便(たよ)り

たより

noun

news, letter, correspondence

archaicliterarycommunication

See also: 頼(たよ)り (reliance)

1. news, word, tidings

Information or updates from someone, especially someone far away.

息子(むすこ)から便(たよ)りがあった。

I received word from my son.

便(たよ)りがないのは良(よ)い便(たよ)り。

No news is good news.

Proverb

久(ひさ)しぶりに故郷(ふるさと)の母(はは)から便(たよ)りが届(とど)いた。

After a long time, I received a letter from my mother back home.

2. letter, correspondence

Written communication, especially a personal letter.

友人(ゆうじん)に便(たよ)りを書(か)く。

To write a letter to a friend.

年賀状(ねんがじょう)は新年(しんねん)の便(たよ)りだ。

New Year's cards are New Year's correspondence.

旅先(たびさき)から便(たよ)りを送(おく)った。

I sent a letter from my travel destination.

Common expressions

便(たよ)りがある (to receive news/a letter)
便(たよ)りがない (no news, no word)
便(たよ)りを出(だ)す (to send a letter/news)
便(たよ)りがないのは良(よ)い便(たよ)り: No news is good news

Similar words

便(たよ)り: News/letter (slightly literary/traditional)
手紙(てがみ): Letter (most common word)
連絡(れんらく): Contact, communication (modern/practical)

Note: Though somewhat old-fashioned, 便(たよ)り is still used especially when referring to news from people far away or occasional correspondence.

Related Words

Related: 手紙(てがみ) (letter)

Compare: 連絡(れんらく) (Contact, communication)

Compare: 消息(しょうそく) (whereabouts)

Compare: 音沙汰(おとさた) (news)

Compare: 書簡(しょかん) (letter)

Compare: 音信(おんしん) (correspondence)

general

Added 2026.1.12 23:31 · Revised 2026.10.3 22:33

03000/03411_tayori