Translation guide
A person who delivers goods, food, mail, or packages. Japanese uses different terms depending on what is being delivered and the context.
A person who delivers packages, parcels, or general goods, such as from a courier service or online shopping.
The most common and neutral term for a delivery person who brings packages, parcels, or goods. Used for courier services, online shopping deliveries, etc.
配達員が荷物を届けてくれた。
The delivery person brought the package.
配達員は毎日たくさんの荷物を運ぶ。
Delivery people carry many packages every day.
Specifically a delivery person for a courier/home delivery service (takkyubin). More specific than 配達員 alone.
宅配便の配達員が来た。
The courier delivery person came.
Similar to 配達員, but often used in business or logistics contexts. Slightly more formal.
配送員が商品を倉庫から店舗へ運ぶ。
The delivery person transports goods from the warehouse to the store.
A person who delivers food from restaurants or food delivery services.
Traditional term for a food delivery person, especially from a restaurant that does its own deliveries. Still understood, but becoming less common with app-based services.
出前持ちがそばを届けてくれた。
The food delivery person brought the soba.
Modern term for a delivery person working for food delivery apps like Uber Eats or Demae-can.
デリバリー配達員がピザを持ってきた。
The delivery person brought the pizza.
Specifically an Uber Eats delivery person. Use only when referring to that service.
ウーバーイーツ配達員が自転車で走っている。
The Uber Eats delivery person is riding a bicycle.
A person who delivers mail or post.
Standard term for a postal delivery person or mail carrier.
郵便配達員が手紙を配っている。
The mail carrier is delivering letters.
Friendly, colloquial term for a mail carrier. Often used by children or in casual speech.
郵便屋さんがいつも笑顔で配達してくれる。
The mail carrier always delivers with a smile.
A person who delivers newspapers, typically early in the morning.
Standard term for a newspaper delivery person.
新聞配達員は朝早く起きる。
Newspaper delivery people get up early in the morning.
Specifically a newspaper boy. Less common now, but still used in some contexts.
新聞配達の少年が自転車で配っている。
The newspaper boy is delivering on his bicycle.
配達員 is the most common general term for a delivery person. 配送員 is more often used in logistics or business contexts, referring to transport between locations rather than final delivery to a customer.
配達員が家に荷物を届けた。
The delivery person brought the package to my house.
配送員が倉庫から店に商品を運んだ。
The delivery person transported goods from the warehouse to the store.
When referring to a delivery person politely or directly, you can add さん to the occupation word, e.g., 配達員さん. This is common in customer service situations.
配達員さん、ありがとうございます。
Thank you, delivery person.