Mandarin Lesson: Salutations in Chinese Letters (Intermediate)

中文书信的称呼(Zhōngwén shūxìn de chēnghū) Salutations in Chinese letters

Zhōngguó bèi yùwéi “lǐyízhībāng.”
中国           被   誉为 “礼仪之邦”。
Wúlùn zài rìcháng shēnghuó háishì shāngwù huódòng zhōng,
无论    在   日常      生活         还是     商务          活动        中，
Zhōngguórén yìzhí dōu hěn zhùyì lǐyí.
中国人           一直   都   很   注意 礼仪。
China is known as the “state of ceremonies.” No matter whether it’s in daily life or business activities, all Chinese people pay attention to etiquette.

Shūxìn shì shāngwù jiāoliú hěn zhòngyào de yíbùfen,
书信     是   商务       交流   很    重要        的 一部分，
ér chēnghū shì shūxìn de dìyī bùfen. Qiàdàng de
而 称呼       是   书信   的  第一 部分。恰当     的
chēnghū huì gěi dúxìn de rén liúxia shēnkè de yìnxiang.
称呼        会  给   读信  的 人  留下   深刻    的   印象。
Salutations are among the most important elements of business communication. In a formal letter, the salutation occurs first. An appropriate salutation can create a good impression for the letter’s reader.

Zài zhōngwén shūxìn zhōng,
在  中文           书信      中，
chēnghū shì duì shōuxìn rén de zūnchēng.
称呼         是  对   收信     人   的  尊称。
Rúhé chēnghū zhǔyào yījù xiānghù jiān de guānxì érdìng.
如何   称呼       主要   依据  相互     间  的  关系     而定。
In Chinese letters, salutations are usually the honorific titles of the reader. The relationship between the addresser and the addressee primarily determines what kind of honorific is used.

Zhōngwén shūxìn zhōng de chēnghū yìbān dōu yǐ “jìngyǔ + chēngwèi”
中文            书信     中     的   称呼      一般   都  以 “敬语 ＋ 称谓”
de xíngshì chūxiàn. Zhōngwén shūxìn zhōng de
的 形式      出现。   中文           书信      中   的
chēnghū dōushì dǐnggé xiě, hòu jiā màohào.
称呼        都是      顶格   写，后 加   冒号。
Salutations in Chinese are usually written using the following form: “honorific + title.” Furthermore, they are written on the left hand side of the page, beginning in the first space and then followed by a colon.

Duì bùtóng guānxi de rén yào shǐyòng bùtóng de jìngyǔ.
对   不同      关系    的 人   要    使用     不同     的   敬语。
Chinese use a variety of honorifics to reflect the different relationships in people’s lives.

Case and Examples:

Case 1.
Duì shàngjí
对  上级
Salutations Used When Greeting a Superior

“Jìng’ài de + xìngmíng:”
“敬爱   的+    姓名：”
“Respected + name:”

       Jìng’ài de Wáng Lì:
e.g. 敬爱     的 王  力：
Respected Wang Li:

Case 2.
Duì tóngjí
对   同级
Salutations Used When Greeting a Colleague

“Qīn’ài de + xìngmíng:”
“亲爱   的+  姓名：”
“Dear + name:”

Qīn’ài de Liú Yīng:
e.g.  亲爱   的 刘 英：
Dear Liu Ying:

Case 3.
Biǎoshì zhèngzhòng
表示       郑重
Showing Respect When Writing Names in Salutations

1) “Zūnjìng de + xìng + zhíwèi:”
1)  “尊敬   的+  姓    + 职位：”
“Honorable + surname + occupation title:”

Zūnjìng de Wáng jīnglǐ:
e.g.尊敬     的  王      经理：
Honorable Manager Wang:

      Zūnjìng de Wáng lǎoshī:
e.g. 尊敬     的  王      老师：
Honorable Teacher Wang:

2) “Zūnjìng de + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì:”
2)  “尊敬  的+  姓      +先生/女士：”
“Honorable + surname + Sir/ Madam:”

      Zūnjìng de Lǐ nǚshì:
e.g. 尊敬    的 李 女士：
Honorable Madam Li:

Case 4.
Biǎoshì fēicháng zhèngzhòng
表示       非常        郑重
Showing Very High Respect When Writing Names in Salutations

1) “Zūnjìng de + zhíwèi + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì + jìngqǐ:”
1)“尊敬的    +  职位      +姓      +先生/女士            +敬启：”
Honorable + occupation title + surname + Sir/Madam + please open:

     Zūnjìng de zhǔguǎn Zhōu xiānsheng jìngqǐ:
e.g. 尊敬     的 主管        周        先生       敬启：
Honorable Supervisor Mr. Zhou, please open:

2)  “Zūnjìng de + zhíwèi + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì + zūnjiàn:”
2)“尊敬   的  +  职位      +姓     +先生/女士             +尊鉴：”
Honorable + occupation title + surname + Sir/Madam + respectfully discerned:

  Zūnjìng de kēzhǎng Mǎ xiānsheng zūnjiàn:
e.g. 尊敬  的  科长       马  先生           尊鉴：
Honorable Section Chief Mr. Ma, respectfully discerned:

3) “Zūnjìng de + zhíwèi + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì +yǎjiàn:”
3)“尊敬    的+职位      +姓     +先生/女士             +雅鉴：”
Honorable + occupation title + surname + Sir/Madam + elegantly discerned:

    Zūnjìng de jīnglǐ Wáng nǚshìyǎjiàn:
e.g. 尊敬   的 经理 王    女士    雅鉴：
Honorable Manager Miss Wang, elegantly discerned:

生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary

被誉为 (bèi yùwéi) to be well-known as

敬启 (jìngqǐ) please open

尊鉴 (zūnjiàn) respectfully discerned

雅鉴 (yǎjiàn) elegantly discerned

More Mandarin Lessons on Business Topics:
Mandarin Lesson: “Hang up a Phone Call” Helps You Learn Business Etiquette
Online Mandarin Lesson Helps You Learn Business Etiquette: Make a Phone Call
Learn Business Greetings Through an Online Mandarin Lesson
Learn Taboos of Giving Business Gifts in China Through a Business Mandarin Lesson.
Chinese Culture
General Chinese (Beginner Level)
General Chinese (Intermediate Level)