Translation guide
How to express that a message, feeling, or meaning is successfully communicated or transmitted to someone.
The core idea, feeling, or information is understood by the listener or reader.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be conveyed', 'to be transmitted', 'to get across'. Used when the focus is on the message reaching the recipient naturally.
私の気持ちが相手に伝わった。
My feelings got across to the other person.
この絵の良さがなかなか伝わらない。
The beauty of this painting just doesn't come across.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be understood', 'to get through'. Often used for language comprehension or when a point is successfully communicated.
私の英語は通じましたか？
Did my English get through?
冗談が通じなかった。
My joke didn't get across.
Literally 'the meaning is conveyed'. A clear way to say that the intended meaning was understood.
言葉が下手でも、意味が伝わればいい。
Even if my words are clumsy, as long as the meaning gets across it's fine.
Facts, data, or reports are passed from one person or place to another.
Passive form of 伝える (to convey). Used when information is conveyed by someone (often unspecified).
そのニュースはすぐに世界中に伝えられた。
The news was quickly conveyed around the world.
Formal term for 'to be transmitted', 'to be relayed'. Often used for official communications or signals.
命令が各部隊に伝達された。
The orders were conveyed to each unit.
Passive of 知らせる (to inform). Means 'to be informed', 'to be told'. Focuses on the recipient receiving the information.
結果は後日知らされる。
The results will be conveyed at a later date.
An emotion, mood, or impression is conveyed without words, through expression, art, or behavior.
～てくる form of 伝わる, indicating that something comes across to the speaker. Often used for intangible things like warmth, sincerity, or tension.
彼の真剣さが伝わってきた。
His seriousness came across (to me).
この写真からは悲しみが伝わってくる。
You can feel the sadness conveyed through this photo.
Potential/passive of 感じる (to feel). Means 'can be felt', 'is palpable'. Used when an atmosphere or emotion is perceptible.
会場には緊張感が感じられた。
A sense of tension could be felt in the venue.
Physical energy or signals travel through a medium.
Same intransitive verb, but used for physical transmission like sound, vibration, or heat.
音は空気中を伝わる。
Sound is conveyed through the air.
熱が金属を伝わって広がる。
Heat is conveyed through the metal and spreads.
Technical term for 'to be conducted' (heat, electricity). Used in scientific contexts.
電気は銅線を伝導される。
Electricity is conducted through copper wire.
伝わる focuses on the natural flow of feelings or information reaching someone, often without explicit effort. 通じる emphasizes successful understanding, especially of language or logic. Use 伝わる for emotional or atmospheric conveyance, and 通じる for linguistic or intellectual comprehension.
The verb 運ぶ (to carry) is not used for abstract conveyance. Do not say '意味が運ばれる' for 'meaning is conveyed'. Use 伝わる or 通じる instead.