消息(しょうそく)

しょうそく
noun
whereabouts; news (of a person)
1. whereabouts; news from or about someone
Information about a person's current situation, location, or well-being. Often used when someone has been out of contact or is missing.
消息(しょうそく)が途絶(とだ)えた。
Contact was lost.
彼(かれ)の消息(しょうそく)を知(し)っていますか。
Do you know anything about his whereabouts?
行方(ゆくえ)不明(ふめい)になった登山者(とざんしゃ)の消息(しょうそく)は、いまだにわかっていない。
The whereabouts of the missing climber are still unknown.

消息(しょうそく) refers to news about someone's whereabouts or well-being, or to information from sources. A somewhat literary and formal word.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 消息(しょうそく)が途絶(とだ)える: to lose contact with someone
  • 消息(しょうそく)を絶(た)つ: to disappear, cut off contact
  • 消息(しょうそく)不明(ふめい): whereabouts unknown
  • 消息(しょうそく)筋(すじ): informed sources (news/journalism term)
  • 消息(しょうそく)を知(し)る: to learn of someone's whereabouts

USAGE:
Often used in serious contexts — missing persons, lost contact, or news reporting. In everyday speech, 連絡(れんらく) (contact) is more natural for routine communication.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 連絡(れんらく): contact, communication (everyday)
  • 便(たよ)り: news, tidings (literary, correspondence)
  • 安否(あんぴ): safety, well-being (安否(あんぴ)確認(かくにん): safety confirmation)
general
Added 2026.3.25 10:40 · Revised 2026.3.27 23:29
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