Translation guide
A letterbox is a slot or box for receiving mail, typically at a home or building. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 郵便受け (yūbin'uke), but the specific term depends on the type and location.
The opening or container at a house or apartment where mail is delivered.
General term for a mailbox or letterbox at a home. Can refer to a slot in the door or a box attached to the wall.
郵便受けに手紙が入っていた。
There was a letter in the letterbox.
Commonly used for a personal mailbox, especially a standalone box. Also means 'post' as in mail system.
家の前にポストがある。
There's a letterbox in front of the house.
Literally 'mail box'. Less common in daily speech; more formal or written.
郵便箱を確認してください。
Please check the letterbox.
A red or blue box on the street where you deposit outgoing mail.
Specifically a public postbox. Often shortened to ポスト in context.
角の郵便ポストに手紙を出しに行く。
I'm going to drop this letter in the postbox on the corner.
In context, can mean a public postbox. Often red in Japan.
A flap or opening in a door for mail delivery.
Specifies a letterbox built into the door.
ドアの郵便受けから新聞が落ちた。
The newspaper fell out of the letterbox in the door.
Technical term for a mail slot. Used in product descriptions or architecture.
このドアには郵便投入口が付いています。
This door has a letterbox.
The set of mailboxes in the lobby of an apartment building.
Refers to the bank of mailboxes in an apartment or office building.
集合郵便受けは1階にあります。
The letterboxes are on the first floor.
Loanword from English, used for individual mailboxes in a shared area.
メールボックスを開けたら荷物が入っていた。
When I opened my letterbox, there was a package inside.
郵便受け is the most general term for a letterbox at a residence. ポスト can mean either a personal mailbox or a public postbox, so context is important. For public postboxes, 郵便ポスト is unambiguous.
In everyday conversation, ポスト alone often refers to the red public postboxes. If you say ポストに入れる, it usually means putting mail in a public postbox.
Put this letter in the postbox.