion, pal).
How do Japanese kanji mnemonics help you remember 友 (Friend) faster?
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Traditional rote stroke repetition fades quickly. Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics turn 友 (Friend) and its shared visual radical family into memorable characters and objects, paired with smart Spaced Repetition (SRS) and native audio so the memory sticks permanently.