Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
English to Japanese translations [Non-PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase:Send a text message (on a mobile phone)
In ALC it looks like the word メール can be used to mean text messaging on a mobile phone, but メール also means email, as in email on a laptop or desktop computer...
What is the most common way that people say "send a text message" when referring to text messaging on a mobile phone?
I also saw テキスト・メッセージ but I'm not sure if people in Japan are really saying that.
Explanation: Or, “携帯メール（を送信する）”.
The term “a text message” used here means the text message, including message of numbers, symbols and other characters sent from a subscriber line or from xx mobile telecommunication company’s facilities, which is often used in contrast with voice calls for mobile telecommunications.
Thanks everybody. It was all good information, as I also needed to know how things are used in Japan, which is different than we do in the US. Just FYI if anybody is wondering, in the US, a "text message" typically refers to a message sent from a mobile phone to another mobile phone. You can send text messages to computer email addresses, and computer email accounts can send messages to mobile phones, but I'd say that is a lot more rare. Usually it's a phone-to-phone message. Thanks! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
i use and often heard "sms" as the message itself. but i just added メッセージ for people who want to see it only as service or function as both ways are possible. its not because "just came to realize it in hindsight" as you assumed.
As you mentioned, SMS is used only by some mobile telecommunications companies, such as Softbank or Apple’s IP phone service. It is not generally accepted term in Japan. Furthermore, Vodafone does no longer exist. Currently, Softbank has taken over its business and it provides such services nationwide as Voice Call, Sky Mail, Long Mail, E-mail, Sky Melody, Caller Identification Service, Data Communication, Sha-mail (applicable models only), Information Dial, and Free Channels of Station (applicable models only), which are available for prepaid mobile phone, as far as I know. If you think it is "smsメッセージ", why you didn’t mention it in the first place? You just came to realize it in hindsight. All in all, as the asker wants to know how a text message sent and received on mobile phones is generally called in Japanese, it is commonly called “文字メッセージ” or “携帯メール” here in Japan, as I said. That’s why I posted these suggestions with moderation in mind. You should not go too far if you not sure about it.
SMS (Short Mail Service) usually refers to the mail service used to send and receive short messages, not text message itself. (Example: A message regarding this information will be sent to you via SMS. / A message notifying you of the expiry date will be sent via SMS. / A message notifying you of the remaining balance on your card will be sent via SMS.)
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
44 mins confidence:
send a text message (on a mobile phone)
メール送信
Explanation: Usually, "text messages" on mobile phones are exchanged between email addresses like "xxx@www.fff.cc" Depending on carriers, you can send messages by designating cell phone numbers instead of email addresses. (It's called "short mail" in case of NTT DoCoMo.) And in my native intuition, "text message" is the most common messaging system, and therefore, you can simply say that "メール送信" in J. For other messages, you can add some particular features such as "ショート" etc.
Yuichi Sakuma Local time: 04:19 Native speaker of: Japanese
3 hrs confidence:
send a text message (on a mobile phone)
携帯にメールを送る
Explanation: Cell phone is most often referred to as "携帯電話 keitai denwa" or as "携帯keitai." for short.
Explanation: Or, “携帯メール（を送信する）”.
The term “a text message” used here means the text message, including message of numbers, symbols and other characters sent from a subscriber line or from xx mobile telecommunication company’s facilities, which is often used in contrast with voice calls for mobile telecommunications.
Katsushi Saito Local time: 04:19 Native speaker of: Japanese
Grading comment
Thanks everybody. It was all good information, as I also needed to know how things are used in Japan, which is different than we do in the US. Just FYI if anybody is wondering, in the US, a "text message" typically refers to a message sent from a mobile phone to another mobile phone. You can send text messages to computer email addresses, and computer email accounts can send messages to mobile phones, but I'd say that is a lot more rare. Usually it's a phone-to-phone message. Thanks!
The translation workplace 
