Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of a 'recipient' is expressed through various nouns and grammatical patterns depending on context, such as the receiver of a physical item, the addressee of a message, or the beneficiary of an action.
The person who receives something tangible, like a package, letter, or present.
Standard term for the recipient of a delivery, parcel, or registered mail. Common on forms and official documents.
荷物の受取人は田中さんです。
The recipient of the package is Mr. Tanaka.
Variant of 受取人, slightly more explicit. Used in similar contexts.
受け取り人の署名をお願いします。
Please sign as the recipient.
Formal term for recipient, often used in legal or business contexts for receiving goods or payments.
受領者は商品を受け取ったことを確認してください。
The recipient should confirm receipt of the goods.
The person to whom a written or electronic communication is directed.
Refers to the destination address or the named recipient on an envelope or email. Often used in headers.
メールの宛先を確認してください。
Please check the email recipient.
Specifically the receiver of a transmission, like an email or fax. Technical nuance.
Formal term for the named addressee on a letter or document. Rare in everyday speech.
The person for whom an action is performed, often expressed through giving/receiving verbs.
These auxiliary verbs indicate the direction of benefit. 〜てあげる means 'do for someone else', 〜てくれる means 'someone does for me/us', and 〜てもらう means 'have someone do for me/us'. The recipient is marked by に.
私は友達に本を読んであげた。
I read a book to my friend (the recipient).
彼が私に英語を教えてくれた。
He taught me English (I am the recipient).
私は先生に手紙を直してもらった。
I had the teacher correct my letter (the teacher is the giver, I am the recipient).
Using verbs like あげる, くれる, もらう directly. The recipient is marked by に for あげる/くれる, and the giver by に/から for もらう.
彼女に花をあげました。
I gave flowers to her (she is the recipient).
友達からプレゼントをもらいました。
I received a present from my friend (I am the recipient).
A person who receives a prize, scholarship, or recognition.
Specifically a prize winner or award recipient. Common in news and formal contexts.
ノーベル賞の受賞者が発表された。
The recipients of the Nobel Prize were announced.
Recipient of a grant, pension, or welfare benefits. Used in administrative contexts.
Very formal term for a recipient of an award or degree. Rarely used outside official ceremonies.
学位の被授与者は壇上に上がった。
The recipients of the degrees went up to the stage.
A person who receives an organ, tissue, or blood transfusion.
Katakana loanword from English, standard in medical fields for transplant or transfusion recipient.
臓器移植のレシピエントは手術後順調に回復している。
The organ transplant recipient is recovering well after surgery.
Specifically a blood transfusion recipient. Medical term.
緊急の輸血が必要な受血者がいる。
There is a recipient who needs an urgent blood transfusion.
受取人 (uketorinin) is the person who physically receives an item, while 宛先 (atesaki) is the address or named recipient on a letter/package. Use 受取人 for the actual receiver, and 宛先 for the written destination.
受取人が不在だったので、荷物を持ち帰りました。
The recipient was absent, so we took the package back.
宛先が間違っていたので、手紙が戻ってきた。
The recipient address was wrong, so the letter came back.
English 'recipient' is often not directly translated. In many cases, Japanese uses the giving/receiving verb structure (〜てくれる/もらう) or simply omits the word when context is clear. Using a noun like 受取人 in casual conversation can sound overly formal.
彼が送ってくれた本。
The book he sent me. (lit. 'the book he sent for me' – I am the recipient)
There is only one recipient of this message.
封筒に名宛人を明記してください。
Please clearly write the recipient's name on the envelope.
The number of welfare recipients is increasing.