Translation guide
A horse used for carrying mail or for rapid travel in a relay system, historically common before modern transportation.
A horse stationed at intervals to carry mail or passengers quickly in a relay system.
The standard term for a horse used in the historical Japanese post station system. Literally 'station horse'.
江戸時代、駅馬は重要な交通手段だった。
In the Edo period, post horses were an important means of transportation.
Any horse used to carry mail, not necessarily in a relay system.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a horse that carries mail'. Natural when the historical term is not needed.
The concept of a 'post horse' is strongly tied to the Edo period and earlier. In modern Japanese, you would usually describe the function rather than use a specific term unless discussing history.
Refers to horses used in the official relay system for transporting goods or people. Often associated with the 'tenma' system.
伝馬は宿場ごとに用意されていた。
Post horses were provided at each post station.
Literally 'fast horse', used for urgent messages. More specific to express courier horses.
早馬が緊急の知らせを届けた。
A post horse delivered the urgent news.
In the old days, post horses delivered letters from village to village.
A compound word for 'mail horse'. Less common but directly understandable.
郵便馬は雪の中でも走り続けた。
The post horse kept running even in the snow.