弔 電(ちょうでん)

ちょうでん

noun

condolence telegram

1. condolence telegram; telegram of sympathy

A formal telegram sent to express condolences upon someone's death. A customary practice in Japan when one cannot attend a funeral in person.

弔電(ちょうでん)を送(おく)る。

To send a condolence telegram.

葬儀(そうぎ)で弔電(ちょうでん)が読(よ)まれた。

Condolence telegrams were read at the funeral.

遠方(えんぽう)のため参列(さんれつ)できず、弔電(ちょうでん)を打(う)つことにした。

Since I was too far away to attend, I decided to send a condolence telegram.

Composed of 弔(ちょう) (mourning) + 電(でん) (telegram). Like 祝電(しゅくでん), condolence telegrams remain an active custom in Japan. They are typically read aloud during funeral ceremonies.

Common collocations

弔電(ちょうでん)を送(おく)る: to send a condolence telegram
弔電(ちょうでん)を打(う)つ: to send a condolence telegram (lit. "strike")
弔電(ちょうでん)を読(よ)み上(あ)げる: to read aloud a condolence telegram
弔電(ちょうでん)が届(とど)く: a condolence telegram arrives

Similar words

祝電(しゅくでん): congratulatory telegram — sent for happy occasions, the opposite
弔辞(ちょうじ): eulogy — a spoken tribute at a funeral
香典(こうでん): condolence money — monetary offering given at funerals

Related Words

Antonym: 祝電(しゅくでん) (congratulatory telegram)

Compare: 弔辞(ちょうじ) (eulogy)

Compare: 香典(こうでん) (condolence money)

Related: 弔(とむら)う (to mourn)

Compare: 打電(だでん) (sending a telegram)

general

Added 2026.4.8 4:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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