Phrases de politesse et salutations pour e-mails pros chinois
The most reliable way to open a professional email in Chinese is to use 您好 or 尊敬的 + title + surname, then close with 此致敬礼 or another context-appropriate formula. In business writing, the safest choices are respectful, concise, and role-based: they signal professionalism without sounding overly intimate or overly stiff.
Salutations formelles
In professional emails, it is essential to use respectful salutations. Begin with 您好 (nín hǎo), the formal version of “hello,” equivalent to “vous” in French. For higher-ranking individuals, use 尊敬的 (zūn jìng de) followed by their title and surname, such as 尊敬的刘总 (zūn jìng de Liú zǒng), meaning “Dear Director Liu”. Titles like 经理 (jīnglǐ) for “Manager” or 总 (zǒng) for “Director” should follow the surname to show respect. 1, 4
In practice, the choice depends on hierarchy and familiarity. 您好 is polite and safe when the relationship is neutral or when the exact title is unknown. 尊敬的 sounds more formal and is suitable for clients, senior colleagues, public institutions, or initial contact. In Chinese business culture, getting the title right matters more than using an elaborate greeting.
A few useful patterns appear often in real emails:
- 您好，刘经理： — Hello, Manager Liu:
- 尊敬的王总： — Dear Director Wang:
- 您好，张老师： — Hello, Teacher Zhang:
- 尊敬的李女士： — Dear Ms. Li:
Using the surname before the title is the standard structure in Chinese. Unlike English business emails, where “Dear Mr. Smith” is fixed and familiar, Chinese often emphasizes职务, or role, as part of the address. That makes titles like 总, 经理, 老师, 主任, and 先生/女士 especially important.
A common pitfall is using only a given name, which can feel too direct in formal contexts. Another is using a generic greeting such as 亲爱的 (“dear”), which is usually better reserved for personal messages and can sound inappropriate in business correspondence.
Formules de politesse dans le corps
During the email body, maintain a courteous tone. Express gratitude with 谢谢 (xièxiè) for “thank you” or 非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè) for “thank you very much,” which conveys deeper appreciation. When requesting action, use polite phrases like 请查阅附件 (qǐng cháyuè fùjiàn), meaning “please review the attachment,” or 敬请查阅 (jìng qǐng cháyuè), a more formal “kindly review”. To apologize for inconvenience, say 如有不便之处，敬请见谅 (rú yǒu bú biàn zhī chù, jìng qǐng jiàn liàng), meaning “we apologize for any inconvenience”. 4, 1
A professional Chinese email usually keeps requests indirect and efficient. Instead of issuing commands, it often uses softening words such as 请 (“please”), 麻烦 (“to trouble”), or 烦请 (“kindly please”). These expressions reduce bluntness while keeping the message clear.
Common business phrases include:
- 请您查收。 — Please check and receive it.
- 烦请您回复。 — Kindly reply.
- 请于周五前确认。 — Please confirm by Friday.
- 如有任何问题，欢迎随时联系。 — If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.
- 感谢您的支持与配合。 — Thank you for your support and cooperation.
One especially useful distinction is between 谢谢 and 感谢. 谢谢 is the everyday “thank you,” while 感谢 feels more formal, especially in written business communication. In a short internal email, 谢谢 may be enough. In a client-facing message, 非常感谢您的帮助 sounds more polished.
It also helps to match tone to the level of urgency. A message asking for a quick correction can stay polite while remaining direct:
- 烦请您尽快确认。 — Kindly confirm as soon as possible.
- 麻烦您核对一下。 — Please help verify this.
- 如需修改，敬请告知。 — If changes are needed, please let us know.
The phrase 如有不便之处，敬请见谅 is especially useful when the email announces a delay, a change, or a request that may inconvenience the recipient. It softens the message and shows awareness of the other person’s time.
