How to Say "Dear Sir/madam" in Japanese

拝啓

haikei[ha̠ike̞ː]

The English phrase "dear sir/madam" can be translated into Japanese as 拝啓 (haikei).

拝啓 is a formal expression used at the beginning of letters or emails to convey humility and politeness.

What does it mean word for word?

The characters in 拝啓 literally mean "I humbly beg" or "I humbly state".

haikei

In Japanese letter writing, 拝啓 functions as a formal opening set piece and is often followed by a seasonal greeting.

The character 拝 in 拝啓 refers to the act of bowing or prostrating oneself, mirroring the physical gesture of respect in a written form.
If you use 拝啓 in a letter, you are culturally obligated to include a phrase regarding the current season immediately afterward, such as mentioning the falling cherry blossoms or the summer heat.
There is a more humble version of this greeting, 謹啓, used for extremely formal correspondence or when addressing someone of significantly higher social rank.

ご担当者様へ
To the person in charge
拝啓、時下ますますご清祥のこととお慶び申し上げます。
Haikei, jika masumasu go-seisho no koto to oyorokobi moshiagemasu.
Dear sir/madam, I hope this letter finds you well.
拝啓、季節の変わり目ですがいかがお過ごしでしょうか。
Haikei, kisetsu no kawarime desu ga ikaga osugoshi deshou ka.
Dear sir/madam, how have you been during this change of seasons?
拝啓、突然のお便りにて失礼いたします。
Haikei, totsuzen no o-tayori nite shitsurei itashimasu.
Dear sir/madam, please excuse the sudden letter.

Two colleagues are discussing the formal business letter Yota is writing.

美咲 Misaki

陽太さん、その手紙の書き出しはどうしましたか？
Yota-san, sono tegami no kakishidashi wa dou shimashita ka?
Yota, how did you start that letter?
陽太 Yota

相手の名前がわからないので、拝啓を使いました。
Aite no namae ga wakaranai node, Haikei o tsukaimashita.
Since I don't know the recipient's name, I used 'Dear sir/madam'.
美咲 Misaki

それはとても丁寧で良いですね。
Sore wa totemo teinei de ii desu ne.
That is very polite and good.
陽太 Yota

美咲さんにそう言ってもらえると安心します。
Misaki-san ni sou itte moraeru to anshin shimasu.
I feel relieved to hear that from you, Misaki.

Sources

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