Japanese |
English
Equivalent |
Haikei
- Keigu |
The
most common pair used in formal letters. Women sometimes use "Kashiko"
as a closing word instead of "Keigu." |
Zenryaku
- Sousou |
This
pair is less formal. It is usually used when you don't have time to write
a long letter, so |
Ogenki
de irasshaimasu ka.
(very formal)
Ogenki desu ka.
|
Have
you been doing well? |
Ikaga
osugoshi de
irasshaimasu ka.
(very formal)
Ikaga osugoshi desu
ka.
|
How
have you been? |
Okagesama
de
genki ni shite orimasu.
(very formal) |
Fortunately
I'm doing well. |
Kazoku
ichidou
genki ni shite orimasu. |
The
whole family is doing well. |
Otegami
arigatou gozaimashita. |
Thank
you for your letter. |
Nagai
aida
gobusata shite orimashite
moushiwake gozaimasen.
(very formal) |
I
apologize for neglecting to write for such a long time. |
Gobusata
shite orimasu. |
I'm
sorry I haven't written for a long time. |
Gobusata
shite orimasu ga,
ogenki de irasshaimasu ka. |
I'm
sorry I haven't written for a long time, but have you been doing well? |
Sukkari
aki rashiku natte mairimashita ga, ikaga
osugoshi de irasshaimasu ka. |
It
has become very autumn like;
how have you been? |
Samui
hi ga tsuzuite orimasu ga,
ikaga osugoshi desu ka. |
Cold
days continue;
how have you been? |
Douka
yoroshiku
onegai itashimasu. |
Kindly
look after this matter for me. |
~
ni yoroshiku otsutae kudasai. |
Please
give my regards to ~. |
Minasama
ni douzo yoroshiku. |
Please
give my regards to everyone. |
Okarada
o taisetsu ni. |
Please
take care of yourself. |
Douzo
ogenki de. |
Take
care of yourself. |
Ohenji
omachi shite orimasu. |
I
look forward to hearing from |
Ogenki desu ka? Watashi-tachi wa minna genki
desu. Koko Seattle wa iyo-iyo aki ni natte, hi ga dandan dandan mijikaku
natte ikimasu. Yoru samuku natte, soto he iku noni seetaa mo iru kurai
desu. Kotoshi no fuyu wa samusou de, kaze wo hikanai you ni to, ki wo
tsukete imasu. ... ... |
Are you in good health? We're all fine. Here in
Seattle, fall has finally arrived, and the days continue to become shorter
and shorter. At night it's now cold enough that one needs a sweater to go
outside. This winter looks to be a cold one, and we're taking care to
avoid catching cold. ... Etc, etc. |
Hayashi-sensei ni kaite iru no wa ... ... |
The reason I'm writing you is that.... |
O-karada ni ki wo tsukete kudasai.
Jisetsu kara go-jiai kudasai. |
Please take good care of yourself.
(These two are virtually identical in meaning.) |
Keigu, (for men and women)
Sou-sou, (women only)
Kashiko, (women only) |
Closing Salutations |
Ai wo komete,
Anata no tomo |
With love,
Your friend,
These are more western ways of saying your endings |
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