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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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2014-08-20T13:32:26.727
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2018-05-04T23:03:44.503
2018-05-04T23:03:44.503
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meaning wago-and-kango
What is the difference between [友達]{とも・だち} and [友人]{ゆう・じん}?
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.
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2014-08-20T19:32:17.097
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2014-08-21T00:35:07.387
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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.
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2014-08-20T20:32:25.317
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