Translation guide
The English word 'notification' covers a range of situations from official written notices to casual alerts on your phone. In Japanese, the best word depends on what kind of notification it is and the context.
学校から通知が来た。
I received a notification from the school.
通知をオフにして。
Turn off notifications.
変更があれば連絡してください。
Please notify me of any changes.
A formal announcement or written notice from an organization, government, or company.
The most common and general word for a formal written notice. Used for official announcements, notifications from schools, companies, or government offices.
学校から休校の通知が来た。
We received a notification from the school about the closure.
変更があった場合は書面で通知します。
If there are any changes, we will notify you in writing.
A polite and common way to say 'notice' or 'announcement'. Often used for public announcements, signs, or messages from service providers. Less formal than 通知.
A public announcement or notification, often used for events, campaigns, or important public information. More formal than お知らせ.
An official directive or notification from a higher authority, such as a government ministry. Very formal and bureaucratic.
A notification that appears on a smartphone, computer, or other device, such as a message alert or app notification.
The standard word for device notifications. Used in settings and everyday conversation.
スマホの通知をオフにした。
I turned off smartphone notifications.
通知が多すぎて困る。
There are too many notifications; it's annoying.
Often used for system alerts, warnings, or emergency notifications. More urgent than 通知.
Specifically refers to push notifications from apps.
アプリのプッシュ通知を許可してください。
Please allow push notifications for the app.
The action of informing or telling someone about something, often formally.
General word for contacting or informing someone. Very common and natural for 'letting someone know'.
変更があれば連絡します。
I'll notify you if there are any changes.
彼にそのことを連絡した。
I notified him about it.
A verb meaning 'to inform' or 'to let someone know'. Slightly less formal than 連絡する.
The verb form of 通知. Used for formal, often written notification.
合格者には文書で通知する。
Successful candidates will be notified in writing.
Means 'report' or 'notification' in the sense of reporting information to a superior or authority.
A formal notification required by law or regulation.
A notification or report submitted to a government office, such as a change of address or birth registration.
転居届出を市役所に提出した。
I submitted a change of address notification to the city office.
A shorter, more common form of 届出. Used in everyday contexts for submitting forms.
通知 is a formal written notice, often from an organization. お知らせ is a polite public announcement or notice. 連絡 is the act of contacting or informing someone, and is the most versatile for 'notify' as a verb.
The katakana word ノーティフィケーション is rarely used in natural Japanese. Stick to 通知 for device notifications and 連絡 for informing someone.
駅にお知らせが貼ってあった。
There was a notice posted at the station.
利用者の皆様へのお知らせです。
This is a notification for all users.
The event notification will be made next week.
厚生労働省から通達が出された。
A notification was issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
セキュリティアラートが表示された。
A security alert notification appeared.
結果をメールで知らせてください。
Please notify me of the results by email.
上司に状況を報告した。
I notified my boss of the situation.
婚姻届を出した。
We submitted a marriage notification.