信件

• Pinyin: xìn jiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 信 = 亻 + 言 (message/letter); 件 = 亻 + 牛 (item/piece)

Meaning

Letter; correspondence. A written or printed message sent to someone, typically via post.

Used in both formal and literary contexts. 信件 is slightly more formal than 信 alone and often refers to official or important correspondence. Can include both physical mail and formal written communication.

Examples

1. 他每周都会给远在异乡的父母寄一封信件，表达思念之情。 Every week, he mails a letter to his parents far from home to express how much he misses them.
2. 公司收到了一封来自海外合作方的正式信件，请求商议合同细节。 The company received a formal letter from an overseas partner requesting discussions on the contract details.
3. 这批历史信件揭示了两位学者之间深厚的学术交流。 This collection of historical letters reveals the deep scholarly exchange between two academics.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, office, history

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请将重要信件存档以备日后查阅。(Please archive important letters for future reference.)
• 她整理了祖父留下的全部信件，准备编写回忆录。(She organised all the letters left by her grandfather to write a memoir.)

Don't Say

• 发信件给他 for text message — use 发短信; 信件 specifically refers to written letters, not digital messages

Origin & History

信 (letter/trust) + 件 (item/piece)

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal