My journey of a empting to write a networking email to a Japanese employee I know has been
u erly pathetic and embarrassing. An email that I was supposed to send three month ago has been
procrastinated to today, and I’m not even sure if he remembers me. Similarly, communicating with
my Japanese professors via email has always been a torture. I can sit in front of the computer screen
for hours contemplating whether my word-use is appropriate, how to use greetings, and how to open
and close the email without sounding like I copied and pasted from an online template. So, here are
what I found:
Opening/Closing
拝啓 (Haikei): Dear
敬具 (Keigu): Sincerely yours
Opening Greetings
Final Greetings
Thank you’s
〜心より御礼申しあげます。(~ kokoro yori orei moushi agemasu): ~thank you from the bo om of
my heart.
誠にありがとうございました。(Makoto ni arigatou gozaimashita): Thank you very much.
おかげさまで~ (okagesamade~): Thanks to you…
~深く感謝しております。 (~ fukaku kansha shite orimasu): I really appreciate it…
胸がいっぱいになりました。(Mune ga ippai ni narimashita): I am filled with gratitude.
Sorry’s
申し訳ありませんでした。(Moushi wake arimasen deshita): I am really sorry.
~お詫び申し上げます。(~owabi moushi agemasu): ~ I apologize.
ご迷惑をおかけしました。(Gomeiwaku o okake shimashita): I am sorry for the inconvenience.
大変ご心配をおかけいたしました。(Taihen goshinpai o okake itashimashita): I am sorry that you
worried about me.
~お恥ずかしいかぎりです。(~ohazukashi kagiri desu): I am so embarrassed that…
不注意で~ (Fuchuui de~): Due to carelessness~
Transitions
Other phrases
Sources
About.com (h p://japanese.about.com/od/grammarlessons/a/101401.htm), Go e
(h p://email.cho u.net/index.html#phrase), Midori (h p://www.midori-japan.co.jp/le er/)
Advertisements
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged emailing, how-to, japanese, le er, writing. Bookmark the
permalink.
13 Comments
1. toranosuke REPLY
6 years ago
I am perpetually forge ing these things. What to write? How to open? How to close? (Well, I
usually close with どうぞよろしくおねがいいたします or an equivalent of the appropriate
politeness level, but…)
I definitely revisited this post yesterday to write that stack of 年賀状 I’m also glad that this
post was helpful to you — your feedback is much appreciated. Happy Everything.
3. Shaune REPLY
4 years ago
Awesome Post 、ありがとうございます︕
4. Ben REPLY
3 years ago
Thank you!
This post was very helpful.
Best of luck in the future.
5. Jake REPLY
3 years ago
Thanks for the list!
Do you have an example for how “拝啓 (Haikei): Dear” and “敬具 (Keigu): Sincerely yours”
should be used? For example, does it go before or after the name of the person you are
addressing?
Here is how I use “拝啓 (Haikei): Dear” and “敬具 (Keigu): Sincerely yours.”
English:
Dear Mr. Tanaka,
Thank you for your le er.
Sincerely,
Jake
Japanese:
田中様
拝啓 お手紙どうもありがとうございました。
敬具
ジェーク
This is a good example. I would not use 拝啓 and 敬具 in emails. Hope that helps!
6. Johna541 REPLY
3 years ago
y g
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles. Ill bookmark your weblog and check
again here regularly. I’m quite certain I will learn plenty of new stuff right here! Good luck for the
next! deaekkakc a
7. coffeebot3000 REPLY
2 years ago
Hello. I was wondering how I could say something like:
Thanks a lot.
8. Megan REPLY
2 years ago
Thanks a lot for the post!
9. アニル REPLY
2 years ago
It’s really useful! ありがとうございました︕