How to say "referral" in Japanese

• 紹介しょうかいJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbReferral as an introduction: putting a customer, patient or friend in touch with a business, specialist or service. The word you want for 'I got a referral to a good dentist.'
  あなたを私の両親りょうしんに紹介しょうかいしたい。↗

  I want you to meet my parents.
• 推薦すいせんJLPT N3approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveReferral as recommendation or endorsement: vouching for someone and putting their name forward, as for a job or school admission. Choose this when the referral carries your backing, not merely a hand-off.
  私達わたしたちは彼かれを議長ぎちょうに推薦すいせんした。↗

  We recommended him as chairman.
• 照会しょうかいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbReferral in the institutional sense: a matter or case being sent to a doctor or court; it also means 'inquiry'. A homophone of 紹介, but it never means introducing people.
  詳細しょうさいは事務所じむしょに照会しょうかいしてください。↗

  Apply to the office for further details.

Use 紹介 for referrals that introduce someone to a person, business or service, 推薦 when the referral is really a recommendation or endorsement, and 照会 for the official referral of a matter to a doctor or court.

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

• 紹介しょうかいintroduction
• 推薦すいせんrecommendation
• 照会しょうかいinquiry
• 付議ふぎbringing up a matter