便り|たよりtayori[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
だよりdayori[1]atamadaka (head-high)
Definitions
  1. noun, noun (suffix), suru verb, transitive verbnews; tidings; information; correspondence; letterpron. だより as a suffix
    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.
Conjugation
Dictionary form便りする(たよりする)
Polite (masu)便りします(たよりします)
Negative (nai)便りしない(たよりしない)
polite (masen)便りしません(たよりしません)
classical zu / nu便りせず・便りせぬ(たよりせず・たよりせぬ)
Past (ta)便りした(たよりした)
polite (mashita)便りしました(たよりしました)
Past negative (nakatta)便りしなかった(たよりしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)便りしませんでした(たよりしませんでした)
Te form便りして(たよりして)
Potential便りできる(たよりできる)
Passive便りされる(たよりされる)
Causative便りさせる(たよりさせる)
Causative passive便りさせられる(たよりさせられる)
Conditional (ba)便りすれば(たよりすれば)
tara便りしたら(たよりしたら)
Volitional便りしよう(たよりしよう)
polite (mashou)便りしましょう(たよりしましょう)
Imperative便りしろ(たよりしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymニュースNeutralCovers news reports of public events; 「便り」 is about personal news and tidings from someone you know.
  • Synonym知らせしらせNeutralA notice or word of something; can also mean an omen, as in 「虫の知らせ」. Focuses on the content being conveyed.
  • Synonym消息しょうそくWrittenWritten term for someone's news or whereabouts, as in 「消息不明」.
  • Synonym音信おんしんWrittenWritten term for correspondence or tidings, as in 「音信不通」.
  • Synonym手紙てがみNeutralThe letter itself, a physical one; 「便り」 points to the news it brings.
  • Synonym報知ほうちWrittenWritten term for reporting or notifying, as in 「火災報知器」.
  • Synonym音沙汰おとさたNeutralTidings or contact from someone, most often in the negative 「音沙汰がない」—no word from them.
  • Related書簡しょかんWrittenWritten, formal term for letters and correspondence.
  • Related連絡れんらくNeutralThe act of getting in touch, as in 「連絡を取る」; covers any communication, not just letters.
  • Related伝言でんごんNeutralA verbal message passed along or left with someone, as in 「伝言を頼む」.
  • Related手簡しゅかんWrittenWritten term for a letter written in one's own hand; rare in modern use.
  • Related玉梓たまずさWrittenElegant classical term for a treasured letter, especially a love letter.
  • Related簡牘かんどくWrittenArchaic written term for letters; rare in modern use.

Use 「便り」 for news or tidings from someone, as in 「お便りください」. For the letter itself use 「手紙」; for news reports 「ニュース」; for getting in touch 「連絡」; for someone's whereabouts 「消息」; and for no word from someone 「音沙汰がない」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 知しらせ。手紙てがみ。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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

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