How to say "deliver" in Japanese

Choosing the right word
  • 届けるとどけるJLPT N4approx.Common
    ichidan verb, transitive verbThe everyday word for delivering something to its destination — mail, packages, reports. If you 'deliver' an item to someone, this is usually the word you want.
    家いえに届とどけていただけますか。↗
    Can you deliver it to my house?
  • 配るくばるJLPT N2approx.Common
    godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'deliver' in the sense of distributing or handing things out to many people, like flyers or handbills. Use this when the emphasis is spreading items among recipients, not point-to-point delivery.
    サーカスで、商品しょうひんとしておもちゃを配くばっている。↗
    Circuses offer toys for prizes.
  • 引き渡すひきわたすCommon
    godan verb, transitive verbMeans handing a person or thing over, including extraditing a suspect to authorities. For 'deliver' in the sense of transferring custody, this fits; otherwise it is not the word for ordinary deliveries.
    その男おとこは警察けいさつへ引き渡ひきわたされた。↗
    The man was handed over to the police.
  • 送り届けるおくりとどけるCommon
    ichidan verb, transitive verbTo send a person or thing to its destination, or deliver it safely there. It adds the nuance of seeing the delivery through, as when escorting someone home or getting a package to its recipient.
  • 救うすくうJLPT N3approx.Common
    godan verb, transitive verbOnly matches 'deliver' in the religious or figurative sense of delivering someone from suffering, distress, or sin — that is, saving them. It is never used for delivering goods, so avoid it in everyday delivery contexts.
    神かみだけがあなたを救すくえる。↗
    Nothing but God can save you.

Choose 「届ける」 for getting something to a destination, 「配る」 for handing things out to many, 「引き渡す」 for handing a person or thing over, 「送り届ける」 for seeing something safely delivered, and 「救う」 only for delivering someone from suffering.

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

Japanese equivalents
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JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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