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Proverbs

Japanese meaning of 類は友を呼ぶ

Reading:

るいはともをよぶ (rui wa tomo o yobu)

English Translation:

Birds of a feather flock together

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

People with similar interests or character naturally associate.
日本語で読む
似た価値観や性格を持つ人々は自然と集まるという意味。

Cultural Context:

Matches Japanese social grouping tendencies in schools and communities.
日本語で読む
学校や地域社会で似た価値観の人が集まりやすい傾向と一致する。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• 類 (rui) = “kind/type” (noun)<br>• は (wa) = topic particle<br>• 友 (tomo) = “friend” (noun)<br>• を (o) = object marker<br>• 呼ぶ (yobu) = “to call/invite” (verb)<br>Topic–comment structure with a transitive verb, expressing natural attraction between similar entities.
日本語で読む
• 類 = 「種類・タイプ」を表す名詞<br>• は = 主題を示す助詞<br>• 友 = 「友人」を表す名詞<br>• を = 目的語を示す助詞<br>• 呼ぶ = 動詞「呼ぶ」の基本形<br>似た者同士が引き合うことを表す主題–述部構造です。

Trap for English Speakers

Literal meaning may confuse learners; it’s a metaphor for people with similar traits naturally gathering.
日本語で読む
友を呼ぶという直訳に引きずられがちだが、似た者同士が集まるという意味。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 似た者同士は集まりやすく、類は友を呼ぶものだ。

    People with similar interests gather—birds of a feather flock together.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 恋バナ好きばかりの部に新人が入ってきた、やっぱり類は友を呼ぶ。

    A romance-obsessed newbie joined the club—birds of a feather flock together.

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「類は友を呼ぶ」 mean?

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