Translation guide
The English word "dispatch" has several distinct meanings: sending something or someone quickly, dealing with a task efficiently, or killing someone. Each meaning has different natural Japanese equivalents.
To send someone or something to a destination, often with a sense of urgency or official purpose.
The most common and general verb for dispatching people (e.g., staff, troops, experts). Often used in business and official contexts.
会社は技術者を現地に派遣した。
The company dispatched an engineer to the site.
General verb for 'send'. Less formal than 派遣する. Can be used for dispatching goods, messages, or people in everyday contexts.
緊急の荷物を送った。
I dispatched the urgent package.
Specifically for dispatching goods, parcels, or mail. Common in commercial and logistical contexts.
注文品は明日発送します。
We will dispatch your order tomorrow.
To dispatch urgently. Used in formal or news contexts, often for emergency personnel.
政府は救助隊を急派した。
The government dispatched a rescue team.
To finish a task or deal with something promptly and without fuss.
To finish off, clear up, or deal with something quickly. Very common in daily conversation.
その仕事をさっさと片付けてしまおう。
Let's dispatch that job quickly.
To process or handle something efficiently. Often used for paperwork, tasks, or problems.
彼は大量の書類を素早く処理した。
He dispatched a large volume of documents quickly.
To get something done or over with. Implies finishing a task, often with a sense of relief.
To kill someone, often used in a formal, literary, or euphemistic sense.
The general word for 'kill'. Direct and can be blunt. Use with caution.
This is a strong, direct word. In polite conversation, euphemisms or passive forms are often preferred.
彼は敵を一撃で殺した。
He dispatched the enemy with a single blow.
Euphemism for killing, often used in crime or yakuza contexts. Implies 'taking care of' someone.
裏切り者を始末しろ。
Dispatch the traitor.
Literary or formal term for 'to bury' or 'to kill and dispose of'. Often used metaphorically.
When 'dispatch' means 'kill', do not use 派遣する or 送る. Those only mean 'send'. Use appropriate verbs like 殺す or euphemisms depending on context.
派遣する is specifically for dispatching people on official missions or assignments. 送る is more general and can be used for sending anything, including people, but lacks the formal/official nuance.
調査チームを派遣しました。
We dispatched a team to investigate.
彼は昼食を5分で片付けた。
He dispatched his lunch in five minutes.
面倒な用事を早く済ませた。
I dispatched the troublesome errand quickly.
彼は邪魔者を闇に葬った。
He dispatched the nuisance into the darkness.