Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

GreetiNGS aNd GoodByeS

24.3

Polite but less formal

如晤 rúwù ‘as if talking to you face-to-face’

建国兄如晤：

建國兄如晤：

Jiànguó xiōng rúwù:

Elder brother Jianguo, it is as if I were talking to you face-to-face:

惠鉴/惠鑒 huìjiàn ‘please be kind enough to read the following letter’

美英姊惠鉴：

美英姊惠鑒：

Měiyīng zǐ huìjiàn:

Elder sister Meiying, please be kind enough to read the following letter:

The use of a formal title makes this salutation more formal:

美英女士惠鉴：

美英女士惠鑒：

Měiyīng nǚshì huìjiàn:

Ms. Meiying, please be kind enough to read the following letter:

This salutation is used in letters from a government department or organization to an individual.

台端 táiduān ‘for your gracious perusal’

王先生台端：

王先生臺端：

Wáng xiānsheng táiduān:

Mr. Wang, for your gracious perusal:

24.3.2 Goodbyes in letters

The following expressions are used to close a letter. They occur after the body of the letter,

before the name of the sender.

expressions used to extend good wishes to the addressee

These expressions occur immediately after the body of the letter, before any additional

greetings.

顺颂/順頌 shùn sòng I take this opportunity to send regards and wish your

well-being

祝 zhù expressing good wishes

敬祝 jìng zhù respectfully extending (good) wishes to you

敬颂/敬頌 jìng sòng (I) extend good wishes

敬请/敬請 jìng qǐng (I) respectfully extend (good) wishes

此颂/此頌 cǐ sòng (I) extend good wishes

Wishes for good health and well-being

The following phrases are standard expressions of good wishes. They occur after one of the

previous phrases, before the name of the sender. Note that many are linked to a specific season

or to the new year.

春安 chūn’ān a peaceful spring

夏安 xià’ān your health, your well-being in the summer season

秋安 qiū’ān your welfare in this autumn season

冬安 dōng’ān your well-being in this winter season

教祺 jiào qí (instructing you to have) good fortune

[for teachers or educators]