親密

• Reading: しんみつ
• Romaji: shinmitsu
• Kanji breakdown: 親 (shin) — close, intimate; 密 (mitsu) — dense, close
• Pronunciation: /ɕiɴ.mi.tsɯ/

Meaning

Intimate; close; friendly. Describing a deep, warm relationship between people.

A na-adjective and noun expressing emotional closeness and warmth in a relationship. Stronger than 仲がいい (getting along well) — implies a deeper bond of trust and affection. Used for personal, diplomatic, and organisational relationships: 親密な関係 (intimate relationship), 親密さ (closeness). Not limited to romantic contexts.

Examples

1. 二人は学生時代から親密な関係を続けている。 The two of them have maintained a close relationship since their school days.
2. チームの親密さがプロジェクトの成功につながった。 The team's closeness led to the success of the project.
3. 両国は経済面で親密な協力関係にある。 The two countries have an intimate cooperative relationship on the economic front.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, diplomacy, teamwork

Tone: warm

Origin & History

From Chinese, combining 親 (close, intimate, parent) and 密 (dense, close, secret). Both characters share the sense of closeness — 親 from familial bonds and 密 from physical proximity — creating a strong expression of interpersonal warmth.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal