親しい

• Reading: したしい
• Romaji: shitashii
• Kanji breakdown: 親 (shin/oya) — parent, intimate, close
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ta.ɕiː/

Meaning

Intimate; close; friendly. Describes a deep, personal bond between people.

An i-adjective conjugated by dropping い and adding the appropriate ending (親しくない, 親しかった). Unlike 仲がいい which describes getting along well, 親しい emphasises emotional closeness and familiarity built over time. Often used with 友人 (friend) or 関係 (relationship).

Examples

1. 彼とは大学時代から親しい友人だ。 He and I have been close friends since college.
2. 親しい人にも礼儀を忘れてはいけない。 You shouldn't forget your manners, even with close friends.
3. 最近、新しい同僚と親しくなった。 I've recently become close with a new colleague.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, social life, conversation

Tone: warm

Origin & History

From the kanji 親 (shin/oya), meaning parent or intimacy. The concept of closeness derives from the familial bond — the closest relationship one has. Used since the Heian period in literary works.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal