1.
logistics, physical distribution
The management and movement of goods, including transportation, warehousing, and delivery systems.
物流 covers the entire process of moving goods — transportation, warehousing, packaging, and delivery. Short for 物的流通 (physical distribution).
Compounds
- 物流センター: logistics/distribution center
- 物流コスト: logistics costs
- 物流会社: logistics company
- 物流業界: logistics industry
- 物流倉庫: logistics warehouse
Similar words
- 流通: distribution (broader, includes commercial flow)
- 配送: delivery (the final stage)
- 輸送: transport (the movement itself)
- ロジスティクス: logistics (English loanword, used in business contexts)
Usage
A key term in business Japanese. The 物流 sector has been in the news due to labor shortages caused by the growth of e-commerce.