飛脚|ひきゃくhikyaku[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounexpress messenger; postman; mailman; courier

• SynonymメッセンジャーNeutralA loanword for someone who relays messages or delivers mail; a modern term, while 「飛脚」 is the Edo-period courier.
• Synonym郵便配達人ゆうびんはいたつにんNeutralA mail carrier; the word leans colloquial. 「飛脚」 is the old-time courier.
• Synonym郵便配達ゆうびんはいたつNeutralA modern word for the mail-delivery service itself, and by extension the carrier; 「飛脚」 is historical.
• Synonym郵便集配人ゆうびんしゅうはいにんFormalThe formal term for a post-office worker who both collects and delivers mail.
• Synonym郵便屋ゆうびんやCasualA colloquial name for the mail carrier; in speech it usually takes 「さん」. 「飛脚」 is the old-time courier.
• Related使い番つかいばんWrittenA historical term for someone who ran errands and relayed orders for their master; 「飛脚」 specialized in delivering letters and goods.
• Related飛脚屋WrittenAn Edo-period word for a shop that ran a courier service — the business, not the courier himself.

For today's mail carriers say 「郵便屋さん」 or 「郵便配達員」; for someone who relays messages, 「メッセンジャー」. Save 「飛脚」 for the pre-modern couriers, from the Kamakura through the Edo period, who ran letters, money and goods.

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

1. 鎌倉かまくら時代じだいから江戸えど時代じだいにかけて書状しょじょうや金銭きんせん、物品ぶっぴんなどを送達そうたつした人夫にんぷ。