添付

The Japanese word 添付 (てんぷ - tenpu) is a fundamental term in the modern Japanese lexicon, particularly within professional, academic, and administrative contexts. At its core, it refers to the act of attaching or affixing one thing to another, where the secondary item serves as a supplement, evidence, or additional information to the primary document. In the digital age, this is most commonly associated with 'email attachments,' but its roots and applications extend far beyond the computer screen into physical paperwork and legal documentation.

Core Concept

The term is composed of two kanji: 添 (ten), meaning 'to accompany' or 'to add to,' and 付 (fu), meaning 'to attach' or 'to adhere.' Together, they describe the process of making a secondary object accompany a primary one so they travel together.

Digital Usage

In the realm of IT and business communication, it specifically refers to '添付ファイル' (tenpu fairu - attached files). When you send a resume, a photo, or a report via email, you are performing '添付'.

Physical Usage

When applying for a visa or a driver's license, you might be asked to '添付' a photograph or a certificate of residence to the physical application form using a paperclip or staple.

Understanding the nuance of 添付 requires recognizing that the attached item is usually subordinate to the main message. For example, if the email body is the main communication, the PDF is the 添付. If a contract is the main document, the map of the property is the 添付書類 (attached document). This word is essentially neutral but leans toward formal and professional registers. You would rarely use it when casually handing a sticker to a friend, but you would use it every single day in a Japanese office environment.

Historically, 添付 was used for legal and bureaucratic procedures long before computers existed. It implies a formal connection where the two items must be handled as a single unit for the purpose of the transaction. This is why you see it so often in government forms (申請書 - shinseisho). The word carries a sense of completeness; without the 添付, the main document might be considered incomplete or invalid.

Synonym Distinction

While '貼付' (chōfu) means to paste or stick something on (like a stamp), '添付' is broader and implies any method of attachment (clipping, stapling, or digital uploading). '同封' (dōfū) is specifically for physical envelopes where something is 'enclosed' inside.

Using 添付 correctly involves understanding its role as both a noun and a Suru-verb. In the professional world, the phrasing you choose reflects your level of politeness and technical accuracy. Because it is a Sino-Japanese (Kango) word, it naturally feels more formal than native Japanese equivalents like '付ける' (tsukeru). This makes it the standard choice for business emails, legal documents, and official applications.

The Verb Form: 添付する

When you want to say 'I will attach X,' you use [Object] を [Target] に添付する. In business, you would say '添付いたします' (tenpu itashimasu) to be humble. For example: '請求書をメールに添付いたします' (I will attach the invoice to the email).

The Adjectival Form: 添付の

To describe a document as 'the attached document,' you use 添付 followed by the particle 'no'. For example: '添付のファイルを開いてください' (Please open the attached file).

Passive Construction: 添付されている

Often, you need to describe the state of something being attached. '写真が添付されています' (A photo is attached). This is useful when verifying that a requirement has been met.

One critical aspect of using 添付 in sentences is the particle usage. The destination (where something is being attached) is marked with 'に' (ni). The item being attached is marked with 'を' (o). If you are referring to the attachment itself as the subject, use 'が' (ga). For example, '添付がありません' (There is no attachment). In very formal writing, you might see '添付書類' (tenpu shorui) used as a compound noun without any particles between them, referring to 'attached documents' as a category.

When dealing with multiple attachments, you might use the counter word '点' (ten) or '通' (tsū) for documents. '3点のファイルを添付しました' (I attached three files). If you are asking someone else to attach something, using the 'te-form + kudasai' (添付してください) is standard, but in customer service, '添付いただけますでしょうか' (Could you please attach...?) is more appropriate and soft.

Common Context: Job Applications

'履歴書には必ず写真を添付すること' (Be sure to attach a photo to your resume). This is a standard instruction found on Japanese job portals.

Common Context: Tech Support

'エラー画面のスクリーンショットを添付してください' (Please attach a screenshot of the error screen). This helps developers diagnose issues quickly.

The word 添付 is ubiquitous in the Japanese professional landscape. If you work in an office in Tokyo, Osaka, or anywhere in Japan, you will likely encounter this word dozens of times a day. It is the primary way to describe adding digital files to communication, but it also appears in various physical and legal contexts that are part of daily life for adults.

In the Office (Email Communication)

Almost every business email containing a file will use this word. You'll hear phrases like '添付ファイルが重すぎて送れません' (The attached file is too heavy/large to send) or '添付ファイルが壊れています' (The attached file is corrupted). It's the standard jargon for digital exchange.

At Government Offices (City Hall)

When registering your address (転入届) or applying for child benefits, the clerk will often say, 'こちらの書類に、保険証のコピーを添付してください' (Please attach a copy of your insurance card to these documents). Here, it refers to the physical act of providing supporting evidence.

In the education sector, teachers often tell students to '添付' their assignments to the online learning management system (like Google Classroom or Moodle). You'll see buttons labeled 'ファイルを添付' (Attach file) in almost every Japanese software interface, from social media apps like LINE (when sending a file) to professional tools like Slack or Chatwork.

