Translation guide
The English word 'contact' covers several distinct meanings: getting in touch with someone, physical touch, a person who provides connections, and more. Japanese uses different words and patterns for each.
To communicate with someone, especially by phone, email, etc.
The most common and general word for 'contact' as communication. Used as a noun and with する to mean 'to contact'.
Literally 'take contact', meaning to get in touch with someone. Often used when initiating contact.
彼と連絡を取りたい。
I want to get in touch with him.
Polite form of 連絡. Used in business or formal situations.
ご連絡ありがとうございます。
Thank you for contacting me.
Loanword from English. Often used in casual or business contexts, but 連絡 is more common. Can also mean contact lenses.
The state or action of touching something.
A person you know who can help you, especially in business or for information.
Short for contact lenses.
A point where electrical circuits connect.
While コンタクト is understood, 連絡 is the standard word for 'getting in touch'. Using コンタクト for communication can sound overly casual or like English-influenced Japanese.
触れる (ふれる) is for light, often unintentional touch, while 触る (さわる) is for intentional touching. 触れる can also mean 'to be exposed to' or 'to experience'.
彼の手が私の手に触れた。
His hand touched mine (lightly/accidentally).
展示品に触らないでください。
Please do not touch the exhibits.
彼にコンタクトしてみたけど、返事がない。
I tried contacting him, but no reply.
General word for physical contact or touching. Used in technical and everyday contexts.
Verb meaning 'to touch' or 'to come into contact with'. Often used for light or incidental touch.
手が触れた。
Our hands touched.
Verb meaning 'to touch' intentionally. More deliberate than 触れる.
そのボタンに触らないでください。
Please don't touch that button.
Literally 'contact address', meaning a person's contact information or a person as a contact.
緊急連絡先を教えてください。
Please give me your emergency contact.
Refers to one's network of personal connections, often in business.
彼は人脈が広い。
He has a wide network of contacts.
Short for 'connection', often implying using personal connections to gain an advantage. Can have a negative nuance.
コネで仕事を見つけた。
I found a job through connections.
Full term for contact lenses. Often shortened to コンタクト.
コンタクトレンズを外す。
Take out contact lenses.
Common abbreviation for contact lenses. Context distinguishes from the communication meaning.
今日はコンタクトを忘れた。
I forgot my contacts today.
Technical term for an electrical contact point.
リレーの接点が汚れている。
The relay contacts are dirty.