知人

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 知人 (ちじん) is a noun for an acquaintance, someone one knows.
• Basic usage: It is used for meeting one's father's acquaintance or receiving a recommendation from an acquaintance knowledgeable about a subject.
  • 旅先で父の知人に偶然会った。 — I happened to meet one of my father's acquaintances while traveling.
  • その店は料理に詳しい知人から教えてもらった。 — An acquaintance knowledgeable about food recommended the restaurant.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Acquaintance and friend
  • 知人 indicates that people know each other but does not necessarily imply a close friendship. The person whose acquaintance is meant can be marked with の, as in 父の知人.