N2 · 40 words
Transport, freight and delivery in Japanese
How goods are packed, sent, tracked and delivered, and how timetables go wrong.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
This is the language of delivery slips, warehouses and service announcements. Most of the words are kanji compounds, and many of them take する. Read the kanji and the pairs sort themselves out: 搬入is carrying in搬出carrying out One pair has to be learned by sight, because it sounds identical: 運行 is said of trains and buses, 運航 of ships and planes, the second kanji being the one in 航空. Announcements prefer the formal noun to a verb, so you will hear 遅延 and 欠航 where conversation would use a verb such as 遅れる.
The words
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Verb (2)
積み込むto load (into or onto)VerbN2
作業員が重い箱を次々とトラックに積み込んでいる。The workers are loading heavy boxes onto the lorry one after another.
送り届けるto deliver (to someone); to see (someone) homeVerbN2
飲み会の後、酔った同僚を家まで送り届けた。After the drinks party, I saw my drunk colleague safely home.
Noun (38)
運送transport (of goods); haulageNounN2
引っ越しの荷物は、運送会社に頼むことにした。We decided to have a haulage company move our things.
運輸transport (as an industry)NounN2
運輸業界では、運転手の不足が深刻になっている。In the transport industry, the shortage of drivers is becoming serious.
配送delivery (to many addresses)NounN2
配送の日時は、注文するときに選べます。You can choose the delivery date and time when you order.
Also a verb: 配送する.
宅配home deliveryNounN2
最近は食料品まで宅配で頼む家庭が増えた。These days more households have even their groceries delivered to the door.
貨物freight; cargoNounN2
この線路は、夜になると貨物列車が走る。At night, freight trains run on this line.
積み荷load; cargoNounN2
倒れたトラックの積み荷が、道路に散らばった。The load from the overturned lorry was scattered across the road.
荷台load bed (of a lorry); carrier (of a bicycle)NounN2
自転車の荷台に、荷物をしっかり固定した。I fastened the luggage firmly onto the bicycle carrier.
積載loading; carrying (of a vehicle)NounN2
このトラックは、決められた積載量を超えて荷物を載せていた。This lorry was carrying more than its permitted load.
Mostly in compounds: 積載量, the maximum load.
倉庫warehouse; storehouseNounN3
注文を受けると、商品はすぐに倉庫から出荷される。As soon as an order comes in, the goods are shipped from the warehouse.
入荷arrival of stock; new stockNounN2
人気の商品なので、次の入荷は来月になります。It is a popular item, so the next delivery of stock will be next month.
発送dispatch; sending (by post or carrier)NounN2
ご注文の品は、本日発送いたしました。The item you ordered was dispatched today.
Also a verb: 発送する.
送り状waybill; delivery noteNounN2
荷物を出すときは、送り状に相手の電話番号も書いてください。When you send a parcel, write the recipient’s phone number on the waybill as well.
伝票slip; chit (a bill, a delivery slip)NounN2
お会計の際は、テーブルの伝票をレジまでお持ちください。When you pay, please bring the slip on your table to the till.
梱包packing; packagingNounN2
割れやすい物なので、丁寧に梱包してもらった。It breaks easily, so I had it packed carefully.
Also a verb: 梱包する.
仕分けsorting (of parcels, items)NounN2
配送センターでは、荷物の仕分けが夜通し行われている。At the distribution centre, parcels are sorted all through the night.
追跡tracking; pursuitNounN2
番号を入力すれば、荷物が今どこにあるか追跡できる。If you enter the number, you can track where the parcel is right now.
集荷collection (of parcels for sending)NounN2
電話で頼めば、家まで荷物の集荷に来てくれる。If you ring them, they will come to your house to collect the parcel.
運搬carrying; conveyanceNounN2
重い機械の運搬には、専用の車が必要だ。Moving heavy machinery needs a special vehicle.
搬入carrying in; delivery (into a building)NounN2
新しい家具の搬入は、午前中に終わった。The new furniture was all carried in before noon.
搬出carrying out; removalNounN2
展示会が終わったら、作品の搬出を手伝ってください。When the exhibition is over, please help carry the works out.
届け先delivery address; recipientNounN2
届け先が留守だったので、荷物を持ち帰った。Nobody was in at the delivery address, so I took the parcel back.
納品delivery (of goods to a customer)NounN2
部品の納品が遅れて、工場の作業が止まってしまった。The parts were delivered late and work at the factory came to a halt.
不在票missed-delivery cardNounN2
家に帰ると、ポストに不在票が入っていた。When I got home, there was a missed-delivery card in the letterbox.
港湾harbour; port facilitiesNounN2
港湾施設が整備され、大型の船も入れるようになった。The port facilities have been improved, and large ships can now come in.
貨物船cargo ship; freighterNounN2
沖に大きな貨物船が何隻も停泊している。Several large cargo ships are lying at anchor offshore.
海運shipping; maritime transportNounN2
島国の日本にとって、海運は欠かせない。For an island nation like Japan, shipping is indispensable.
空輸air transport; airliftingNounN2
新鮮な魚が、産地から都市まで空輸されている。Fresh fish is flown from where it is caught to the cities.
陸路land route; (by) landNounN2
橋が開通して、島まで陸路で行けるようになった。Since the bridge opened, you can reach the island by land.
通関customs clearanceNounN2
海外から届く荷物が、通関に時間がかかっている。The parcel coming from abroad is taking a long time to clear customs.
置き配leaving a parcel at the doorNounN2
日中は家にいないので、荷物は置き配にしてもらっている。I am out during the day, so I have my parcels left at the door.
運行running; service (of trains and buses)NounN2
大雪のため、バスは運行を一部取りやめている。Because of the heavy snow, some bus services have been cancelled.
For ships and planes the same sound is written 運航.
運航operation (of ships and planes)NounN2
台風が近づいているため、午後の便は運航を見合わせる。With a typhoon approaching, the afternoon flights are suspended.
発着arrivals and departuresNounN2
この駅は、新幹線も発着する大きな駅だ。This is a big station where bullet trains arrive and depart too.
欠航cancellation (of a flight or sailing)NounN2
霧のため、朝の便はすべて欠航になった。All the morning flights were cancelled because of fog.
定刻scheduled timeNounN2
飛行機は定刻どおりに到着した。The plane arrived on time.
物資supplies; goodsNounN2
被災地に、食料や水などの物資が届けられた。Supplies such as food and water were delivered to the disaster area.
交通量volume of trafficNounN2
この道は朝夕の交通量が多いので、気をつけて渡ってください。There is a lot of traffic on this road morning and evening, so take care when you cross.
迂回detour; going roundNounN2
工事中のため、車は迂回してください。Road works in progress: vehicles please take a detour.
Often written う回; 迂回路 is a diversion.
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Transport and travel — ten lists and 402 words that can also be practised as a whole.