Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Post" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "post", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
郵便局
ゆうびんきょく (yūbinkyoku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
投函
とうかん (tōkan)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "post" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 郵便局 and 投函.
In Japanese, 郵便局 (ゆうびんきょく (yūbinkyoku)) is typically associated with "post office" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Place to send mail, buy stamps, and sometimes handle banking services..
On the other hand, 投函 (とうかん (tōkan)) maps to "to post (a letter); to mail (a letter)" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Specifically refers to the act of putting a letter, postcard, or other mail into a mailbox. A literal translation of "post" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "郵便局"
手紙を出すために郵便局へ行きました。
I went to the post office to mail a letter.
Bilingual Context for "投函"
書き終わった手紙をポストに投函した。
I posted the letter I had finished writing into the mailbox.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "手紙を出すために ＿＿＿ へ行きました。" (Meaning: "I went to the post office to mail a letter.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "郵便局" fits here because it means "post office" in the context of: "I went to the post office to mail a letter.". "投函" represents "to post (a letter); to mail (a letter)".