Translation guide
A courier is a person or service that delivers messages, packages, or important documents, often quickly or securely. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 宅配便 for parcel delivery services, while 使者 or 急使 refers to a person sent as a messenger. The choice depends on whether you mean a modern delivery service or a human messenger.
Send it by courier.
Use 宅配便 for standard parcel delivery.
Referring to a company or service that delivers packages, like FedEx or Yamato Transport.
The standard term for home delivery services. Use this for parcel delivery companies.
Please send this package by courier.
Loanword from English, used for international courier services or in business contexts. Less common than 宅配便.
General term for delivery service. Can be used for courier services but is broader.
Referring to an individual who carries messages or items, often in a formal or urgent context.
A messenger or envoy. Used for a person sent to deliver a message or item, often in historical or formal settings.
The king sent a courier to the neighboring country.
An express messenger or courier, emphasizing urgency. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
A person who carries official communications between governments or organizations.
Diplomatic courier, a specific term for those who transport diplomatic bags.
The diplomatic courier transported classified documents to the embassy.
宅配便 is the everyday term for domestic parcel delivery services (e.g., Yamato, Sagawa). クーリエ is used for international courier services (e.g., DHL, FedEx) or in business contexts. For a person delivering a message, use 使者 or 配達員.
The package arrived by courier.
Send international mail by courier.
クーリエ usually refers to a service, not an individual delivery person. For a person, use 配達員 or メッセンジャー.
The courier will arrive by 10 a.m.
He works as a bike courier.
国際クーリエで書類を送ります。
I'll send the documents by international courier.
I had the package delivered using a courier service.
A courier delivered the news from the battlefield.
Loanword for messenger, used for bike messengers or app-based delivery persons in modern contexts.
The courier delivered the documents to the office.
A delivery person, commonly used for parcel delivery drivers or staff. More everyday than 使者.
The courier brought the package.