Atamaji
友

友

On reading: YUU
Kun reading: tomo

The character for a friend. Two hands, reaching the same way.

When “友” fills a head

Why it is in the set

Because the set needed one character about other people that was not romantic, and because the most common thing a head does about friends is feel slightly guilty. 友 coming out on top nearly always produces a line about a message not sent.

What a head full of it looks like

A draft you never sent. Seeing a photo and thinking you should call. Realising it has been a year. A head led by 友 is fond of people and bad at logistics.

Words that use it

友達 (tomodachi, a friend), 友人 (yuujin, a friend, formally), 親友 (shinyuu, a close friend), 友情 (yuujou, friendship), 友好 (yuukou, amity between countries).

Kanji it turns up with

酒 or 遊 behind 友 is a plan. 忙 (busy) behind it is the excuse.

Where “友” comes from

Two hands drawn one above the other, both facing the same direction. Not clasped — side by side, doing the same thing.

That is a more precise picture of friendship than a handshake, and it is about three thousand years old.

友達 (tomodachi) is the ordinary word. 友人 (yuujin) is its formal equivalent and sounds distinctly stiff in conversation.

A line you might get for “友”

“Someone should be messaged. Someone has been meaning to for a month.”

Count the “友” in your own head

Others in “Everyday”

“友” is filed under “Everyday”. These are the rest of that group.

The 36 kanji

This is entirely a joke and has nothing to do with any real person.