How to Say "Letters" in Japanese

手紙

tegami[te̞ɡa̠mʲi]

The Japanese phrase for "letters" is 手紙 (tegami).

手紙 refers to written messages sent to a person through a postal service.

How do you pronounce it?

tegami

While the Japanese word 手紙 means 'letters', the exact same characters in Chinese refer to 'toilet paper'.
Japanese culture has a specific tradition called nengajo, which are postcards sent specifically as New Year's greetings.
When writing a formal 手紙, it is traditional to begin with a seasonal greeting rather than jumping straight to the main topic.

手紙は書かないよ。
I don't write letters.
This sentence is useful for stating that you do not write 手紙.
Tatoeba #9415442 by small_snow, translation #6356817 by CK
手紙は燃やしたよ。
I burned the letters.
This sentence is useful for saying that you burned the 手紙.
Tatoeba #10570960 by small_snow, translation #10570955 by CK
手紙は配達されません。
The letters won't be delivered.
This sentence is useful for stating that the 手紙 will not be delivered.
Tatoeba #10952575 by bunbuku, translation #10952571 by CK
61 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two siblings are organizing their desk at home.

陽太 Yota

この手紙は誰のもの？
Kono tegami wa dare no mono?
Whose letter is this?
陽葵 Himari

それは私の手紙だよ。
Sore wa watashi no tegami da yo.
That is my letter.
陽太 Yota

陽葵は手紙をたくさん持っているね。
Himari wa tegami o takusan motte iru ne.
Himari, you have a lot of letters, don't you?
陽葵 Himari

はい、大切に保管しているの。
Hai, taisetsu ni hokan shite iru no.
Yes, I am keeping them safe.

Sources

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