Translation guide
Covers postal mail, email, and related concepts. The most common Japanese word is メール, but it primarily means email or text message. For physical postal mail, use 郵便. Be careful with context.
The most common meaning of 'mail' in Japanese, referring to email or text messages on phones.
The default word for email or text message. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'to email/text'.
I'll send an email.
Please tell me your email address.
More explicitly 'email', sometimes used to distinguish from text messages, but メール is more common.
Please contact us by email.
Formal or technical term for email. Rare in everyday speech.
Refers to traditional mail delivered by the post office.
The action of sending something by postal mail.
Standard way to say 'to mail' or 'to send by mail'.
Unwanted mail, either physical or electronic.
Referring to the institution or system of mail delivery.
We will contact you via email.
General term for postal mail. Used in compounds like 郵便局 (post office).
I sent the documents by mail.
The mail arrived today.
Refers to mail items (letters, packages). More formal than 郵便 alone.
Please check the mail.
Specifically a letter. Use when referring to a personal written letter.
I wrote a letter to my friend.
I'd like to mail this package.
Specifically 'to drop into a mailbox'. Used for letters.
I mailed the letter (dropped it in the mailbox).
Spam email. Very common.
I get a lot of spam mail.
Direct mail, physical advertising mail. Often abbreviated as DM.
Direct mail arrives every day.
Postal system. Formal.
Japan's postal system is reliable.
send (physical) mail
In casual conversation, you can simply say 送る (おくる) if the context is clear. For email, メールする is common.