Written Letters of Correspondance. Language & Structure.

[Long Zhiren]

Does anyone know of a good reference for learning how to write a letter in Chinese?

What traditional language and structure might there be?

What common written salutations might exist besides: 親愛的 ?

Is this a common closing: 身體健康? What others are there?

Are such forms obsolete now and more people going to "Western" forms?

Are addresses on the outside of envelopes uniformly "global-local" in order vs the "local-global" Western pattern? How do they work, line by line?

For example, the US pattern is:

Mr title-and-name-go-here

1111 address rd

city, state, zip-code

country (if international mail)

The properly used Chinese pattern is the following, line by line? Are the commas used?

台灣, 台北市, 士林區, 什麼 路五段

53巷7號7～8樓

And how are the mixes of Roman/Phoenician script being interchanged with Chinese characters now?

Please excuse my use of traditional characters. I suppose I just default to them; and most of my near term communication occurs with Hong Kong and Taiwan. Follow-up can be traditional or simplified. It's all the same to me. :-)

Thanks!

[889]

For just that sort of thing I use 中国现代应用文 Zhongguo Xiandai Yingyong Wen by 北京语言学院 Beijing Yuyan Xueyuan. My copy, copyrighted 1986, was published in Hong Kong by 三联书店 San Lian Shu Dian but I'm sure I've seen it published on the Mainland as well.

[Shadowdh]

This may help also as it is supposed to have details of all that sort of thing... I have just ordered a copy so cant tell you exactly how good it is but it does look pretty good...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0415215846/qid=1136668487/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-6664193-5919044

[elina]

The properly used Chinese pattern is the following' date=' line by line? Are the commas used?

台灣, 台北市, 士林區, 什麼 路五段

53巷7號7～8樓[/quote']

I would write on the outside of envelope without commas:

台灣台北市士林區什麼路五段

53巷7號7～8樓

中国现代应用文 Zhongguo Xiandai Yingyong Wen by 北京语言学院 Beijing Yuyan Xueyuan. My copy, copyrighted 1986,

I think this book is already sold out.

There are some other relevant books:

BLCU PRESS:

Chinese Writing (Grade Two)

http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=317300&userid=7912&catid=662814

USD 2.50

HSK Intensive Training Before Test: Composition (Advanced)

http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=319967&userid=7912&catid=662814

USD 4.00

Business Writing in Chinese

http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=317302&userid=7912&catid=662814

USD 2.50

PEKING UNIVERSITY PRESS:

Introduction to Chinese Writing

http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=313190&userid=7912&catid=662814

USD 3.13

Progressive steps of Chinese writing for foreign students

http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=313629&userid=7912&catid=662814

USD 3.88

A Guide to Chinese Essay Writing For Foreigners

http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=313197&userid=7912&catid=662814

USD 3.25

SINOLINGUA BEIJING:

Practical Writing for Foreigners Living in China (Chinese – English- Japanese)

http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=315391&userid=7912&catid=662814

USD 3.25