From a quick google search, they both refer to friend.
Are they completely identical or is there any difference between [友達]{とも・だち} and [友人]{ゆう・じん}?
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there was an interesting discussion about this question in the jisho forum. A lot of the answers seem to conflict with each other though...– OlumideAug 20, 2014 at 14:55
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1dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/thsrs/8806/m0u/%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA– RobinAug 20, 2014 at 16:51
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1友人 is more formal. Nothing to back this up, but my sense is that it also can be a more distant relationship.– user3526Aug 20, 2014 at 17:14
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2 Answers
It's just that 友人 is more formal than 友達. I don't feel there is any difference in what they refer to.
For example, saying 「友人が会社を経営していまして。。。」 in a job interview would sound natural, but saying「友達が会社を経営していまして。。。」 sounds a bit childish. Conversely, 「ずっと友人でいような！」is weird but 「ずっと友達でいような！」 is natural.
友人 is more formal than 友達.
I think this formality results in the side effect of it suggesting a closer friendship, because one would usually not refer to someone as a friend in Japanese in a serious conversation if they were not close, in my opinion.
So no, they are not identical — there are situations where one makes more sense to use than the other — but as far as understanding goes, I don't think it really matter if you ignore that specific nuance.
answered Aug 20, 2014 at 19:32
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I've added the phrase "in Japanese" into your first paragraph, I hope that doesn't misunderstand the sense of what you were trying to say.– virmaiorAug 21, 2014 at 0:35