电子邮件 (diàn zǐ yóu jiàn) is the standard word for 'email' in Chinese. It's a combination of 电子 (diàn zǐ), meaning 'electronic', and 邮件 (yóu jiàn), meaning 'mail'.
You'll use this word frequently in daily conversations and professional settings. For example, if you want to say 'I sent you an email,' you would say '我给你发了一封电子邮件' (Wǒ gěi nǐ fā le yī fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn).
It's very straightforward. Just remember the three characters: 电 (electric), 子 (suffix for a noun, or child), 邮 (postal), 件 (item/letter). It literally means 'electronic postal item'.
电子邮件 (diàn zǐ yóu jiàn) is the standard and most common way to say "email" in Chinese. It's a direct translation: 电 (diàn) means "electric," 子 (zǐ) means "child/suffix" (forming a compound with 电 to mean electronic), and 邮件 (yóu jiàn) means "mail."
You'll use 电子邮件 in both formal and informal contexts. For example, you might say "给我发一封电子邮件" (gěi wǒ fā yī fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn) meaning "Send me an email."
While less common in everyday speech, you might also encounter the shorter form 电邮 (diànyóu), especially in writing or on platforms with character limits. However, 电子邮件 is always safe to use.
§ Understanding 电子邮件 (diànzǐ yóujiàn)
You've learned 电子邮件 (diànzǐ yóujiàn) means 'email.' It's a straightforward word, and you'll hear it a lot in daily conversation and business settings. But what about other ways to communicate in Chinese? Let's break down when to use 电子邮件 and how it compares to similar terms.
- DEFINITION
- 电子邮件 (diànzǐ yóujiàn): electronic mail; email
§ When to Use 电子邮件
Use 电子邮件 when you are talking about sending or receiving an email, or when referring to an email address. It's precise and leaves no room for misunderstanding in the digital communication age.
请给我发一封电子邮件。 (Qǐng gěi wǒ fā yī fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn.)
- HINT
- Please send me an email.
我的电子邮件地址是 [email protected]。 (Wǒ de diànzǐ yóujiàn dìzhǐ shì [email protected].)
- HINT
- My email address is [email protected].
§ Comparing with Similar Words
§ 短信 (duǎnxìn) - Text message
短信 refers to a text message, usually sent via mobile phone. It's shorter and more informal than an email.
他给我发了一条短信。 (Tā gěi wǒ fā le yī tiáo duǎnxìn.)
- HINT
- He sent me a text message.
§ 微信 (Wēixìn) / 消息 (xiāoxi) - WeChat / Message
WeChat is extremely popular in China. When people say 微信 or 消息, they often mean a message sent through the WeChat app. This is typically for instant messaging, much like WhatsApp or iMessage.
我给你发了条微信。 (Wǒ gěi nǐ fā le tiáo Wēixìn.)
- HINT
- I sent you a WeChat message.
请查看你的消息。 (Qǐng chákàn nǐ de xiāoxi.)
- HINT
- Please check your messages.
§ 信 (xìn) - Letter (physical mail)
信 (xìn) is the traditional word for a letter, a physical piece of mail sent through the postal service. While still used, it's becoming less common for everyday communication compared to digital methods.
我收到了一封他的信。 (Wǒ shōudào le yī fēng tā de xìn.)
- HINT
- I received a letter from him.
§ Key Takeaway
When you need to be clear about sending an email, stick with 电子邮件. For quick, informal digital communication, 短信 or 微信 are your go-to words. If you're talking about old-school paper mail, then it's 信. Keeping these distinctions clear will make your Chinese communication much more accurate and natural.
How Formal Is It?
"请将您的简历发送至我们的公司电子邮件地址。"
"我给你发了一封邮件，你收到了吗？"
"我等下email你。"
"我们可以用小信件互相告诉对方好玩的事情。"
"你把文件电邮给我一下，我看看。"
Exemples par niveau
请把会议纪要发到我的电子邮件地址。
Please send the meeting minutes to my email address.
电子邮件地址 (email address)
我每天早上都会检查我的电子邮件。
I check my email every morning.
检查电子邮件 (check email)
他回复我的电子邮件很快。
He replied to my email quickly.
回复电子邮件 (reply to email)
我给你发了一封电子邮件，你收到了吗？
I sent you an email, did you receive it?
