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信件 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
信件xìnjiànletter (sent by mail)HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #5797, Very Hard
xìnjiàn(xin4jian4)xin jian T4
  1. 1letter (sent by mail)
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March 24, 2026

信件xìnjiàn(xin4jian4)

信件 refers to a letter or correspondence typically sent through the postal service. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing communication that is not electronic, such as personal letters or official documents.

Strokes15Frequency#5797DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, sending a 信件 can carry significant emotional weight, especially for personal communications. During holidays like the Chinese New Year, many people send letters to express good wishes and maintain connections with family and friends.

Memory tip

Think of 信 as 'trust' or 'faith'—letters are often a trusted way to communicate. The character 件 sounds like 'jian', which can remind you of 'janitor', who often has to sort and deliver letters. Together, they create a vivid image of important messages being delivered with care.

Meanings of 信件

xìnjiàn(xin4jian4)
1letter (sent by mail)
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About 信件

信件Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 信件

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Podcast: 信件

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AI study notes for 信件

Quick Contrast

邮件 (yóujiàn) refers to mail or packages, while 信件 (xìnjiàn) specifically denotes letters or written correspondence.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 信件; it is more formal than just 'letter' (信). Common collocations include '发送信件' (send a letter) and '收到信件' (receive a letter). A common mistake is to use '信' alone when referring to a letter in formal contexts, which may sound too casual.

HSK Study Tips

Although 信件 is not specifically listed in the HSK vocabulary, it can be beneficial for learners at HSK Level 3 and above who are working on writing skills. Focus on using it in sentences discussing communication, as this will help reinforce your understanding of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 信件 with 信, using the former in informal contexts where only the latter is appropriate. For example, saying '我收到信件' in a casual conversation may sound overly formal; it's better to say '我收到信' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 信件

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Component characters

信xìnletter
HSK 39 strokes亻
View full entry
件jiànitem
HSK 16 strokes亻
View full entry

How to say letter (sent by mail) in Chinese

“letter (sent by mail)” in Chinese is信件xìnjiàn

信件 refers to a letter or correspondence typically sent through the postal service. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing communication that is not electronic, such as personal letters or official documents.

When to use 信件

Be mindful of the context in which you use 信件; it is more formal than just 'letter' (信). Common collocations include '发送信件' (send a letter) and '收到信件' (receive a letter). A common mistake is to use '信' alone when referring to a letter in formal contexts, which may sound too casual.

信件 or something close to it

邮件 (yóujiàn) refers to mail or packages, while 信件 (xìnjiàn) specifically denotes letters or written correspondence.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 信件 with 信, using the former in informal contexts where only the latter is appropriate. For example, saying '我收到信件' in a casual conversation may sound overly formal; it's better to say '我收到信' instead.

Write 信件

信
件

Practice writing 信件 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently asked questions about 信件

You can say '我写了一封信件给我的朋友' (I wrote a letter to my friend).

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