同士

• Reading: どうし
• Romaji: doushi
• Kanji breakdown: 同 (dou/ona) — same; 士 (shi) — person, samurai
• Pronunciation: /do.ɯ.ɕi/

Meaning

Fellow; companion; people who share the same status or situation.

A noun and suffix meaning 'fellow' or 'among the same group.' Attached after nouns to express mutual relationships: 友達同士 (tomodachi doushi, among friends), 男同士 (otoko doushi, between men), 日本人同士 (nihonjin doushi, among Japanese people). Implies a shared bond or condition. Distinct from 同志 (doushi, comrade/kindred spirit) which emphasises shared ideals.

Examples

1. 友達同士で旅行の計画を立てた。 We made travel plans among friends.
2. 知らない人同士でも話が盛り上がった。 Even complete strangers got into a lively conversation.
3. 子供同士が公園で仲良く遊んでいる。 The kids are playing nicely together at the park.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, groups, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 同 (same) and 士 (person/samurai). Together they describe people of the same standing or circumstance, originally referring to warriors of equal rank.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal