How to say "courier" in Japanese

• 飛脚ひきゃくCommon
  nounCovers the messenger sense of 'courier': someone who carries letters or messages at speed, and by extension a postman or mailman. Suited to a swift express messenger delivering correspondence.
• クーリエ
  nounThe direct loanword from English 'courier', used for the delivery sense: someone engaged to carry parcels or documents to their destination. Understandable, but less common than you might expect.
• 運び屋はこびや
  nounDespite the gloss 'courier', this is seldom the word for an ordinary courier: it really means someone transporting goods covertly, especially illegal drugs — a smuggler or trafficker. Avoid it unless you mean exactly that.

Use 飛脚 for an express messenger or mail carrier, 「クーリエ」 as the direct loanword for a delivery courier, and avoid 「運び屋」 unless you mean someone smuggling contraband, since it implies illegal transport.

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

• 飛脚ひきゃくexpress messenger
• クーリエcourier
• 運び屋はこびやcourier