Chines Words

NAMES, KINSHIP TERMS, TITLES, AND TERMS OF ADDRESS 18.7

X X

18.7 Addressing letters and envelopes

18.7.1 Special terms for the recipient (addressee) and the sender
The name of the recipient is typically followed by recipients title, or the title plus the expression shsu, / qm, or / da qm. / qm and/ da qm are more formal than shsu. All three expressions mean recipient.
The name of the sender may be follow ed by the expression ji or / jipn. / jipn is more formal than ji. Both expressions mean sender.
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Addressing letters and envelopes 18.7
18.7.2 The format of a horizontal envelope (commonly used in mainland China).
Address of the recipient
Name of Recipient / ()
Address of the sender, name of sender / jipn
stam p
!"#$%"&'
!"#=
!"#$%&'
stam p
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NAMES, KINSHIP TERMS, TITLES, AND TERMS OF ADDRESS 18.7 18.7.3 The format of a vertical envelope (commonly used in Taiwan)
stam p
R
e
c
i
p
i
e
n
t
Na m e
/
/

Recipi en t
Addr e ss
Sender
A
d
d
r
e
s
s
&
n
a
m
e
118
Addressing letters and envelopes 18.7
stam p

In vertical format, addresses are written from top to bottom.

18.7.4 Terms used in addresses and their order of presentation
Addresses in China are presented from the largest unit to the smallest. If the postal
code is included in the address, it occurs before the name of the city.
The major regional distinctions used in addresses in order of size are as follows:
/ zhsu xian shi prefecture/state county city
/ /
xipng zhen
village town/tow nship
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NAMES, KINSHIP TERMS, TITLES, AND TERMS OF ADDRESS 18.7
The terms used to refer to the units in street addresses differ somew hat in Taiwan and in mainland China. Here is a summary of the most common terms. The term hutong alley is used in Beijing, though as streets are restructured, alleys are being eliminated.
Terms used in Taiwan
Terms used in mainland China
duan / qt
xiang
long
lm
lu
/ hao
section district
alley
alley, lane neighborhood road, street number
/ qt () (da)jiq lu
hutong / hao
district street
road, street alley number
Tw o sample addresses in Beijing:
!"#$%&'NU
!"#$%&'NU
Blijrng shi xrcheng qt hongxrng hutong 18 hao 18 Red Star Alley, West District, Beijing
!"#$%"&'
!"#$%"&'
Blijrng shi xrn jiq knu nan da jiq shi hao 10 South Xinjiekou Street, Beijing
In Beijing, street names often make reference to their location inside or outside of a traditional city gate. Here is an example:
!"#
!"#
Jianguo men wai da jiq
The big street outside of the Jianguo Gate.
Three sample addresses in Taiwan:
!"#$%&NSO
!"#$%&NSO
Taibli shi Heping dsng lu yr duan 162 hao 162 Section 1 Hoping East Road, Taipei
QMTQQ= !"#$%&'NUN
QMTQQ= !"#$%&'NUN
40744 Taizhsng shi xr tun qt Taizhsng gkng lu spn duan 181 hao 181 Section 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Xitun district, Taichung, 40744
!"#$%&'#()*+(,QO
!"#$%&'#()*+(,QO
Gpoxiong xian qrngshum zhen ynngkpng xipng, zhen nan lm gpng shpn nan lu 42 hao
42 South Gangshan Road, Zhennan Neighborhood, Yongkang Village, Qingshui Township, Gaoxiong (County)
For greetings and goodbyes in letters, see I 20.3
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19 Introductions
19.1 The general format of introductions
Formal introductions use the polite classifier for people, wei.
!"#$ %&'$ !"#$ %&'$ Zhe wei shi Liu Xikodsng. Zhe wei shi Wang Meiling.
This (person) is Liu Xiaodong. This (person) is Wang Meiling.
Neutral introductions have the following format.
!"#$%&#
!"#$%&#
Zhe shi Liu Xikodsng. Zhe shi Wang Meiling. This is Liu Xiaodong. This is Wang Meiling.
The most common and neutral response to an introduction is:

Nm hko.
Hello. (lit. How are you?)
More formal responses to an introduction include:
!"#$
!"#$
Hln gpoxing renshi nm.
Im very happy to meet you.

Jio ykng.
I have w anted to make your acquaintance for a long time.
jio ykng is often said twice.
!"
!"
Jio wen da ming.
I have heard so much about you.