Translation guide
The English word "transfer" covers several distinct actions in Japanese. The best translation depends on what is being moved and the context.
To physically or administratively move an object, person, or data from one location to another.
General verb for moving something to a different place. Transitive.
データをUSBに移してください。
Please transfer the data to a USB drive.
本社から支社に移された。
I was transferred from the head office to a branch.
To move or relocate something, often used for people or objects in a more formal or logistical sense.
荷物を倉庫に移動してください。
Please transfer the luggage to the warehouse.
To forward or transfer something like a message, call, or file. Common in tech contexts.
メールを転送しました。
I transferred (forwarded) the email.
Formal term for transporting or transferring, often used for prisoners, patients, or goods.
患者を別の病院に移送した。
The patient was transferred to another hospital.
To switch from one train, bus, plane, etc., to another during a journey.
To change trains, buses, etc. The standard verb for transferring between vehicles.
東京駅で新幹線に乗り換えます。
I will transfer to the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station.
To connect from one vehicle to another, often used for flights or long-distance travel.
To send money electronically between bank accounts.
To transfer money into a bank account. Very common for payments.
家賃を大家さんの口座に振り込みました。
I transferred the rent to the landlord's account.
To remit or send money, often used for transfers to another person or overseas.
海外に送金する方法を教えてください。
Please tell me how to transfer money overseas.
To change one's place of work or study within an organization.
To be transferred to a different post or department within a company. Note: same reading as 移動 but different kanji and nuance.
来月、大阪支店に異動になります。
Next month I'll be transferred to the Osaka branch.
To be transferred to a different office, often involving relocation. Common for company employees.
父の転勤で引っ越しました。
We moved because of my father's job transfer.
To transfer schools. Used for students changing schools.
彼は去年、この学校に転校してきた。
He transferred to this school last year.
To legally pass ownership or rights to another person.
To transfer ownership or rights. Formal and legal.
土地の所有権を譲渡する手続きをした。
We completed the procedures to transfer the land ownership.
To transfer or move something like a right or a business location. Often used for registered addresses.
本店を移転しました。
We transferred our head office.
To connect a caller to another person or extension.
Polite expression used by operators to say they will transfer the call.
担当者にお繋ぎします。
I'll transfer you to the person in charge.
To transfer a call, same word as for forwarding messages.
お電話を転送します。
I'll transfer your call.
Both mean job transfer, but 異動 is broader and can include changes within the same building, while 転勤 usually implies moving to a distant location.
The loanword トランスファー is rarely used in natural Japanese except in very specific technical or sports contexts. Use the appropriate Japanese verb instead.
I'll transfer in Los Angeles and go to Tokyo.