Formules de clôture
End the email with a respectful closing. The most formal and widely recommended closing is 此致敬礼 (cǐ zhì jìnglǐ), equivalent to “sincerely” or “best regards.” Alternatives include 顺祝商祺 (shùn zhù shāngqí), meaning “wishing you business success,” often used in commercial contexts, and 祝好 (zhù hǎo), a simpler “best wishes”. For personal care, 保重 (bǎo zhòng) means “take care”. 3, 1
Closings in Chinese emails are not random sign-offs; they reflect relationship and context. 此致敬礼 is the safest all-purpose formal closing for business and official correspondence. 顺祝商祺 carries a distinct commercial tone and is most natural in sales, purchasing, supplier communication, and client management. 祝好 is shorter and less ceremonial, which makes it suitable for routine internal messages or ongoing working relationships.
A few practical examples:
- 此致敬礼
王敏 - 顺祝商祺
李华 - 祝好
陈静
In Chinese formatting, the closing phrase often appears on its own line, followed by the signature below it. This layout is familiar in office communication and makes the message easy to scan quickly.
It is also common to omit a closing phrase in very brief internal emails, especially when the exchange is already ongoing. Even then, a polite final line such as 谢谢 or 辛苦了 can keep the tone warm without becoming verbose. 辛苦了 is especially common in workplaces, where it can mean something like “thanks for your hard work.”
Signature professionnelle
Include a complete signature with your name, title, company, phone number (电话), and email address (邮箱). This ensures clarity and professionalism, especially in ongoing business communication.
A strong professional signature in Chinese usually follows a simple structure:
- 姓名
- 职位
- 公司名称
- 电话
- 邮箱
When communicating with Chinese partners, it is useful to keep the signature readable and uncluttered. A signature that clearly shows the person’s role and contact details reduces follow-up questions and makes reply chains easier to manage.
Modèles utiles d’e-mails professionnels en chinois
A few standard templates cover most business situations.
1. Premier contact
尊敬的王经理：
您好！
我是张伟，来自ABC公司。非常感谢您抽出时间阅读这封邮件。
我们希望就合作事宜与您进一步沟通，烦请您查看附件。
如有任何问题，欢迎随时联系。
此致敬礼
张伟
电话：……
邮箱：……
This version works because it is polite, clear, and efficient. It introduces the sender, states the purpose early, and ends with an easy reply invitation.
2. Demande de confirmation
您好，李总：
感谢您一直以来的支持。
烦请您于今天下班前确认附件内容。
如有不便之处，敬请见谅。
顺祝商祺
陈静
This pattern is common when a deadline is involved. The time limit is explicit, but the tone remains respectful.
3. Relance courte
尊敬的刘女士：
您好！
关于上周发送的报价单，烦请您查收并回复。
谢谢您的时间。
祝好
王磊
Short follow-up emails in Chinese often rely on directness plus one polite phrase. The combination keeps the message businesslike without sounding abrupt.
Erreurs fréquentes à éviter
Several mistakes can make a Chinese business email sound unnatural or impolite.
- Using 亲爱的 too casually in business contexts.
- Addressing someone only by their given name.
- Choosing the wrong title, especially when 先生/女士 would be safer than guessing a job title.
- Writing a message that is too abrupt, with no thanks or softening phrase.
- Using a closing that is too personal, such as 爱你 or overly familiar expressions, in a professional exchange.
Another frequent issue is over-translating English email habits. A direct English-style opening like “Dear John,” or a closing like “Best” may not fit Chinese business norms. Chinese email etiquette usually prefers role-aware address forms and clear markers of respect.
For learners, the main goal is not to memorize dozens of phrases but to recognize the level of formality each phrase signals. In practice, a small set of reliable formulas covers most situations. Spoken practice helps here too, because the difference between 您好, 尊敬的, and 谢谢 becomes easier to feel when used in realistic exchanges.
Formules rapides à retenir
For everyday professional Chinese emails, these formulas cover the essentials:
- 您好 — formal hello
- 尊敬的 + title + surname — very respectful salutation
- 谢谢 / 非常感谢 — thank you / thank you very much
- 请查阅附件 — please review the attachment
- 烦请回复 — kindly reply
- 如有不便之处，敬请见谅 — sorry for any inconvenience
- 此致敬礼 — formal closing
- 顺祝商祺 — business closing
- 祝好 — best wishes
- 电话 / 邮箱 — phone / email in the signature
Used well, these expressions make Chinese business emails sound natural, respectful, and easy to act on.