Whether you’re writing to friends, colleagues or to a potential business partner, your main goal is to get your message across, in other words, to ensure the recipient understands you.

　　无论你是写信给朋友、同事还是潜在的商业伙伴，你的主要目标是传达你的信息，换句话说，也就是确保收件人理解你的意思。

　　If you use improper or incorrect language and continuously make mistakes in your e-mail, not only might you fail to make yourself understood, you might also fail to make a good impression on the reader.

　　如果你使用不恰当或不正确的语言，不断地在你的电子邮件中犯错，你不仅不能使别人明白你的意思，更不会给读者留下好的印象。

　　To avoid this, you can run your e-mail through a grammar and spell checker, however, this in itself won’t guarantee that you’re using the right words and expressions.

　　为了避免这种情况，你可以通过语法和拼写检查器来查阅电子邮件，然而，这本身并不能保证你一开始使用正确的单词和语言表达。

　　In this article, you’ll find examples of language that are commonly used in different types of emails, and hopefully, you’ll find the most appropriate one for your message.

　　在本文中，你将找到不同类型电子邮件中常用的语言示例，希望你能找到最适合你的信息。

　　The examples are labelled ’formal’ and ’informal’- please note that most informal expressions are perfectly suitable to use in ’semi-formal’ situations, such as between business associates who have worked together for some time and have established a good relationship.

　　这些例子被分为“正式的”和“非正式的”——请注意，大多数非正式表达都非常适合在半正式的场合使用，例如：在一起工作了一段时间，并且已经建立良好关系的商业伙伴。

　　GREETINGS

　　问候语

　　Formal

　　正式

　　Dear Sir/ Madam,

　　亲爱的先生/女士，

　　Dear Sir or Madam,

　　亲爱的先生或女士，

　　To whom it may concern: (especially AmE)

　　敬启者：(特别是美式英语)

　　Dear Mr/ Ms Jones,

　　尊敬的琼斯先生/小姐，

　　Dear Dr Smith,

　　亲爱的史密斯博士，

　　(note: First names are NOT used. Using Miss or Mrs to address a woman is not appropriate, as you don’t know whether she’s married or not)

　　(注：千万不要直呼姓名。用小姐或女士称呼女人是不合适的，因为你不知道她是否结婚了。)

　　Informal

　　非正式

　　Hi Dennis,

　　嗨，丹尼斯，

　　Hello Claire,

　　你好，克莱尔，

　　Dear Mum,

　　亲爱的妈妈，

　　(note: salutations are followed by a (,) comma, exception: ’To whom it may concern:’)

　　(注：招呼语后跟一个逗号(，)，“敬启者：''除外)

　　REASON FOR WRITING / REPLYING

　　写信/回复的理由

　　Formal

　　正式

　　I am writing to make a reservation/ to apply for the position of…/ to confirm my booking/ to ask for further information about …

　　我写信是为了预定/申请……的职位/确认我的预订/询问有关的进一步信息…

　　I am writing with regard to the sale of …/ to the complaint you made on 29th February

　　我写的是关于...的销售情况/2月29日你提出的投诉。

　　Thank you for your e-mail of 29th February regarding the sale of… / concerning the conference in Brussels.

　　感谢您2月29日关于...销售/关于布鲁塞尔会议的电子邮件。

　　With reference to our telephone conversation on Friday, I would like to let you know that…

　　关于我们星期五的电话交谈，我想让你知道…

　　Semi-formal / Informal

　　半正式/非正式

　　Just a quick note to invite you to…/ to tell you that…

　　只是一个简短的便条邀请你/告诉你…

　　This is to invite you to join us for...

　　这是邀请你加入我们…

　　Thanks for your e-mail, it was wonderful/great to hear from you.

　　谢谢你的电子邮件，收到你的来信真是太好了。

　　I wanted to let you know that / tell you about / ask you if…

　　我想让你知道/告诉你/问你是否…

　　MAKING A REQUEST / ASKING FOR INFORMATION

　　提出请求/询问信息

　　Formal

　　正式

　　Could you please let me know if you can attend … / if you are available for a meeting on 12th December?

　　你能告诉我你是否能参加……/你是否有时间参加12月12日的会议?

　　I would appreciate it if you could please send me a brochure/ if you could please reply within two days.

　　如果您能寄给我一本小册子/如果您能在两天内答复，我将不胜感激。

　　Could you possibly arrange a meeting with the Logistics Manager?

　　你能安排一次和物流经理的会议吗?

　　I would also like to know if there are any swimming pools in your area.

　　我还想知道你们那儿是否有游泳池。

　　Please let me know how much the tickets cost.

　　请告诉我票价多少钱。

　　Informal

　　非正式

　　I was wondering if you could come and see me sometime next week.

　　我想知道你下星期什么时候能来看我。

　　Would you mind coming early to help me clear up the place?

　　请你早点来帮我打扫这个地方好吗?

　　Do you think you could call Jerry for me?

　　你能帮我打电话给杰瑞吗?

　　Can you call me/ get back to me asap? (as soon as possible)

　　你能尽快打电话给我吗?(尽快)

　　OFFERING HELP / GIVING INFORMATION

　　提供帮助/给出信息