知人(ちじん)friend, acquaintance

知人(ちじん)を訪(たず)ねるために新幹線(しんかんせん)に乗(の)る。

I will ride the bullet train to visit an acquaintance.

旅行(りょこう)中(ちゅう)に偶然(ぐうぜん)知人(ちじん)とばったり会(あ)いました。

I happened to run into an acquaintance during my trip.

自身(じしん)が芸術(げいじゅつ)家(か)である彼(かれ)は美術(びじゅつ)界(かい)に知人(ちじん)が多(おお)くいるそうです。

He, being an artist himself, has many acquaintances in the art world.

知人(ちじん)に会(あ)いに隣(となり)町(まち)まで行(い)った。ところが運(うん)悪(わる)く、知人(ちじん)は外出(がいしゅつ)中(ちゅう)だった。

I went to the neighboring town to meet an acquaintance. Unfortunately, they were out when I arrived.

人(にん)に助(たす)けを求(もと)めずにここまでボロボロになるのなら知人(ちじん)を頼(たよ)れば良(よ)かった。

If it’s gotten this battered by not asking for help from acquaintances, you should have relied on them.