How should you start a letter in Chinese?

Question

How should you start a letter in Chinese? More specifically, what's the difference between starters such as 尊敬的，亲爱的，and 敬爱的, and in which cases should you use which one?

写信的时候，“尊敬的”、”亲爱的“、与“敬爱的” 有什么分别？

Edit: I do know that 尊 and 敬 both mean respect, and 亲 means love between friends or family.

There is no 尊爱的. It should be 尊敬的. – fefe Mar 28 '19 at 05:21 — fefe, Mar 28 '19 at 05:21

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 29 '19 at 01:34

5

"尊敬的": to your boss or leader (the person who has power and you are not familiar with)

"亲爱的": to your mother or lover, etc.

"敬爱的": the person who teach you, guide you, and also care about you or love you. (tutor, teacher, mentor, etc.)

edited Mar 29 '19 at 01:34

answered Mar 29 '19 at 01:01

Xuling Chang

66
2

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 29 '19 at 13:37

I have never used any of these starters, even at the time I used paper to write the letters and mailed them. I would start with something very simple, such as 张老师、李先生、王女士. Translating “dear” into Chinese makes me uncomfortable. I could be old-fashioned!

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 28 '19 at 23:25

1

"亲爱的" is equivalent to "Dear".

尊敬的 is a more respectful manner to start.

answered Mar 28 '19 at 23:25

Salomon Zhang

111
3

How should you start a letter in Chinese?

3 Answers3