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Letters and emails in Chinese

How a Chinese letter is laid out, and the lines for each part, with pinyin and sound.

A letter to a friend

亲爱的小明：

你好！好久没给你写信了，你最近怎么样？

下个月我要去北京旅游，听说你也在北京，到时候我们见个面吧！

期待你的回信。

祝你一切顺利！

你的朋友：李华

五月二十日

An email to a teacher

尊敬的王老师：

您好！我是三年级二班的李华。

下周五我要参加学校的中文演讲比赛，想请您帮我看看我的演讲稿。演讲稿在附件里，请您有空的时候看一下。

非常感谢您的帮助！

此致

敬礼！

学生：李华

五月二十日

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The greeting · 称呼

  1. qīn’ài亲爱de的Xiǎomíng小明：

    Dear Xiaoming, (to a friend or someone in the family)

  2. zūnjìng尊敬de的Wáng王lǎoshī老师：

    Dear Teacher Wang, (to a teacher, with respect)

  3. Wáng王jīnglǐ经理：

    Manager Wang, (at work: the surname and the title)

  4. gèwèi各位tóngshì同事：

    Dear colleagues,

  5. nínhǎo您好！

    Hello! (on its own line, after the greeting, to someone you write to with respect)

Opening lines · 开头

  1. hǎojiǔ好久méi没gěi给nǐ你xiěxìn写信le了，nǐ你zuìjìn最近zěnmeyàng怎么样？

    It’s been a long time since I wrote to you. How have you been?

  2. shōudào收到nǐ你de的xìn信，wǒ我fēicháng非常gāoxìng高兴。

    I was very happy to get your letter.

  3. wǒ我shì是sānniánjí三年级èr二bān班de的Lǐ Huá李华。

    I’m Li Hua, from class 2 in year 3. (introduce yourself first in a formal letter or email)

  4. wǒ我xiěxìn写信shì是xiǎng想wèn问nín您yī一jiàn件shì事。

    I’m writing to ask you about something.

  5. xièxie谢谢nǐ你de的láixìn来信。

    Thank you for your letter.

The body · 正文

  1. wǒ我xiǎng想qǐng请nín您bāng帮wǒ我kànkan看看wǒ我de的yǎnjiǎnggǎo演讲稿。

    I’d like to ask you to look over my speech for me.

  2. fùjiàn附件shì是wǒ我de的jiǎnlì简历，qǐng请cháshōu查收。

    My CV is attached; please find it enclosed.

  3. rúguǒ如果yǒu有rènhé任何wèntí问题，qǐng请suíshí随时liánxì联系wǒ我。

    If you have any questions, please contact me at any time.

  4. fēicháng非常gǎnxiè感谢nín您de的bāngzhù帮助！

    Thank you very much for your help!

  5. gěi给nín您tiānmáfan添麻烦le了。

    Sorry for the trouble. (when you ask for something)

Endings · 结尾

  1. qīdài期待nǐ你de的huíxìn回信。

    I look forward to your reply.

  2. cǐzhì-jìnglǐ此致敬礼！

    With respect. (此致 on its own line, 敬礼 at the start of the next: the formal ending)

  3. zhù祝nǐ你yīqiè一切shùnlì顺利！

    I wish you all the best!

  4. zhù祝shēntǐ-jiànkāng身体健康，gōngzuò工作shùnlì顺利！

    Wishing you good health and success at work!

  5. zhù祝xuéxí学习jìnbù进步！

    Good luck with your studies! (to a student)

Signing off · 署名

  1. nǐ你de的péngyou朋友：Xiǎomíng小明

    Your friend, Xiaoming

  2. xuéshēng学生：Lǐ Huá李华

    Your student, Li Hua

  3. wǔyuè五月èrshí二十rì日

    20 May (the date goes under the name, month then day)

How do you start a letter in Chinese?

With the greeting at the left edge, then a colon: 亲爱的小明： (Dear Xiaoming) to a friend, 尊敬的王老师： (Dear Teacher Wang) to someone you respect. 你好！ or 您好！ goes on the next line, indented two characters like every paragraph.

How do you end a letter in Chinese?

With a wish or the formal 此致敬礼: write 此致 indented on its own line, and 敬礼！ at the left edge of the next. A wish such as 祝你一切顺利！ (all the best) can take its place in a friendly letter. Your name goes at the bottom right, and the date under it.

How do I write an email in Chinese?

The same parts, shorter: the greeting and 您好, who you are and why you write in the first lines, then the request, thanks (非常感谢), and your name. A formal email ends with 此致敬礼. The AP and IB email tasks are marked on these parts and on a reply to every question asked.

你 or 您?

您 is the respectful “you”: use it to a teacher, a manager, someone older or someone you don’t know. 你 is for friends and family.

How is the date written?

Biggest first: the year with 年, the month with 月, the day with 日, so 20 May is 5月20日, or 五月二十日 in characters. In a letter it goes at the bottom right, under your name.

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Letters, lines and English ours; pinyin from our own reader.