A Simple Guide: How to Write Business Emails and WeChat Messages in Chinese
Essential Email and WeChat Phrases for Business 📨 PLUS Example Email in Chinese
Writing a professional email can be daunting if you’re starting to learn Chinese.
It’s not as simple as just translating the words.
There are specific phrases composed in a certain way for different contexts.
With WeChat taking over communication everywhere in China, you should also get used to receiving messages rather than emails.
✅ In this blog post, we’ll walk you through a lot of helpful phrases and showcase a writing sample for a professional email and a WeChat message. Let’s get going!
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Key Phrases for Chinese Business Emails
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Chinese Business Email Format
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Chinese Business Email Writing Example
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || The Role of WeChat in Chinese Business
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Useful WeChat Phrases to Use in Business
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || FAQs
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Key Phrases for Chinese Business Emails
These are just some key terms to know. In Chinese, they are written in a certain way for business contexts. So keep the exact words in mind.
Subject and Recipients
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收件人
shōu jiàn rén | To / Recipient |
|
抄送
chāo sòng | CC |
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隐式抄送
yǐn shì chāo sòng | BCC |
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发件人
fā jiàn rén | From |
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日期
rì qī | Date |
|
主题
zhǔ tí | Subject |
Titles and Greetings
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您好
nín hǎo | Hello (formal) |
|
先生
xiān shēng | Mr. |
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女士
nǚ shì | Ms./Mrs. |
|
经理
jīng lǐ | Manager. Followed by surname to address their title. |
|
总
zǒng | General. Followed by surname to address a high executive. |
|
尊敬的
zūn jìng de | Dear (formal) |
Signing Off
|
期待您的答复
(qī dài nín de huí fù) | Looking forward to your reply |
|
此致敬礼
(cǐ zhì jìng lǐ) | Sincerely / Best regards |
|
顺祝商祺
(shùn zhù shāng qí) | Best wishes for your business |
|
保重
(bǎo zhòng) | Take care |
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Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Chinese Business Email Format
The business email in China has a format similar to that of a universal email in a Western business context.
You just need to pay attention to a few minor tweaks.
Start your email with an appropriate greeting and title.
In a common formal way to address someone you don’t personally know yet, address their surname with:
先生 (xiān shēng) – Sir
女士 (nǚ shì) – Madam
For example:
亲爱的陈女士,
Qīn’ài de chén nǚ shì
Dear Ms. Chen,
If you’re unsure who to address, the exact phrase to use for ‘To who it may concern’ is
致相关负责人
zhì xiāng guān fù zé rén
To whom it may concern
Start the message with respectful phrases that are specifically for formal business contexts.
The email content can mostly follow a regular English email format
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谢谢您的邮件
xiè xiè nín de yóu jiàn | Thank you for your email |
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很高兴收到您的来信
hěn gāo xìng shōu dào nín de lái xìn | It is good to hear from you |
|
听到...我非常高兴
tīng dào…wǒ fēi cháng gāo xìng | I was delighted to hear that… |
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很遗憾地告诉你们
hěn yí hàn de gào sù nǐ men | I am sorry to inform you that… |
|
附件是___，请查收
fù jiàn shì ____ qǐng chá shōu | Please find the ____ attached |
To end the email, use particular respectful phrases
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如有不便之处，敬请见谅。
rú yǒu bú biàn zhī chù, jìng qǐng jiàn liàng. | I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. |
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敬请查阅
jìng qǐng chá yuè | Please see the message. |
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请尽快回复！
qǐng jǐn kuài huí fù! | Please reply as soon as possible! |
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期待着您的复音。
qī dài zhe nín de fù yīn | We look forward to your reply. |
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请保持联络
qǐng bǎo chí lián luò | Please stay in touch. |
Then, what’s left is to add the phrases to sign off mentioned above and a proper signature.
Business card culture is still significant in China.
So, your signature should include your title, company, and contact information, such as your phone number and email.
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Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Chinese Business Email Writing Example
Now, to help you digest all those phrases, let’s go over an example.
尊敬的刘总 ，
zūn jìng de liú zǒng
Dear Mr. Liu,
您好!
nín hǎo !
Hello!
我希望与贵公司洽谈一个合作项目。
wǒ xī wàng yǔ guì gōng sī qià tán yī gè hé zuò xiàng mù
I hope to discuss a potential cooperation project with your company.
