Translation guide
The English word "despatch" (also spelled "dispatch") covers sending off items, messages, or people, as well as handling tasks quickly. This guide helps learners express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
To express the act of sending something physically, like a package, letter, or goods.
The most common and neutral word for sending off goods, mail, or shipments. Used in business and everyday contexts.
商品を発送しました。
We have dispatched the goods.
発送が遅れてすみません。
Sorry for the delay in dispatch.
Formal term for sending documents, materials, or items, often used in business correspondence.
書類を送付いたします。
We will dispatch the documents.
Specifically refers to shipping out products or cargo from a warehouse or factory. Common in logistics and commerce.
本日出荷予定です。
Scheduled for dispatch today.
To express sending a message, email, report, or other communication.
Standard term for sending electronic messages, emails, data, etc.
メールを送信しました。
I dispatched the email.
データを送信中です。
Dispatching data.
Often used for sending out signals, broadcasts, or initiating communication. Can also mean 'to dispatch a message' in a broader sense.
To express sending someone to a place for a specific purpose, like a reporter, troops, or a representative.
The standard word for dispatching personnel, such as employees, experts, or troops. Very common in business and news.
記者を現地に派遣した。
They dispatched a reporter to the scene.
技術者を派遣します。
We will dispatch an engineer.
To send someone (often with a sense of directing them to a task). Slightly more casual or forceful than 派遣.
Used specifically for dispatching special correspondents or representatives, often in media contexts (e.g., 特派員 = special correspondent).
To express completing a task or handling something promptly, as in 'dispatch a matter'.
A natural phrase meaning to deal with something quickly and efficiently. Not a direct translation of 'dispatch' but captures the sense of swift handling.
その問題を素早く片付けた。
He dispatched the problem quickly.
Means 'processing' or 'handling'. When combined with adverbs like 迅速に (quickly), it conveys the idea of dispatching a task.
仕事を迅速に処理した。
He dispatched the work quickly.
Colloquial verb meaning to finish off, beat, or dispatch (a task or opponent). Very casual.
To express the literary or euphemistic sense of 'dispatch' meaning to kill.
Direct word for 'kill'. Not a euphemism, but the most straightforward equivalent.
彼は敵を素早く殺した。
He quickly dispatched the enemy.
Euphemistic term meaning 'to take care of' or 'to dispose of', often implying killing. Used in crime contexts.
邪魔者を始末した。
He dispatched the nuisance.
Literary word meaning 'to bury' or 'to consign to oblivion', sometimes used figuratively for killing.
The spelling 'despatch' is less common than 'dispatch' but means the same. In Japanese, the same translations apply regardless of spelling.
発送 is for physical items, 送信 is for electronic messages, and 派遣 is for people. Using the wrong one can cause confusion.
緊急メッセージを発信した。
They dispatched an urgent message.
すぐに人を差し向けます。
I'll dispatch someone right away.
To dispatch a special correspondent.
宿題をさっさとやっつけた。
I dispatched my homework quickly.
彼は裏切り者を闇に葬った。
He dispatched the traitor into darkness.