How to say "communication" in Japanese

• コミュニケーションJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe general word for communication between people — exchanging thoughts, feelings, and information. What you want when talking about communicating well or poorly with family, friends, or colleagues.
  コミュニケーションと言いう語ごはどういう意味いみであろうか。↗

  What do you mean by communication?
• 通信つうしんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers correspondence — exchanging letters — and the transmission of information over a distance, as in phone, radio, or internet services; also news dispatches. Not the word for personal rapport or mutual understanding.
  彼かれは、無電むでんで通信つうしんを送おくった。↗

  He sent a message by wireless.
• 伝達でんたつJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe act of conveying or passing something along — relaying a message, notice, or instructions to someone. It centers on the delivery of content, not on mutual exchange, and also covers transmission of signals.
  意思いし伝達でんたつは色々いろいろな形かたちをとる。↗

  Communication takes many forms.
• 疎通そつうCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCommunication as mutual understanding — two parties actually grasping each other's intentions. In practice it appears chiefly in the set phrase 意思疎通; for communication in general, コミュニケーション is the word to use.
  テレビはしばしば家庭内かていないの意思いしの疎通そつうを妨さまたげるという事実じじつはすでによく知しられている。↗

  The fact that television frequently limits communication within families is already well known.
• 伝送でんそうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbTransmission of data or signals, as in engineering and telecommunications contexts; for communication between people it is seldom the word you want.

Use 「コミュニケーション」 for communication between people in general, 通信 for correspondence and transmission over a distance, 伝達 for relaying information, 疎通 for mutual understanding, and 伝送 only for technical transmission of data or signals.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• コミュニケーションcommunication
• 通信つうしんcorrespondence
• 伝達でんたつtransmission (e.g. news, chemical signals, electricity)
• 疎通そつう(mutual) understanding
• 伝送でんそうtransmission
• ご連絡ごれんらくcontacting
• 連絡れんらくcontacting
• 対話たいわdialogue
• コミュcommunication
• 連通れんつうcommunication
• 意思疎通いしそつう(reciprocal) communication
• 意思の疎通いしのそつう(reciprocal) communication
• 交通こうつうcommunication
• 風通しかぜとおしcommunication (within an organisation)
• 沙汰さたnotice