我们公司的产品非常适合贵公司的业务需求。
wǒ mén gōng sī de chǎn pǐn fēi cháng shì hé guì gōng sī de yè wù xū qiú
Our products are highly suitable for your business needs.
我希望能安排一个时间进行详细讨论。
wǒ xī wàng néng ān pái yī gè shí jiān jìn xíng xiáng xì tǎo lùn
I would like to schedule a time for a detailed discussion.
附件是我们的公司简介，请您查阅。
fù jiàn shì wǒ mén de gōng sī jiǎn jiè ， qǐng nín chá yuè 。
Attached is our company profile for your review.
期待您的答复。
qī dài nín de dá fù 。
Looking forward to your reply.
此致敬礼，
cǐ zhì jìng lǐ ,
Sincerely,
张洋 (zhāng yáng) Zhang Yang
市场总监 (shì cháng zǒng jiān) Marketing Director
ABC公司 (ABC gōng sī) ABC Company
电话：123-456-7890 (diàn huà ：123-456-7890) Phone: 123-456-7890
邮箱 ：[email protected] (yóu xiāng ：[email protected]) Email: [email protected]
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || The Role of WeChat in Chinese Business
You may know that WeChat is the go-to app for Chinese. It permeates deep into Chinese everyday life, including messaging, social media, payment, transportation, work software, document sharing, and anything else you can imagine.
So, you can also expect that Chinese people wouldn’t work without WeChat. It replaces email’s role in the Western business world for messaging.
Besides that, it has in-app mini-programs built like apps and softwares. So, in a WeChat message, you can share document links, CRM software, invoices, project boards, product links, etc. Anything involved in a workflow or business transaction can be integrated into a WeChat message.
That makes it super important to know how to use WeChat in business conversations. Once you grasp how to message in WeChat for business, you’ll truly be blended into the local environment.
Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || Useful WeChat Phrases to Use In Business
微信 (wēi xìn) – The Chinese name for WeChat
These two are typical phrases when you want to have the contact information.
This phrase is more of a respectful and formal way to say to a senior person. 👇🏻
我加您
wǒ jiā nín
Let me add you.
This phrase sounds more casual and personal. It can be used in daily scenarios. 👇🏻
可以加我微信
kě yǐ jiā wǒ wēi xìn
You can add me on WeChat.
You need to search for someone’s WeChat ID to add someone as a friend. In most cases, Chinese people would ask to scan your QR code.
When the other side has your phone number already, you can say:
我微信就是电话号
wǒ wēi xìn jiù shì diàn huà hào
My WeChat is my phone number.
When asking to scan their QR code, this is the most common way to add a contact.
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你扫我吧
nǐ sǎo wǒ bā | You can scan my code. |
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我扫你?
wǒ sǎo nǐ? | I will scan your code? |
|
发消息
fā xiāo xī | Send a message. |
Sometimes, the Chinese love to talk about an issue instead of reading or writing long paragraphs. So sending a voice message on WeChat is much more convenient.
给我发语音
gěi wǒ fā yǔ yīn
Send me a voice message.
Sometimes, you end up sending a message with a typo or accidentally the wrong person. Don’t worry. There’s an option to recall the message. Look for this word by holding on the message.
撤回
chè huí
Recall (the message)
In a professional work environment, it has become an etiquette for Chinese people to confirm the receipt of important messages. You usually respond with this simple phrase to ensure that the message is delivered.
收到
shōu dào
Got it.
好的
hǎo de
Okay. Sounds good.
Do you have any other tips to write emails & messages for business in Chinese? We’d love to hear from you in our comments section!
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Writing Business Emails and WeChat Messages || FAQs
What is a common way to start a professional email in Chinese?
You should start with a respectful title like 尊敬的 (zūn jìng de) followed by the recipient’s title and surname, like 尊敬的李总 (zūn jìng de lǐ zǒng).
How do I politely ask someone to reply an email in Chinese?
You can use 请尽快回复 (qǐng jǐn kuài huí fù), which means “Please reply as soon as possible.”
What is an appropriate phrase to close a business email in Chinese?
You can use 此致敬礼 (cǐ zhì jìng lǐ), which is a common way to use as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”
How can I ask someone to add me on WeChat in Chinese?
You can say 可以加我微信 (kě yǐ jiā wǒ wēi xìn), which means “You can add me on WeChat.”
What phrase can I use to confirm receipt of a message on WeChat?
Be sure always to reply 收到 (shōu dào) to confirm you have got the message.
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