WHAT TO WRITE IN A FORMAL

JAPANESE LETTER OR EMAIL

Since Ive been having quandaries about writing letters in Japanese to my professors,

potential employers, etc. using professional and honorific language, I thought Id

share some useful information and expressions I came across while doing research on

mail/letter writing in .

My journey of attempting to write a networking email to a Japanese employee I know

has been utterly pathetic and embarrassing. An email that I was supposed to send

three month ago has been procrastinated to today, and Im not even sure if he

remembers me. Similarly, communicating with my Japanese professors via email has

always been a torture. I can sit in front of the computer screen for hours

contemplating whether my word-use is appropriate, how to use greetings, and how

to open and close the email without sounding like I copied and pasted from an online

template. So, here are what I found:

 Opening/Closing

(Haikei): Dear

(Keigu): Sincerely yours

Opening Greetings

(Ogenki de irasshaimasu ka): How are you doing? Very

formal

(Ogenki desu ka): How are you doing? Formal

(Otegami arigatou gozaimashita): Thank you for your

letter.

(Ohisashiburi desu): Long time no talk.

(Sassoku no henji arigatou gozaimashita): Thank

you for the quick reply.

(ohenji ga okurete, shitsurei itashimashita): Sorry

for my late reply.

(Totuzen no meeru, shiturei itashimasu): Sorry for the

sudden mail.

~ (Oisogashii tokoro taihen moushiwake

gozaimasenga): Sorry to interrupt while you are busy, but~

 Final Greetings

(~ ni yoroshiku otsutae kudasai): Please give my regards

to ~

(Ohenji omachi shite orimasu): I look forward to hearing

from you.

(Douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu): Best regards,

or please take care of

(Goshitumon,

gofumei na ten ga gozaimashitara okigaruni otoiawase kudasai): If you have any

questions or confusion, please feel free to ask me.

Thank yous

(~ kokoro yori orei moushi agemasu): ~thank you from the

bottom of my heart.

(Makoto ni arigatou gozaimashita): Thank you very much.

~ (okagesamade~): Thanks to you

~ (~ fukaku kansha shite orimasu): I really appreciate it

(Mune ga ippai ni narimashita): I am filled with gratitude.

 Sorrys

(Moushi wake arimasen deshita): I am really sorry.

~ (~owabi moushi agemasu): ~ I apologize.

(Gomeiwaku o okake shimashita): I am sorry for the

inconvenience.

(Taihen goshinpai o okake itashimashita): I am sorry

that you worried about me.

~ (~ohazukashi kagiri desu): I am so embarrassed that

~ (Fuchuui de~): Due to carelessness~

Transitions

~ (Sassoku desuga~): Without delay~

~ (Mata~): In addition, ~

~ (Sate~): Now, ~

~ (Kono tabi~): At this time~

~ (Kongo wa~): From now on~

~ (Tsukimashitewa~): Therefore~
 Other phrases

(Totemo tasukari mashita): It really helped.

(Taihen osewa ni narimashita): Your help has been enormous.

~ (~shite itadakemasen deshouka): Could you please~

(do this favor for me)?

(Makoto ni omedetougozaimasu): Congratulations!

~ (~itadakereba saiwai desu): I would really appreciate it if you

could~

~ (~tanoshimi ni shiteorimasu): I am looking forward to~