发电子邮件 (send email), 收到电子邮件 (receive email)
这份文件可以通过电子邮件发送。
This document can be sent via email.
通过电子邮件 (via email)
请在电子邮件中附上你的简历。
Please attach your resume to the email.
在电子邮件中附上 (attach to the email)
我的电子邮件收件箱里有很多垃圾邮件。
My email inbox has a lot of spam.
电子邮件收件箱 (email inbox), 垃圾邮件 (spam)
如果你有任何问题，可以给我发电子邮件。
If you have any questions, you can send me an email.
给我发电子邮件 (send me an email)
我需要你的电子邮件地址以便发送文件。
I need your email address to send the file.
请检查你的电子邮件，我刚刚给你发了一封。
Please check your email, I just sent you one.
工作上，我们主要通过电子邮件沟通。
For work, we mainly communicate via email.
这封重要的电子邮件被我误删了。
I accidentally deleted this important email.
他每天早上都会查看电子邮件。
He checks his email every morning.
你能把会议纪要发到我的电子邮件吗？
Can you send the meeting minutes to my email?
收到这封电子邮件后，请立即回复。
After receiving this email, please reply immediately.
我创建了一个新的电子邮件账户。
I created a new email account.
我需要把这份报告通过电子邮件发给老板。
I need to send this report to my boss via email.
请问你的电子邮件地址是什么？
May I ask what your email address is?
我每天都会查收电子邮件，以免错过重要信息。
I check my email every day to avoid missing important information.
他给我发了一封电子邮件，解释了项目的进展情况。
He sent me an email explaining the progress of the project.
很多公司现在都倾向于通过电子邮件进行日常沟通。
Many companies now prefer to communicate daily via email.
你收到我昨天发的电子邮件了吗？
Did you receive the email I sent yesterday?
请确保你的电子邮件里包含了所有必要的文件附件。
Please make sure your email includes all necessary file attachments.
我在等待他们的回复电子邮件，希望能尽快得到消息。
I am waiting for their reply email, hoping to get news soon.
Souvent confondu avec
This means 'to send mail/email'. It uses 邮件, which is a common shortened form of 电子邮件 in this context.
This means 'to receive mail/email'. Similar to '发邮件', it uses the shortened form.
This means 'mailbox' or 'email inbox'. While related to email, it's the place where emails are stored, not the email itself.
Facile à confondre
This is often confused with 电子邮件 because it's a shorter form. However, 邮件 is a more general term for 'mail' which could refer to physical mail or email.
电子邮件 (diàn zǐ yóu jiàn) specifically means 'electronic mail' or 'email'. 邮件 (yóu jiàn) can mean 'email' but also encompasses traditional 'mail' or 'post'. When you want to be precise about email, 电子邮件 is clearer.
我需要检查我的邮件。(Wǒ xūyào jiǎnchá wǒ de yóujiàn.) - I need to check my mail. (Could be email or physical mail, context dependent.) 请把这个发送到我的电子邮件地址。(Qǐng bǎ zhège fāsòng dào wǒ de diànzǐ yóujiàn dìzhǐ.) - Please send this to my email address.
信 means 'letter' (traditional mail) and can be used in some compounds related to mail. Learners might mistakenly use it for 'email'.
信 refers to a physical letter. 电子邮件 is specifically electronic mail. While an email can be considered a 'letter' in a very broad sense, in Chinese, '信' is distinct from '电子邮件'.
我写了一封信给我的朋友。(Wǒ xiě le yī fēng xìn gěi wǒ de péngyou.) - I wrote a letter to my friend. 你收到我的电子邮件了吗？(Nǐ shōudào wǒ de diànzǐ yóujiàn le ma?) - Did you receive my email?
短信 means 'short message' or 'text message'. Since both are electronic communication, learners might mix them up.
短信 is for text messages, typically on a mobile phone. 电子邮件 is for email, sent via the internet and usually accessed through an email client or web browser.
我给你发了一条短信。(Wǒ gěi nǐ fā le yī tiáo duǎnxìn.) - I sent you a text message. 请通过电子邮件发送文件。(Qǐng tōngguò diànzǐ yóujiàn fāsòng wénjiàn.) - Please send the document via email.
留言 means 'to leave a message' or 'a message'. This can be confusing because email is a form of leaving a message.
