Close Friend
Best Friend, Good Friend
noun
A friend who is like one of your parents is someone who will look out for you. They are like family, in fact! That's why this word means best friend or close friend. Just imagine someone who watches over you like a parent would. This is the way to describe them.
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.
ま、親友には反対されたんですけどね。
Well, I was objected to by a close friend.
コウイチとビエトは親友で、友だち以上、こい人未まんのかんけいです。
Koichi and Viet are good friends. They are more than friends, but not lovers.
「ねぇ、知ってる？サラがベスと付き合ってるのよ。」「え、知らなかった。サラのこと親友だと思ってたけど、私そのこと何も聞いてないわ。」
"Hey, you know what? Sara is going out with Beth." "What? I didn’t know that. I thought she was my best friend but she never told me about that."