書留

かきとめ

registered mail

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"書留" (かきとめ) refers to registered mail in Japan. It is a postal service that provides proof of mailing and delivery, including the recipient's signature upon receipt. This service is commonly used for sending important or valuable documents and items.

Common Collocations and Patterns

  • 書留で送る: to send by registered mail
  • 書留郵便: registered mail service
  • 書留料金: registered mail fee

Usage Notes

Using 書留 implies a higher level of security and accountability compared to regular mail. It is often chosen when the sender wants to ensure the item is tracked and safely delivered. When sending 書留, special envelopes or forms provided by the post office are used.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 書留 with 普通郵便 (regular mail) or ゆうメール (Yu-Mail). Remember, 書留 always involves tracking and requires a signature, which these other services do not provide.

Example Sentences

じゅうようなしょるいはかきとめでおくったほうがあんしんです。

It's safer to send important documents by registered mail.

かきとめゆうびんははいたつじにうけとりにんのしょめいがひつようです。

Registered mail requires the recipient's signature upon delivery.

かきとめでおくるばあいは、ゆうびんきょくでせんようのふうとうをつかいます。

When sending by registered mail, you use a special envelope at the post office.