留言 is a more general act of leaving a message (e.g., voicemail, written note, or a comment online). 电子邮件 is the specific method of sending an electronic message via email.
请给我留言。(Qǐng gěi wǒ liúyán.) - Please leave me a message. 我把信息发到你的电子邮件了。(Wǒ bǎ xìnxī fā dào nǐ de diànzǐ yóujiàn le.) - I sent the information to your email.
讯息 is a more formal term for 'information' or 'message', which can sometimes overlap with the idea of an email containing information.
讯息 is a general term for 'message' or 'information', often used in more formal contexts or news. 电子邮件 is the specific communication medium.
我们收到了重要的讯息。(Wǒmen shōudào le zhòngyào de xùnxī.) - We received important information/news. 请查看你的电子邮件获取更多详情。(Qǐng chá kàn nǐ de diànzǐ yóujiàn huòqǔ gèng duō xiángqíng.) - Please check your email for more details.
Astuces
Practice pronunciation with tones
Say "diàn zǐ yóu jiàn" out loud, focusing on the 4th tone for diàn and jiàn, and the 3rd tone for zǐ and yóu. Tones are crucial in Chinese!
Break down the characters
Understand the meaning of each character: 电 (diàn) means electricity, 子 (zǐ) means child/seed (often used as a suffix for 'thing'), 邮 (yóu) means post/mail, and 件 (jiàn) means item/document. So, literally, it's 'electric mail item'.
Use it in a simple sentence
Try saying "我发送了一个电子邮件" (Wǒ fāsòng le yí ge diànzǐ yóujiàn) - "I sent an email."
Connect to related words
Relate it to other words you might know: 电话 (diànhuà) - telephone, 电脑 (diànnǎo) - computer. Notice the common character 电 (diàn) for electricity.
Visual association
Imagine an email icon or the act of sending an email when you think of "电子邮件".
Practice writing the characters
Even if you're not focusing on writing characters yet, try tracing 电, 子, 邮, and 件 to help solidify their form in your mind.
Listen to native speakers
Find audio clips or videos where "电子邮件" is used. Pay attention to how native speakers pronounce it in natural conversation about email.
Create a flashcard
Make a flashcard with "电子邮件" on one side and "email" on the other. Include a simple example sentence.
Think of common phrases
Think about how you'd ask for an email address: "你的电子邮件地址是什么？" (Nǐ de diànzǐ yóujiàn dìzhǐ shì shénme?) - "What is your email address?"
Daily usage reminder
Every time you check your email, mentally say "电子邮件" to reinforce the word in your daily routine.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine 'dian' (点, dot) as a tiny 'electron' (电, diàn) that 'zǐ' (子, child/seed) sends through the 'you' (邮, post) to become a 'jian' (件, item) – an electronic mail item.
Association visuelle
Visualize an old-fashioned mailbox (yóu jiàn) with a lightning bolt (diàn) striking it, and tiny electronic particles (zǐ) flying out, representing an email.
Word Web
Défi
Try to say 'I need to send an email' in Chinese. (Hint: 我需要发电子邮件。Wǒ xūyào fā diànzǐ yóujiàn.)
Teste-toi 42 questions
What do I need to send?
What did I ask if you received?
How should I send the document?
