Learn Chinese: Sending a Letter and Asking About Postage
Master the key Mandarin phrases for mailing a letter at a Chinese post office, including how to say 'I'd like to send this letter' and ask about postage costs.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Sending a letter in China is straightforward once you know the right phrases. This lesson focuses on the specific situation of mailing a standard letter at a post office. You will learn how to state your intention politely, ask for the cost of postage, and understand the answer. The key verb is 寄 (jì), meaning 'to send' or 'to mail'. We will practice a polite request pattern using 我想 (wǒ xiǎng) and the measure word 封 (fēng) for letters. By the end, you will be able to handle the transaction confidently, from handing over the letter to paying for the stamp. No prior knowledge of postal vocabulary is assumed, but you should be comfortable with basic greetings and numbers.
By the end, you can…
- politely say 'I'd like to send this letter' in Mandarin.
- ask how much the postage is for a letter to a specific destination.
- understand and respond to a postal clerk's questions about the letter's destination and weight.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
我想寄这封信。
I'd like to send this letter.
Wǒ xiǎng jì zhè fēng xìn.
Use this when handing the letter to the clerk. 想 (xiǎng) softens the request, making it polite.
寄到美国多少钱？
How much does it cost to send to the USA?
Jì dào Měiguó duōshao qián?
Replace 美国 (Měiguó) with your destination country. 多少钱 (duōshao qián) means 'how much money'.
邮费是多少？
What is the postage?
Yóufèi shì duōshao?
A direct way to ask for the postage cost. 邮费 (yóufèi) means 'postage fee'.
我要买一张邮票。
I want to buy one stamp.
Wǒ yào mǎi yì zhāng yóupiào.
Use 张 (zhāng) as the measure word for stamps. 邮票 (yóupiào) means 'stamp'.
我想寄挂号信。
I'd like to send it by registered mail.
Wǒ xiǎng jì guàhàoxìn.
挂号信 (guàhàoxìn) means 'registered mail', which provides a tracking number and requires a signature. Use 寄 (jì) before it, not after.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 我想 + verb + object is a polite way to express 'I'd like to...'. For example, 我想寄这封信 (Wǒ xiǎng jì zhè fēng xìn) means 'I'd like to send this letter'. You can replace the verb and object: 我想买邮票 (Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yóupiào) – 'I'd like to buy stamps'. To ask about cost, use 多少钱 (duōshao qián) at the end of a sentence: 寄到英国多少钱？ (Jì dào Yīngguó duōshao qián?) – 'How much to send to the UK?' Note that 寄 (jì) is the key verb for sending mail, while 送 (sòng) means 'to give as a gift' or 'to deliver' and is not used for mailing letters.
When to use it
Use these phrases at a post office (邮局, yóujú) when you want to mail a letter. Start with 你好 (nǐ hǎo) to greet the clerk, then state your request. If you don't know the postage, ask 邮费是多少？ (Yóufèi shì duōshao?). The clerk may ask 寄到哪儿？ (Jì dào nǎr?) – 'Where to?' You can reply with the country or city: 寄到中国 (Jì dào Zhōngguó) – 'To China'. If you need extra services like registered mail, say 寄挂号信 (jì guàhàoxìn). For international letters, it's common to ask 几天能到？ (Jǐ tiān néng dào?) – 'How many days to arrive?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，我想寄这封信。
Hello, I'd like to send this letter.Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng jì zhè fēng xìn.好的，寄到哪儿？
Okay, where to?Hǎo de, jì dào nǎr?寄到美国。邮费是多少？
To the USA. What's the postage?Jì dào Měiguó. Yóufèi shì duōshao?平信是六块钱，挂号信是十五块。
Regular mail is 6 yuan, registered mail is 15 yuan.Píngxìn shì liù kuài qián, guàhàoxìn shì shíwǔ kuài qián.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese post offices, the clerk may ask about the contents or if the letter contains anything valuable. It's normal to state the destination clearly. Politeness is shown by using 请 (qǐng) when making requests, e.g., 请帮我寄这封信 (Qǐng bāng wǒ jì zhè fēng xìn) – 'Please help me send this letter.' Also, be prepared to pay in cash or by mobile payment; credit cards are not always accepted. The term 平信 (píngxìn) means 'regular mail' (no tracking), while 挂号信 (guàhàoxìn) is 'registered mail' with tracking. Choose based on your need for security.
One thing to watch for
Using 送 (sòng) instead of 寄 (jì) for sending a letter, as in 我想送这封信.
Try this instead: 送 (sòng) means 'to give' or 'to deliver' in person, not to send by mail. Always use 寄 (jì) for mailing: 我想寄这封信 (Wǒ xiǎng jì zhè fēng xìn) – 'I'd like to send this letter.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I'd like to send this letter' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
我想寄这封信。 (Wǒ xiǎng jì zhè fēng xìn.)
This uses the polite pattern 我想 + 寄 + object. 这封信 (zhè fēng xìn) means 'this letter'. You could also say 我要寄这封信 (Wǒ yào jì zhè fēng xìn), which is slightly more direct but still acceptable.
2Ask 'How much is the postage to England?' in Mandarin.
Show a sample answer
寄到英国邮费是多少？ (Jì dào Yīngguó yóufèi shì duōshao?)
This combines the destination 英国 (Yīngguó) with the question 邮费是多少 (yóufèi shì duōshao). Alternatively, you can ask 寄到英国多少钱？ (Jì dào Yīngguó duōshao qián?) – both are correct.
3What does 挂号信 mean, and when would you use it?
Show a sample answer
挂号信 (guàhàoxìn) means 'registered mail'. You use it when you want tracking and a signature upon delivery, which is more secure than regular mail (平信, píngxìn).
挂号信 is ideal for important documents. It costs more but provides proof of sending and delivery. You can say 我要寄挂号信 (Wǒ yào jì guàhàoxìn) – 'I want to send it by registered mail.'
Remember to use 寄 (jì) for mailing letters, not 送 (sòng). The polite request 我想寄这封信 (Wǒ xiǎng jì zhè fēng xìn) and the question 邮费是多少？ (Yóufèi shì duōshao?) will cover most situations at the post office.
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