Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 物流 | butsuryū | |
| 運送 | unsō | [ɯ̟̃ɰ̃so̞ː] (narrow) |
物流 is a formal term used to describe the management of the flow of goods, information and resources. If you are referring specifically to the professional field of 'logistics management', you should use 物流管理. Another related concept is 流通, which highlights the distribution aspect of the logistics process. Additionally, in modern business contexts, the katakana loanword ロジスティクス is frequently used to refer to the concept of logistics.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 物流 is composed of the character 物, meaning 'goods' or 'things' and the character 流, meaning 'flow'.
Which one should you use?
While 物流 refers to the entire system of logistics and the flow of goods, 運送 refers specifically to the act of transporting or shipping goods from one place to another.
How do you pronounce it?
butsuryū
Did you know?
- The phrase ラストワンマイル ('last one mile') is a major obsession in 物流 circles because of the unique challenges posed by extreme urban housing density.
- The katakana word ロジスティクス is generally avoided in daily operations and is instead reserved for high-level academic or strategic contexts.
- In Japanese, the character 流 can also mean 'style' or 'school of thought', connecting the physical flow of goods to the intellectual flow of a tradition.
Examples in context
- 物流に関して話し合いたいのですがI would like to discuss logistics
- サプライチェーンにおける物流についてはどうですかHow about the logistics in the supply chain?
- 物流の効率を上げる必要があります。butsuryū no kōritsu o ageru hitsuyō ga arimasu.We need to improve the efficiency of logistics.
- 新しい物流システムを導入しました。atarashii butsuryū shisutemu o dōnyū shimashita.We introduced a new logistics system.
Example conversation
At an office, Kenta and Yui are discussing a business problem.
- 健太 Kenta最近、物流が滞っていますね。saikin, butsuryū ga todokōtte imasu ne.Recently, logistics have been stalling, hasn't it?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、配送ルートを見直すべきです。hai, haisō rūto o minaosu beki desu.Yes, we should review the delivery routes.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さんの提案に賛成です。yui-san no teian ni sansei desu.I agree with your proposal, Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます、すぐに調べます。arigatō gozaimasu, sugu ni shirabemasu.Thank you, I will look into it immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “logistics” translations and entries 物流, 運送, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
