How to say "news" in Japanese

• 情報じょうほうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'news' as information — facts, data, intelligence to be gathered or shared. Its core sense is 'information', so it fits when news means informational content rather than a broadcast or announcement.
  この情報じょうほうは正ただしいか。↗

  Is this information right?
• ニュースJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe direct equivalent for 'news' in the media sense: broadcasts, headlines, reports on TV, radio, or the internet. Also used for a piece of news, as in hearing good news.
  そのニュースに彼かれはびっくり仰天ぎょうてんした。↗

  The news took him by surprise.
• 知らせしらせJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounNews as a notice or word that something has happened — an announcement directed at you, such as happy news of a birth or sad news of a death.
  その悪わるい知しらせは残念ざんねんながら本当ほんとうだ。↗

  The bad news is unfortunately true.
• 報道ほうどうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb'News' as handled by the press: reporting and coverage. It refers to the media's reporting of events, so it suits talk of news coverage and press reports rather than casual mentions of news.
  人々ひとびとはこの報道ほうどうを真実しんじつだと思おもっている。↗

  People believe this report to be true.
• 便りたよりJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix), suru verb, transitive verbNews as tidings from a person — word from family or friends, often by letter. It matches 'news from home' or 'word from a friend', not broadcasts or media reports.
  それ以来いらい、彼かれからは何なんの便たよりもありません。↗

  I have never heard from him since.

Use 「ニュース」 for news broadcasts and reports, 情報 for news as information, 報道 for media coverage and reporting, 「知らせ」 for a notice or word of an event, and 「便り」 for personal tidings from family or friends.

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

• 情報じょうほうinformation
• ニュースnews
• 知らせしらせnews
• 報道ほうどうreport (of news)
• 便りたよりnews
• 消息しょうそくnews (from someone)
• 報ほうinformation
• 報知ほうちinformation
• 音信おんしんcorrespondence
• 通信つうしんcorrespondence
• 新報しんぽうnews
• 音沙汰おとさたnews (from someone)
• 訪れおとずれnews
• 沙汰さたnotice