We must dig deep into their definitions to differentiate the two states of relationship, friendship and acquaintance.

Friend: A friend is a person with whom you have mutual affection, strong liking, and trust bond despite having no familial or sexual relation.

Acquaintance: Being casually familiar with someone with whom you have surface-level relations, and you do not discuss your personal and dark secrets.

Why do we need to differentiate between the two? Well, we meet many people in our lives, neighbourhoods, workplaces, playgrounds, parks, and many other places. We have to differentiate them accordingly to behave well accordingly. You can have a litmus test of your relationship based on these things. Ask yourself that:

  • How much do you trust this person? How much are you comfortable sharing personal details of your life with him?
  • How much can I be my authentic self around that person?

“In the Cookie of Life, Friends are the Chocolate Chips”

For me, the word friend has a deeper meaning and an even more profound relationship. A friend supports and follows you through thick and thin and is there for you in your wrong and good times. He is there when you fall, to carry you, and yes, not before laughing at you enough to make a wonderful memory out of that tragedy. Yes, this is a common assumption of a good or best friend, and I have found this to be very accurate personally. Friends are the ones who genuinely and sincerely care about you, who have your best interest at heart will never hesitate to pinpoint a mistake. A friend is the one doing all this for you and also telling you his problems, showing vulnerability and weakness. Well, in my opinion, a friend is someone who continuously offers you all the above facts for a long time and if that’s not the case, then, believe me, everything else is just an acquaintance.

They say choose your acquaintance carefully, for that becomes your casual friendships one day and if staying for longer, makes your close and intimate friendships. Acquaintance can be a person you just met or have known for a while because the time frame differs from person to person. You become close friends with someone very quickly, and, in some cases, your status stays as an acquaintance even after years. You don’t make intentional stops or plans for your acquaintances. Instead, you meet them coincidentally. This relation results from proximity, need-based, or a working relationship.

  • As acquaintances may become friends, friends may become acquaintances if the relationship grows old enough and is not taken care of. Still, I think the probability of finding such examples is low.
  • A friend has an opinion of you and likes you as a human being, while an acquaintance has no thought of you whatsoever.
  • A friend has common interests and feelings with you, and an acquaintance doesn’t.
  • Spending time together is relaxing and calming in friendship while maybe out of necessity in an acquaintance. 
  • Physical contact is common in friendship and rare in acquaintance.
  • A friend wanders freely and frankly around your belongings, while an acquaintance tries to behave politely and carefully.