How to say "postcard" in Japanese

• はがきJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe common, neutral word for a postcard in almost any context, from a card mailed while traveling to a picture card; usually written in kana alone, it is an abbreviation of 郵便はがき.
  はがきにこの切手きってを貼はって郵便箱ゆうびんばこに投函とうかんしなさい。↗

  Put this stamp on the postcard and drop it in the mailbox.
• ポストカード
  nounThe loanword from English "postcard"; less common than はがき, it tends to turn up for decorative or souvenir picture cards, and is seldom the word you want for an ordinary card you mail.
• 郵便はがきゆうびんはがき
  nounThe full form of はがき, literally "mail postcard"; it stresses the card as a piece of mail, as when buying cards at a post office, though はがき is the usual everyday choice.

Choose 「はがき」 as the default word for a postcard; 「ポストカード」 is the less common loanword, often for decorative picture cards; 「郵便はがき」 is the full form that stresses the card as mail.

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

• はがきpostcard
• ポストカードpostcard
• 郵便はがきゆうびんはがきpostcard