How to say "envoy" in Japanese

• 使者ししゃCommon
  nounThe general word for a person sent to deliver a message or act for someone else; it matches 'envoy' in its broad sense of a dispatched messenger or emissary.
  使者ししゃはひそかにロンドンへ出発しゅっぱつした。↗

  The messenger left for London in secret.
• 使節しせつCommon
  nounThe word for 'envoy' in the diplomatic sense: someone officially dispatched by a state or ruler, which is why 'ambassador' and 'delegate' also appear among its senses.
  政府せいふは外国がいこくへ使節しせつを派遣はけんした。↗

  The government dispatched missions abroad.
• 公使こうしCommon
  nounThe specific diplomatic rank: an envoy ranking below an ambassador, such as a minister of a legation; use it only when that title or post is meant, not for envoys in general.
  彼かれはメキシコ駐在ちゅうざい日本にっぽん公使こうしに任命にんめいされた。↗

  He was appointed Japanese minister to Mexico.

Choose 使者 for a messenger or emissary sent to convey something, 使節 for an envoy dispatched on official diplomatic business, and 公使 only for the specific diplomatic rank below ambassador.

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

• 使者ししゃmessenger
• 使節しせつenvoy
• 公使こうしenvoy
• 使臣ししんenvoy
• 国使こくしenvoy
• 使いの者つかいのものmessenger