2008年4月13日 星期日

英文書信敬語

雖然現代人寫 email 很方便,但有時候方便不代表可以隨便。
以下是在網路上找到的各式說明,規則林林總總一大堆。
但說真的,要怎麼用還是要看個別情況而定,最重要的是掌握好情境和跟對方的交情,這樣就比較不會用錯了!


Commercial English - Letters

You write toHow to begin the letterHow to end the letter
an unknown firm/person (BE) (AE)Dear Sir/Madam (BE) (AE)Yours faithfully (BE)
Dear Sir or Madam (BE) (AE)Yours truly (AE)
To whom it may concern (AE)Truly yours (AE)
a woman whose name you don't knowDear Madam (BE) (AE)Yours faithfully (BE)
Yours truly (AE)
Truly yours (AE)
a man whose name you don't knowDear Sir (BE) (AE)Yours faithfully (BE)
Yours truly (AE)
Truly yours (AE)
a person whose name you knowDear Mr/Mrs/Ms Fisher (BE) (AE)Yours sincerely (BE)
Very truly yours (AE)
Sincerely (yours) (AE)
a person you know personallyDear Ann/John (BE) (AE)(With) Best wishes (BE) (AE)
Yours (BE)
Love (BE)
All the best (AE)
Kindest/Best regards (AE)



美語達人 Mike 劉之「非傳統英語教學區」
「結尾敬語」(Complimentary Closing)


「結尾敬語」區分「正式」、「半正式」與「非正式」三種:
  1. 「正式」用法(外交與宗教信函):
    Respectfully yours,
    Respectifully,
  2. 「半正式」用法(政府部門與公司行號):
    Very truly yours,
    Yours truly,
    Yours very truly,
    Very cordially yours,
    Very sincerely yours,
  3. 「非正式」用法(一般私人信件):
    Sincerely,
    Sincerely yours,
    Best regards,
    Best wishes,
    Cordially,
    Cordially yours,
    Regards,
    Love,
    Kindest/Warmest regards





常春藤網路書店網站 FAQ
一般英文書信結尾的敬語用法如下:
  • 用於平輩
    Sincerely, Sincerely yours, Yours sincerely, Best regards, My best regards
  • 用於商業書信
    Truly yours, Yours truly
  • 用於對高官、師長及其他長者
    Respectfully, Respectfully yours, Yours respectfully
  • 家人、親人或情人之間則常用下列充滿感情的結尾語
    Love, Lots of love, our dear friend, Your sweetheart


英文書信結束語 (很多,很強大!)
商業英文書信常用結束語
Closing Phrases & Sentences Generally Used in Business Letters Closing Phrases & Sentences Generally Used in Business Letters

  1. 我們盼望於近日內接獲回信等。
    1. We hope to receive your favour at an early date.
    2. We hope to be favoured with a reply with the least delay.
    3. We await a good news with patience.
    4. We hope to receive a favourable reply per return mail.
    5. We await the pleasure of receiving a favourable reply at an early date.
    6. We await the favour of your early (prompt) reply.
    7. A prompt reply would greatly oblige us.
    8. We trust you will favour us with an early (prompt) reply.
    9. We trust that you will reply us immediately.
    10. We should be obliged by your early (prompt) reply.
    11. Will your please reply without delay what your wishes are in this matter?
    12. Will you kindly inform us immediately what you wish us to do.
    13. We request you to inform us of your decision by return of post.
    14. We are awaiting (anxious to receive) your early reply.
    15. We thank you for the anticipated favour of your early reply.
    16. We should appreciate an early reply.
    17. We thank you in anticipation of your usual courteous prompt attention.
    18. We thank you now for the courtesy of your early attention.
    19. We hope to receive your reply with the least possible delay.
    20. Kindly reply at your earliest convenience.
    21. Please send your reply by the earliest delivery.
    22. Please send your reply by messenger.
    23. Please reply immediately.
    24. Please favour us with your reply as early as possible.
    25. Please write to us by tonight's mail, without fail.
    26. May we remind you that we are still awaiting your early reply.
    27. May we request the favour of your early reply?
    28. A prompt reply would help us greatly.
    29. A prompt reply will greatly oblige us.
    30. Your prompt reply would be greatly appreciated.
    31. Your prompt attention to this matter would be greatly esteemed.
    32. We look forward to receiving your early reply.
    33. We thank you now for this anticipated courtesy.
    34. As the matter is urgent, an early reply will oblige.
    35. We reply on receiving your reply by return of post.

