運送（うんそう、unsoう）
- transportation

The Japanese word 運送 (読み方: うんそう, *unsō*) generally means "transportation," "shipping," or "delivery." It refers to the process of moving goods or people from one place to another. This can involve various modes of transport, such as trucks, trains, ships, or airplanes. The word emphasizes the *act* or *process* of moving something, rather than the vehicle itself. The word 運送 focuses on the business or practical aspects of transportation.

⚫︎貨物の運送 Translation: Transportation of cargo. ⚫︎国内運送会社 Translation: Domestic shipping company. ⚫︎運送コストを削減する Translation: To reduce transportation costs.

You would use 運送 in situations where you are talking about the movement of goods or people, particularly in a business or logistics context. It is a more formal term compared to some other options, such as 送り (*okuri*, "sending"). You can use it in a wide variety of contexts including talking about freight, delivery services, and transport infrastructure. It is suitable for business letters, reports, and professional conversations.

運送 is primarily written using kanji and hiragana. ⚫︎Kanji: 運送 ⚫︎Hiragana: うんそう There are no significant variations in the okurigana for this word.

⚫︎輸送 (*yusō*): Transportation, conveyance (more general term). ⚫︎配送 (*haisō*): Delivery, distribution (focuses on the final stage). ⚫︎搬送 (*hansō*): Transport, conveyance (often for medical or industrial contexts). ⚫︎物流 (*butsuryū*): Physical distribution; logistics. (encompasses a broader range of activities related to goods movement.)

There aren't direct antonyms in the same sense, as 運送 describes an action. However, the opposite of the *action* of transporting could be seen as: ⚫︎保管 (*hokan*): Storage, keeping. ⚫︎静止 (*seishi*): Remaining stationary.

この商品は、運送中に破損しないように、丁寧に梱包されています。 ・Translation: This product is carefully packed to prevent damage during transportation. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that the goods are packaged securely to survive 運送.

新しい運送システムを導入することで、コストを削減できます。 ・Translation: By implementing a new shipping system, we can reduce costs. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights how changes in 運送 processes can influence business expenses.

運送 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ⚫︎運 (*un*): meaning "transport," "carry," or "fortune." ⚫︎送 (*sō*): meaning "to send," "to dispatch," or "to forward." Therefore, 運送 literally means "to transport" or "to send things." The combination creates a term which is focused on the movement of goods or people, from point A to point B.