Meaning

Primary

Companion

Alternatives

Comrade, Associate

Word Type

noun

Explanation

Your relationship intervals... this doesn't make much sense at first, but if you think about it, at certain intervals from within your friends, you'll run into someone who's your companion... not just any old friend. Something better. Something part of your group.

Reading

なかま
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading for is the one you learned. When you learned the kanji , we didn't give you a mnemonic for the () reading, so here's one now:

Think through all your companions in your life. Imagine one of them is your Ma (). She's on your pirate crew, and a pretty awesome pirate.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 仲間に入る

    to join a group

    仲間になる

    to become a member of a group

Context Sentences

今はテスト週間中だから、終わるまで仲間とあそぶのはおあずけです。

I'm in the middle of the exam week, so I have to wait to hang out with my companions until it's done.

仲間たちとは、兄弟みたいにいつも一しょにいて、ふざけ合って、おたがいにからかい合ってるよ。

Me and my comrades are like brothers who are always together, fooling around, and picking on each other.

学校での厳しい一日を終えて、仲間たちとリラックスをした。

Me and my group of friends relaxed after a hard day at school.

Kanji Composition