Translation guide
In Japanese, the way you express 'public announcement' depends on the context: official government/corporate statements, event announcements, or general public notices. The most common and versatile term is 発表 (happyō), but more specific words like 告知 (kokuchi) for events or 声明 (seimei) for formal declarations are often more natural.
The most common word for 'public announcement' is
A formal announcement made by a government, organization, or public figure to the public, often through media.
The most general and widely used term for any kind of public announcement, from press releases to research findings. Neutral and suitable for most contexts.
The government announced a new policy.
The company made an announcement about the new product.
A formal declaration or statement, often used for official positions, protests, or important public messages. More weighty than 発表.
The president issued an emergency statement.
Official public disclosure, often used when previously confidential information is made public. Common in government and corporate contexts.
The survey results were made public.
Informing the public about an upcoming event, sale, or campaign, often via posters, social media, or advertisements.
Used for announcing events, sales, or campaigns to a target audience. Common in marketing and entertainment.
We announced the event on social media.
There are posters announcing the new release.
A polite, general term for a notice or announcement, often used in customer-facing contexts like store signs, emails, or school bulletins.
Literally 'guidance' or 'information', but often used for event announcements or invitations, especially in formal invitations or brochures.
A written or printed announcement posted in a public place, such as a bulletin board, website, or official gazette.
A notice or bulletin posted on a board or wall. Common in schools, offices, and public spaces.
There's a notice on the bulletin board recruiting part-time workers.
An official public notice, often by a government agency, published in an official gazette or on a website. More formal and legalistic.
A formal notification or public notice issued by a government body, similar to 公示 but often used for specific legal announcements.
An announcement made over a public address system, such as in stations, airports, or stores.
A loanword from English, used specifically for spoken announcements over a PA system. Very common in daily life.
I learned about the train delay from the station announcement.
Broadcast, including radio, TV, or PA systems. Can refer to the act of broadcasting an announcement.
発表 is the safest, most general term for any public announcement. 告知 is specifically for notifying people about events or campaigns, often with a promotional nuance. 声明 is a formal declaration, usually on serious matters. Use 発表 when unsure.
While 'public' can be translated as 公共 (kōkyō) or 公 (ōyake), directly combining them with 'announcement' often sounds unnatural. Instead, use the specific Japanese terms above, which already imply publicness in context.
休業のお知らせを掲示しました。
We posted a notice about the closure.
展示会の案内をお送りします。
We will send you information about the exhibition.
It was published in the official gazette.
The city issued a notice about evacuation shelters.
緊急放送が流れた。
An emergency broadcast was aired.