Translation guide
The English word "carrier" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a person or company that transports goods, a person who carries something, a disease carrier, and a telecommunications company. It also notes related concepts like aircraft carriers and bags.
A company that transports goods or people, such as a shipping line, airline, or trucking company.
General term for a carrier or shipping company. Common in business contexts.
That carrier guarantees next-day delivery.
Literally 'transport company'. Very similar to 運送業者, but slightly more formal or corporate.
A major carrier opened a new distribution center.
Loanword from English, used especially for airlines (航空会社) or in IT/telecom contexts. Not as common for general trucking.
Low-cost carriers are gaining popularity.
A person who carries something, such as a porter, a message carrier, or a water carrier.
Simple phrase meaning 'person who carries'. Use with context to specify what is carried.
I'm looking for someone to carry the luggage.
Formal term for a carrier or porter, often used in legal or official contexts.
Specifically a person who carries something on their shoulder, like a palanquin carrier or a mikoshi bearer. Rare in modern contexts.
The carriers of the portable shrine gathered for the festival.
A person or animal that carries and spreads a disease without necessarily showing symptoms.
Medical term for a carrier of bacteria. Commonly used in health contexts.
He was an asymptomatic carrier.
Loanword used in medical contexts, similar to English 'carrier'. Often used for viruses.
Refers to a vector or intermediary carrier, like a mosquito for malaria. More specific than general disease carrier.
A company that provides telephone, internet, or mobile services.
Standard term for a telecommunications carrier. Used in official and business contexts.
Major carriers have launched 5G services.
Common loanword for mobile carriers. Often used in everyday conversation about phone plans.
Specifically a mobile phone carrier. More casual than 通信事業者.
A large warship that carries military aircraft.
A bag, case, or container used to carry items, such as a baby carrier or pet carrier.
Loanword used in compound words like ベビーキャリー (baby carrier) or ペットキャリー (pet carrier).
I put my pet in a carrier to take the train.
Sometimes used for larger carriers, like bike carriers or roof carriers. Less common for small bags.
General term for carrying equipment, but very broad and not commonly used for personal bags.
In English, 'carrier' can refer to a person who carries something, like a water carrier. In Japanese, simply saying 運ぶ人 (person who carries) is more natural than trying to use a single noun. Words like 運搬人 are very formal and rarely used in daily conversation.
キャリア is a loanword that is common in IT, telecom, and airline industries. For general transportation companies (trucking, shipping), 運送業者 or 運送会社 is more appropriate. Using キャリア for a trucking company might sound odd.
The carrier brought the heavy boxes into the warehouse.
The virus carrier spread the infection.
蚊はマラリアの媒介者です。
Mosquitoes are carriers of malaria.
Which carrier do you use?
I'm thinking of switching carriers.
The carrier is sailing in the Pacific.
We loaded the luggage onto the car's roof carrier.
They use carriers to move materials in the factory.