Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 信 | xìn | /ɕin⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /ɕiə̯ɻ⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Erhua, Sinological IPA, 信兒 / 信儿) |
|
| 信件 | xìnjiàn | /ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /sɵn³³ kiːn²²⁻³⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
|
| 書信 / 书信 | shūxìn | ||
| 尺牘 / 尺牍 | chǐdú | literary | |
| 批 | phoe, phe | /pʰue⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, Lukang, Kinmen, Philippines, Sinological IPA, Hsinchu, Sanxia, Magong) /pʰue³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, Lukang, Kinmen, Philippines, Sinological IPA, Hsinchu, Sanxia, Magong) |
Hokkien |
| 批信 | phoe-sìn, phe-sìn | /pʰue³³ sin⁴¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Singapore, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /pʰue⁴⁴⁻²² sin²¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Singapore, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) |
Hokkien |
The term 信 is a versatile and widely used term for letter in Chinese, often representing formal written communication. You may also encounter related terms such as 信纸 for letter paper used for writing letters, or 便条 for a brief and concise message or memo used in casual settings.
Which one should you use?
While 信 is the common, everyday way to say 'letter', other forms exist for specific contexts. 信件 is a more formal or collective term for letters and mail, and 书信 is a formal term often used in written contexts to refer to correspondence. For an archaic or poetic term found in traditional Chinese literature or historical texts, you might see 信札 or the highly formal, classical literary term 尺牍.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
信 is the common, everyday way to say 'letter'. For more formal or official contexts, use 信件 or 书信. In classical or highly literary settings, one might use 尺牍 or 信札.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Dungan language, the word for letter can be фущин or фузы. In Hokkien, you may use 批 or the combination 批信.
How does it change in a sentence?
The classifier 封 is used when counting letters.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is xìn. The IPA is /ɕin⁵¹/.
Did you know?
- The classical term for a letter, 尺牍 (chǐdú), literally translates to 'a stick of bamboo'. This refers to the ancient practice of writing on thin strips of bamboo instead of paper.
- In Chinese, the concept of 'trust' and 'faith' is represented by the same character 信 used for a 'letter'. This links the reliability of a written message to the character's broader meaning of sincerity.
- The word 信 is also used in the phrase 信号 to mean 'signal' in the context of electronics and telecommunications, reflecting its core meaning of 'information' or 'news'.
Examples in context
- 它是封长信。It was a long letter.This sentence is useful for describing the length of a 信.Tatoeba #5670808 by verdastelo9604, translation #42224 by CK
- 你有一封信。There is a letter for you.This sentence is useful for stating that someone has a 信.Tatoeba #9057897 by xjjAstrus, translation #680993 by Source_VOA
- 他来信了吗？Have you received a letter from him?This sentence is useful for asking about receiving a 信.Tatoeba #12686373 by soueihin, translation #1256941 by CK
- 请查收我发送的信。Please check the letter I sent you.
- 这封书信是我的正式道歉函。This letter is my formal apology.
- 请帮我写张便条给玛丽，告诉她我会迟到。Please help me write a note to Mary telling her I will be late.
- 231 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yuting tells Haoran about a letter she received.
- 雨婷 Yuting我收到了一封信。Wǒ shōudào le yì fēng xìn.I received a letter.
- 浩然 Haoran是谁写的？Shì shéi xiě de?Who wrote it?
- 雨婷 Yuting是我奶奶写的信。Shì wǒ nǎinai xiě de xìn.It is a letter written by my grandmother.
- 浩然 Haoran那太好了。Nà tài hǎo le.That's wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “letter” translations and entries 信, 信件, 批, 批信, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