  2. 回信請用電報等。
    1. We await your reply by telegraph.
    2. Please wire reply to our telegram of this morning.
    3. We are anxiously awaiting your reply by telegram.
    4. Please arrange for your telegraphic reply, or long distance call, to reach us before noon on Monday.
    5. Cable reply immediately, using Western Union Code.
    6. Please acknowledge by wire the receipt of these instructions.
    7. Please do not fail to telegraph your reply immediately on receipt of this letter.
    8. Please telegraph your decision without delay as we have offers awaiting.
    9. Please telegraph reply immediately, our offices will be open until 9 pm
    10. Oblige us by replying by telegram before noon tomorrow, as we have another offer.
    11. Inform us by telegram of your lowest quotations.
    12. Wire me at the Grand Hotel. Yokohama, before noon.
    13. Wire in time for us to write you in reply by 7 pm mail.
    14. Telegraph me from Osaka before noon stating your telephone numbers.
    15. Kindly reply me by wire (telegraphically).
    16. We should be pleased to have you telegraphically reply us.

  3. 關於某某事項,謹表謝意等。
    1. Please accept our thanks in advance for your usual kind attention.
    2. Please accept our thanks for the trouble you have taken.
    3. We are obliged to you for your kind attention in this matter.
    4. We are greatly obliged for your trial order just received.
    5. We wish to assure you of your appreciation of your courtesy in this matter.
    6. We thank you for your order just received.
    7. We thank you for the special care you have given to the matter.
    8. We tender you our sincere thanks for your generous treatment of us in this affair.
    9. Allow us to thank you for the kindness extended to us.
    10. We are very sensible of your friendly services on our behalf, for which please accept our sincere thanks.

  4. 請原諒我的回信延遲……等。
    1. Please excuse my late reply to your very friendly letter of March 1.
    2. I hope you will forgive me for not having written you for so long.
    3. I hope you will excuse me for not having replied to you until today.
    4. I humbly apologize you for my delay in answering to your kind letter of May 5.
    5. I have to (must) apologize you for not answering your letter in time.
    6. I must ask you to kindly accept our excuses, late as they are.

  5. 我們對您的關照,謹致謝意等。
    1. We request you to accept our warmest thanks for the anticipated favour.
    2. We thank you in advance for the anticipated favour.

  6. 我們時刻不不忘盡我們所能,為您服務等。
    1. We assure you of our best services at all times.
    2. We shall spare no efforts in endeavouring to be of services to you.
    3. We shall be pleased to be of service to you at all times.

  7. 請原諒給您添了麻煩等。
    1. We hope you will pardon us for troubling you.
    2. We regret the trouble we are causing you.
    3. I regret the trouble it caused you.
    4. We trust you will excuse us for this inconvenience.
    5. We wish to crave your kind forbearance for this trouble.
    6. We solicit your forbearance for such an annoyance.
    7. We trust you will overlook this botheration, which we exceedingly regret.
    8. Kindly excuse me for troubling you in this matter.

  8. 請寬恕某某事項等。
    1. Please excuse this clerical error.
    2. We tender you our apology for the inconvenience this error may have caused you.
    3. We request you to accept our regret for the error of our clerk.
    4. We greatly regret that we have caused you such a inconvenience.
    5. We wish to express our regret for the annoyance this mistake has caused you.
    6. We frankly admit we were at fault and we are anxious to repair the consequences.

  9. 請多加關照等。
    1. We solicit a continuance of your valued favour
    2. We solicit a continuance of your confidence and support.
    3. We hope we may receive your further favour.
    4. We hope to receive a continuance of your kind patronage.
    5. We request you to favour us with a continuance of your kind support.
    6. We solicit a continuance of your kind patronage.

  10. 如有機會,我們必會報答您等。
    1. It would give us a great pleasure to render you a similar service should an opportunity occur.
    2. We wish to reciprocate the goodwill.
    3. We shall on a similar occasion be pleased to reciprocate.
    4. We hope to be able to reciprocate your good offices on a similar occasion.
    5. We are always ready to render you such or similar services.
    6. We shall at all times be willing to reciprocate such or similar favour.
    7. We shall be happy to have an opportunity of reciprocating to you on a similar occasion.

  11. 今天我已經講完應報告事項等。
    1. With nothing further to add today.
    2. With nothing more for today.
    3. Without anything further for the present.
    4. With nothing further for the present.
    5. Without anything more to communicate for today.
    6. Without more to write you by this mail.
    7. Without further to advise you today.
    8. We have no more (nothing further) to tell (inform) you today.

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