信件
xìnjiàn/ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/
In Chinese, the phrase for letters is 信件 (xìnjiàn).
信件 refers to written messages sent from one person to another by mail. It is used when discussing correspondence in a general sense or when referring to letters as a category.
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of 信 (xìn), meaning 'letter' or 'trust' and 件 (jiàn), a suffix used for items or pieces of correspondence.
Which one should you use?
While 信 (xìn) can mean a single letter, 信件 (xìnjiàn) is a more formal or collective term used to refer to correspondence as a category or a collection of letters.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting individual letters, use the specific measure word 封 (fēng) instead of the general measure word 个 (gè).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is xìnjiàn. The IPA is /ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/.
Did you know?
- The character 信 (xìn) is composed of two parts: 人 meaning 'person' and 言 meaning 'speech'. Together they symbolize that a person's word is their bond, which is why the word for 'letter' also means 'trust' or 'faith'.
- The specific measure word for letters, 封 (fēng), originally referred to the act of sealing a document with wax or glue. This reflects an ancient time when the security of a 'letter' depended entirely on its physical seal.
- In modern digital contexts, Chinese speakers often use 私信 (sīxìn), meaning 'private letter', to refer to a Direct Message (DM) on social media platforms like Weibo.
Examples in context
- 他扔了很多旧信件。He threw away a bunch of old letters.This sentence shows how to use 信件 when talking about throwing away old letters.Tatoeba #347080 by fucongcong, translation #301098 by CK
- Fiona的信件越來越少。Fiona's letters were becoming less and less frequent.This sentence shows the use of 信件 regarding the frequency of letters.Tatoeba #779075 by Martha, translation #719402 by CP
- 你不能未经允许就看别人的私人信件。You shouldn't read other people's private letters without permission.This sentence shows the use of 信件 in the context of private correspondence.Tatoeba #334818 by fucongcong, translation #530552 by wma
Example conversation
Junjie and Yuting are in a cafe discussing an old hobby.
- 俊杰 Junjie你还保留着以前的信件吗？Nǐ hái bǎoliú zhe yǐqián de xìnjiàn ma?Do you still keep your old letters?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，我把这些信件都收藏起来了。Shì de, wǒ bǎ zhèxiē xìnjiàn dōu shōucáng qǐlái le.Yes, I have collected all these letters.
- 俊杰 Junjie这些信件看起来很有年代感。Zhèxiē xìnjiàn kàn qǐlái hěn yǒu niándài gǎn.These letters look quite old.
- 雨婷 Yuting因为它们承载了很多回忆。Yīnwèi tāmen chéngzài le hěnduō huíyì.Because they carry many memories.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 信件, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
