How to say "contact" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 接触せっしょくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbPhysical contact — touching or coming into contact with something or someone. It is not the word for getting in touch with a person; it is about bodies or objects actually touching.
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe English loanword, used for making contact or staying in touch with someone, especially in business settings. On its own it can also mean a contact lens, so context matters.
- noun, prenominal modifierWarm contact in the sense of interaction, rapport, and connectedness with people — not the act of getting in touch. It is normally written in kana alone.
- 消息しょうそくnounContact in the sense of news from someone — whether you have heard from a person and how they are. Used when saying that someone has gone silent or that contact has been cut off.
- 担当者たんとうしゃnounNot contact as an act but the contact person — the person in charge of a matter, the one you reach out to. This is the word for 'contact' meaning a person.
For physical touching use 接触; for getting in touch, 「コンタクト」; for warm human rapport, 「ふれあい」; for news from someone, 消息; and for a contact person, 担当者.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 接触せっしょくtouch
- コンタクトcontact
- ふれあいcontact
- 消息しょうそくnews (from someone)
- 担当者たんとうしゃperson in charge (of an area of work, etc.)
- 連係れんけいconnection
- 触そくcontact
- 接触式せっしょくしきcontact
- 連絡員れんらくいんcontact
- 相接そうせつcontact
- 連絡を入れるれんらくをいれるto contact
- 情報提供者じょうほうていきょうしゃinformant
- つなぎlink
- 音沙汰おとさたnews (from someone)
- 連絡れんらくcontacting
- 触れふれtouch
- リエゾンliaison
- 凸るとつるto message (someone)
- 接点せってん(electrical) contact
- 渡りわたりcontact
See also
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