pal

Compared meaning: a close friend (noun).

比较义项：亲密的朋友、伙伴（名词）。

• pal 本词

  Neutral, friendly, informal word for a close friend; used casually in both British and American English, often in phrases like 'school pals' or as a friendly address, with no negative connotation.

  中性、友好的非正式说法，指亲密的朋友；在英式和美式英语中都可随意使用，常见于“school pals”这样的短语，或用作友好的称呼，没有任何负面含义。

  He and his old school pal still meet every summer for a beer.

  他和他中学时代的老朋友每年夏天仍会一起喝啤酒。

• buddy

  American informal term for a close friend, often used in casual address ('hey buddy') and in fixed phrases like 'workout buddy' or 'buddy system'; more casual, especially among men.

  美式英语中表示亲密朋友的口语用词，常用于随意的称呼（如“hey buddy”）以及“workout buddy”“buddy system”等固定搭配；语气更随意，在男性之间尤为常用。

  My gym buddy pushes me to work out even when I'm tired.

  我的健身伙伴即使在我很累的时候也会督促我锻炼。

• crony

  Usually plural and negative: describes a friend given favors or power through unfair connections, especially in politics or business ('cronyism'); implies corruption rather than genuine affection.

  通常用复数形式，且带贬义：指因不正当关系而获得好处或权力的“朋友”，尤其常见于政治或商业语境（如“cronyism”裙带关系）；暗示的是腐败，而非真正的感情。

  The senator was criticized for handing out contracts to his political cronies.

  这位参议员因把合同分给自己的政治密友而受到批评。

• chum

  Old-fashioned, mainly British informal word for a close friend, often used for childhood or school friendships ('old chum'); sounds dated in modern everyday speech.

  过时的、主要用于英式英语的非正式说法，指亲密的朋友，常用于童年或学生时代的友谊（如“old chum”）；在现代日常口语中显得陈旧。

  We were school chums back in the seventies and still write letters.

  我们在七十年代是要好的同学，现在仍然互相写信。

All four mean a close friend, with different tones. Pal is neutral and casual. Buddy is American informal, often a friendly address, like hey buddy. Crony is negative, for a friend given unfair favors, especially in politics. Chum is old-fashioned British, for a childhood friend.

这四个词都可以表示亲密的朋友，但语气和用法不同：pal 和 chum 是中性偏随和的说法，chum 略显过时；buddy 是美式口语中常用的称呼；crony 则带贬义，多指因裙带关系而得到好处的“朋友”，常见于政治或商业语境。这里比较的仅是“密友”这一义项。