便りをください。

Sentence Discussions Japanese
#1
English Translation

Keep in touch.

Can this be translated as “Keep me posted?”

#2

@chezvouscf
Good catch! “Keep me posted” is closer to the Japanese sentence than “keep in touch”.
The problem is. however, that we rarely say 便りをください these days. 便り primarily means “letters/postcards” delivered by postal service (and secondly “hearsay”.) We don’t say 便りをください when the meaning is “keep me posted via email, DM of social media or messaging apps, or telephone.” 便りをください sounds very old fashioned except being used by media outlets (e.g., If TV, radio, YouTube or podcast programs encourage viewers/listeners to send a comment/message/follow-up information including by electric devices, they still often say “お便りをお寄せ下さい” or “お便りお待ちしています”.)

Better translation pairs are:

  • Keep in touch. = またね or 連絡取り合おうね (casual friend-to-friend message at the end of letter/online chat/oral conversation)
  • Keep me posted. = 連絡してね or また教えてね (casual friend-to-friend message at the end of letter/online chat/oral conversation)
  • Keep me posted. = 逐次報告を頼むよ or 進展あったら教えてくれ (a bossy person requires you a frequent status update)
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