宅配(たくはい)

宅配(たくはい) means home delivery — delivering goods directly to a person's residence. A compound of 宅(たく) (home) + 配(はい) (distribute).

Compounds

• 宅配便(たくはいびん): home delivery service (parcel delivery)
• 宅配(たくはい)ボックス: delivery locker/box
• 宅配(たくはい)ピザ: delivery pizza
• 宅配(たくはい)業者(ぎょうしゃ): delivery company

Usage

Japan has a highly developed home delivery infrastructure. Major carriers include ヤマト運輸(うんゆ) (宅急便(たっきゅうびん)), 佐川(さがわ)急便(きゅうびん), and 日本郵便(にほんゆうびん).

Similar words

• 配達(はいたつ): delivery (general)
• 出前(でまえ): food delivery (traditional term)
• デリバリー: delivery (loanword)

Watch out

宅急便(たっきゅうびん) is Yamato Transport's trademark, though people often use it for any parcel delivery. The generic word is 宅配便(たくはいびん).