Translation guide
The activity or industry of promoting products or services to the public.
Referring to the field, business, or practice of advertising.
The most common and general term for advertising as a concept or industry.
He works in the advertising industry.
Measuring the effectiveness of advertising is difficult.
Often used for promotional activities, publicity, or propaganda. Can overlap with advertising but has a broader sense of spreading information.
Referring to a single commercial message, poster, online ad, etc.
Also used for individual advertisements. Context clarifies whether it's the industry or a specific ad.
This magazine has a lot of cosmetics ads.
Abbreviation for 'commercial message'. Refers specifically to TV or radio commercials. Very common in spoken Japanese.
That commercial is funny, isn't it?
Short for 'advertisement'. Used in casual or business contexts, especially for online ads.
Specifically referring to ads on the internet, social media, etc.
広告 (koukoku) is the standard term for advertising, especially paid commercial messages. 宣伝 (senden) is broader, including publicity, promotion, and sometimes propaganda. Use 広告 for most business/ad contexts; use 宣伝 when emphasizing the act of spreading information or promoting something, which may not always be paid advertising.
新製品の宣伝に力を入れている。
We are putting effort into advertising the new product.
Place ads on a website.
Analyze the cost-effectiveness of digital advertising.