Translation guide
The English word 'supplier' refers to a person or company that provides goods or services. In Japanese, the most common and natural equivalent is 仕入れ先 (shiiresaki) for a business supplier of goods, or サプライヤー (sapuraiyā) as a loanword. The choice depends on context, formality, and the type of supply relationship.
We need a new supplier.
General business context
Who is your supplier?
A company or person that regularly provides products to a business, such as a manufacturer, wholesaler, or vendor.
The standard business term for a supplier from whom a company purchases goods for resale or use. Neutral and widely used in commercial contexts.
We are looking for a new supplier.
That supplier has consistent quality.
Means 'source of supply'. More abstract, often used in economics or when discussing supply chains. Less common in everyday business conversation.
A company or person that supplies services, such as IT, cleaning, or consulting, rather than physical goods.
General term for a business operator or contractor. Can refer to suppliers of goods or services. Very common and versatile.
I'm thinking of changing the cleaning supplier.
Loanword from 'vendor', used especially in IT and software contexts for suppliers of technology products or services.
Means 'provider' or 'source of provision'. Used for services or information, often in formal or written contexts.
A person who supplies goods or materials, often in a traditional or small-scale context, such as a farmer, artisan, or wholesaler.
仕入れ先 is the native Japanese term and is preferred in traditional business settings. サプライヤー is a loanword and feels more modern or international. Both are widely understood, but 仕入れ先 is safer for general use.
We value our relationship with our suppliers.
Select a global supplier.
The direct translation '供給者' (kyōkyūsha) is rarely used for business suppliers. It sounds like a person who supplies something in a general sense, not a commercial entity. Stick to the terms above.
Our main supplier is based in Osaka.
They are a leading supplier of auto parts.
Loanword from English, common in business and technical contexts. Often used in manufacturing, IT, and global supply chains. Slightly more modern or international feel.
We renewed the contract with our main supplier.
Literally 'delivery contractor', emphasizes the delivery aspect. Used for suppliers who physically deliver goods, often in construction, manufacturing, or office supplies.
The supplier comes every Friday.
We need to diversify our electricity suppliers.
Please introduce a reliable supplier.
ITベンダーにシステム開発を依頼した。
We outsourced system development to an IT supplier.
The supplier of this data is a government agency.
Our vegetable supplier is a local farmer.