How to Say 'Dear Mr. Smith' in Chinese: Formal Email Greetings
Learn to open formal Chinese emails with the right greeting. Master 尊敬的, 您好, and job titles to address professors, managers, and officials politely.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Writing a formal email in Chinese can feel tricky because the greeting must match the recipient's status and your relationship. Unlike English, where 'Dear Mr. Smith' works in many situations, Chinese often requires a title, a respectful term, and sometimes a colon instead of a comma. This lesson focuses only on openings—how to address someone at the very start of a formal email. You will learn the most common patterns, when to use 尊敬的 (zūn jìng de) versus just the name, and how to avoid sounding too casual or too stiff. By the end, you will be able to write a polite, appropriate greeting for professors, managers, and officials.
By the end, you can…
- write a formal email greeting using 尊敬的 + title + surname.
- choose between 您好 and 你好 based on formality.
- address a professor, a manager, and a government official correctly.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
尊敬的史密斯先生：
Dear Mr. Smith:
zūn jìng de shǐ mì sī xiān sheng
Use 尊敬的 before the full name or surname + title. The colon (：) is standard in formal Chinese letters. This is very respectful and common in business or official emails.
尊敬的王教授：
Dear Professor Wang:
zūn jìng de wáng jiào shòu
For academics, always use their title like 教授 (professor) instead of 先生/女士. Never write 王先生 if they are your professor.
李经理，您好：
Manager Li, hello:
lǐ jīng lǐ, nín hǎo
Slightly less formal than 尊敬的 but still polite. Use for someone you have met or work with regularly. 您好 is the respectful 'hello'.
张主任，你好：
Director Zhang, hello:
zhāng zhǔ rèn, nǐ hǎo
Use 你好 (not 您好) when writing to a colleague of similar rank or someone you know well. 主任 means director or head of an office.
尊敬的陈局长：
Dear Director Chen:
zūn jìng de chén jú zhǎng
For government officials, use their administrative title like 局长 (bureau director). 尊敬的 is almost always required here.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The most formal pattern is 尊敬的 + [surname] + [title] + ：. For example, 尊敬的张老师： (zūn jìng de zhāng lǎo shī) means 'Dear Teacher Zhang'. If the person has no specific title, use 先生 (xiān sheng, Mr.) for men or 女士 (nǚ shì, Ms.) for women after the surname: 尊敬的王女士：. For a less formal but still polite opening, use [surname] + [title] + ，您好：, such as 李经理，您好：. Note that Chinese uses a colon (：) after the greeting, not a comma. Also, 您好 (nín hǎo) is the respectful form of 'hello', while 你好 (nǐ hǎo) is casual.
When to use it
Use 尊敬的 when writing to someone of higher status, an official, a professor, or someone you have never met. For example, a job application to a manager should start with 尊敬的王经理：. Use the pattern without 尊敬的 when you already have a working relationship or the person is your peer. For instance, 刘老师，您好： is fine for a teacher you know. If you are unsure, 尊敬的 is always safe. Avoid using 亲爱的 (qīn ài de) unless you are writing to a close friend or family member; it sounds too intimate for business. For government officials, always include their full title, like 尊敬的李局长：.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
尊敬的王教授：您好！我是中文系的学生李明。
Dear Professor Wang: Hello! I am Li Ming, a student in the Chinese department.zūn jìng de wáng jiào shòu: nín hǎo! wǒ shì zhōng wén xì de xué sheng lǐ míng.李明同学，你好！很高兴收到你的邮件。
Student Li Ming, hello! I am glad to receive your email.lǐ míng tóng xué, nǐ hǎo! hěn gāo xìng shōu dào nǐ de yóu jiàn.谢谢您！我想请教一个问题，关于您的课程。
Thank you! I would like to ask a question about your course.xiè xie nín! wǒ xiǎng qǐng jiào yī gè wèn tí, guān yú nín de kè chéng.没问题，请讲。
No problem, please go ahead.méi wèn tí, qǐng jiǎng.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese formal emails, the greeting often includes both a respectful address and a polite 'hello' like 您好. Using the correct title is crucial; calling a professor 先生 instead of 教授 can seem disrespectful. Also, Chinese emails often start with the recipient's surname and title, not just 'Dear Sir/Madam'. If you do not know the name, use 尊敬的先生/女士： (zūn jìng de xiān sheng/nǚ shì), but this is less personal. Always use a colon after the greeting, not a comma.
One thing to watch for
Using 亲爱的 (qīn ài de) to mean 'Dear' in a formal email, as in 亲爱的史密斯先生：.
Try this instead: 亲爱的 is only for close relationships. In formal contexts, use 尊敬的 (zūn jìng de) instead. For example, write 尊敬的史密斯先生： to mean 'Dear Mr. Smith'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you greet your professor, surnamed Liu, in a formal email?
Show a sample answer
尊敬的刘教授：
This uses 尊敬的 + surname + title (教授) + colon. It is the standard respectful greeting for a professor. You could also add 您好 after the colon, but the address alone is correct.
2What is wrong with '亲爱的王经理：' in a business email?
Show a sample answer
亲爱的 is too intimate for a business context; use 尊敬的王经理： instead.
亲爱的 implies a close personal relationship. In formal business writing, 尊敬的 is the appropriate term. Some very close colleagues might use 亲爱的 jokingly, but it is not standard.
3How do you say 'Dear Director Chen' in a formal email?
Show a sample answer
尊敬的陈局长：
This uses 尊敬的 + surname + administrative title (局长). For government officials, always use their official title. 陈局长 alone without 尊敬的 is possible but less formal.
For formal Chinese email openings, remember: 尊敬的 + surname + title + ：. Use 您好 for respect, and always match the title to the person's role. Avoid 亲爱的 unless you are writing to someone close.
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