In legal and medical fields, '添付文書' (tenpu bunsho) refers to the 'package insert' or the 'accompanying document' that comes with medicine or medical devices. These are the technical sheets that explain usage, side effects, and ingredients. When a doctor or pharmacist mentions the 添付文書, they are referring to the official, legally required information that 'accompanies' the product.

In News and Media

During news reports about leaks or scandals, you might hear: '機密文書がメールに添付され、外部に流出しました' (Confidential documents were attached to an email and leaked externally). It is used to describe the mechanism of the data transfer.

Finally, you will encounter this word in the world of online shopping and customer reviews. If a customer says, '写真を添付しましたので見てください' (I've attached photos, so please look), they are showing the physical state of the product they received. Whether it's a broken item or a beautiful meal, 添付 is the vehicle for providing that visual evidence.

While 添付 (tenpu) is a straightforward word, learners often run into several common pitfalls regarding its pronunciation, kanji, and usage compared to similar-looking words. Avoiding these mistakes will make your Japanese sound much more professional and accurate.

1. Confusing 添付 (Tenpu) with 貼付 (Chōfu/Tenpu)

This is the most common mistake even native speakers make! '貼付' (sticking/pasting) is officially read as 'chōfu,' but many people read it as 'tenpu' because the meanings are similar. However, '貼付' specifically means 'pasting' with glue or tape (like a stamp or a photo on a card), while '添付' is the general term for 'attaching' (including digital files). Use 添付 for emails, and 貼付 for things that require physical adhesive.

2. Forgetting the 'Suru'

添付 is a noun. To use it as a verb, you must add 'suru'. Saying 'ファイルを添付しました' is correct. Saying 'ファイルを添付した' (informal) is also fine. But just saying 'ファイルを添付' at the end of a sentence is grammatically incomplete, though it might appear as a button label or a heading.

Another mistake is using 添付 when 同封 (dōfū - enclosing) is more appropriate. If you are putting something *inside* an envelope, the word is 同封. 添付 implies the items are together but not necessarily inside one another in a physical sense (though in digital terms, we still use 添付). If you tell a Japanese person you 'tenpu-ed' something in an envelope, they will understand, but it sounds slightly unnatural.

In terms of formality, using '付ける' (tsukeru) instead of '添付する' in a business email can make you sound a bit childish or overly casual. While '付ける' is perfectly fine for 'attaching a button to a shirt' or 'putting on a mask,' in the digital business world, 添付 is the expected professional standard. Using the wrong register can subtly change how your professionalism is perceived.

Wrong Particle Choice

Learners sometimes use 'と' (to) instead of 'に' (ni). 'メールとファイルを添付する' sounds like you are attaching both the email and the file to some third thing. Always use 'メールにファイルを添付する' (Attach the file *to* the email).

Finally, watch out for the 'double attachment' error in speech. Some people say '添付ファイルを添付する' (Attach the attached file). While technically correct, it's redundant. It's better to say 'ファイルを添付する' or '資料を添付する'. Keep your language lean and professional!

To truly master 添付, you must understand where it sits in the cluster of Japanese words that mean 'to add' or 'to attach.' Each word has a specific nuance that dictates its use in different contexts, from physical glue to digital enclosures.

貼付 (ちょうふ - Chōfu)

Meaning: To paste or stick something onto a surface. Usage: Use this for stamps (切手), photographs on ID cards, or medical patches (シップ). While colloquially sometimes read as 'tenpu,' 'chōfu' is the correct reading in official settings. Unlike 添付, it implies the use of an adhesive.

同封 (どうふう - Dōfū)

Meaning: To enclose. Usage: Specifically for physical envelopes. If you put a check inside a letter, you are performing '同封'. You wouldn't use this for email attachments, as there is no 'envelope' to put them inside (metaphorically, we use 添付 instead).

付属 (ふぞく - Fuzoku)

Meaning: To be attached to, to belong to, or to be an accessory. Usage: Use this for things that are naturally part of a larger system, like a '付属小学校' (attached elementary school to a university) or '付属品' (accessories/parts that come with a vacuum cleaner).

付加 (ふか - Fuka)

Meaning: Addition or annexation. Usage: Often used in technical or economic contexts, like '付加価値' (added value) or '付加税' (surcharge/added tax). It implies adding a value or a condition rather than a physical or digital document.

When you want to be more casual, you can use native Japanese verbs. 付ける (tsukeru) is the general-purpose verb for 'to attach' or 'to put on.' While 添付 is formal, 付けとく (tsuketoku - I'll just attach it/leave it attached) is common in casual speech between colleagues who are close. However, even in casual settings, when referring specifically to a 'file,' 添付 is so ingrained that most people still use it.

In academic writing, you might see 併記 (heiki), which means 'writing things side-by-side.' If you are adding a translation next to the original text, you are performing 併記, not 添付. Similarly, 追記 (tsuiki) means 'postscript' or 'adding more text' to the end of a message. If you forgot to say something in the email body and add it at the bottom, that is 追記, whereas if you add a separate file, that is 添付.