Read this aloud:
请给我你的电子邮件地址。
Focus: diàn zǐ yóu jiàn dì zhǐ
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我没有收到你的电子邮件。
Focus: méi yǒu shōu dào
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
用电子邮件联系我。
Focus: lián xì
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You need to send an email to your Chinese friend, Xiaoming, to invite him to your birthday party next Saturday. Write a short email (3-4 sentences).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
亲爱的小明，你好！我想邀请你来参加我的生日会。我的生日会在下周六。期待你的回复！
Imagine you received an email from your Chinese teacher asking about your homework. Write a reply (2-3 sentences) saying you will send it tomorrow.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
老师，您好！我收到了您的电子邮件。我的作业明天会发给您。谢谢！
You want to ask your Chinese colleague, Li Hua, for her email address. Write a short message (1-2 sentences).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
李华，你好！请问你的电子邮件地址是什么？
小王给朋友发电子邮件是为了什么？
Read this passage:
小王给他的朋友发了一封电子邮件，问他周末有没有时间一起去踢足球。小王说他的电子邮件地址是 [email protected]。
小王给朋友发电子邮件是为了什么？
文章中提到小王发电子邮件是“问他周末有没有时间一起去踢足球”，所以是为了邀请朋友踢足球。
文章中提到小王发电子邮件是“问他周末有没有时间一起去踢足球”，所以是为了邀请朋友踢足球。
丽丽为什么觉得写电子邮件很花时间？
Read this passage:
丽丽今天收到了很多电子邮件，都是关于工作的事情。她需要一个一个地回复。她觉得写电子邮件很花时间。
丽丽为什么觉得写电子邮件很花时间？
文章中说“丽丽今天收到了很多电子邮件，都是关于工作的事情。她需要一个一个地回复。”表明她因为邮件数量多而觉得花时间。
文章中说“丽丽今天收到了很多电子邮件，都是关于工作的事情。她需要一个一个地回复。”表明她因为邮件数量多而觉得花时间。
大卫为什么要去问班长？
Read this passage:
大卫想给他的老师发一封感谢的电子邮件。他不知道老师的电子邮件地址，所以他去问了班长。班长把老师的电子邮件地址告诉了他。
大卫为什么要去问班长？
文章中明确提到“他不知道老师的电子邮件地址，所以他去问了班长”。
文章中明确提到“他不知道老师的电子邮件地址，所以他去问了班长”。
This sentence means 'Please send me an email.' The structure is 'Please + send + a + (measure word) + email + to me.'
This sentence means 'I need to write an email.' The structure is 'I + need to + write + a + (measure word) + email.'
This sentence means 'Do you have my email address?' The structure is 'You + have + my + email + address + (question particle)?'
The speaker is asking for meeting details via email.
Someone received an email about project progress and needs confirmation.
This email is to inform about a cancellation.
Read this aloud:
我可以把这份文件通过电子邮件发给你吗？
Focus: 电子邮件 (diàn zǐ yóu jiàn)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
请问你的电子邮件地址是什么？
Focus: 电子邮件地址 (diàn zǐ yóu jiàn dì zhǐ)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我需要回复那封电子邮件。
Focus: 回复 (huí fù)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You need to send an urgent email to your Chinese colleague, Li Wei, about a project deadline. Write a short email in Chinese to remind him, ask for his progress, and offer help if needed. Make sure to include a clear subject line and a polite closing.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
主题：关于[项目名称]项目截止日期的提醒 李伟， 你好！ 希望你一切顺利。我想提醒你一下，[项目名称]项目的截止日期快到了。请问你的进展如何？如果你在项目中有任何需要帮助的地方，请随时告诉我。 谢谢！ 祝好， [你的名字]
Imagine you're replying to a customer service email. The customer is asking for more information about a product. Write a professional and informative email in Chinese. Include details about the product's features and how they can purchase it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
尊敬的客户， 您好！ 感谢您对我们[产品名称]产品的关注。此产品的主要特点是[特点1]，[特点2]和[特点3]。如果您想购买，可以通过我们的官方网站或前往我们的实体店。如果您有任何其他问题，请随时与我们联系。 谢谢！ 此致， [你的公司名称]
You are organizing a team dinner and need to send an email to your colleagues to confirm their attendance. Write a short, friendly email in Chinese, including the date, time, and location of the dinner, and ask them to RSVP by a specific date.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
亲爱的同事们， 大家好！ 为了庆祝我们最近的成功，我们计划在[日期]晚上[时间]在[地点]举行一次团队聚餐。请在[回复截止日期]之前回复我，以便我们确认人数。期待与大家共进晚餐！ 谢谢！ [你的名字]
根据这封电子邮件，会议的主题是什么？
Read this passage:
主题：关于新项目会议的通知 亲爱的同事们， 大家好！ 请注意，我们关于新项目的首次会议将于下周二上午10点在会议室A举行。本次会议将讨论项目的目标、时间表和团队分工。请大家务必准时参加，并提前准备好任何相关问题。 期待大家的到来。 祝好， [你的名字]
根据这封电子邮件，会议的主题是什么？
邮件的主题行明确指出是“关于新项目会议的通知”。
邮件的主题行明确指出是“关于新项目会议的通知”。
如果客户在使用手机时遇到问题，他们应该怎么做？
Read this passage:
尊敬的客户， 您好！ 感谢您购买我们的最新款智能手机。为了确保您能充分利用这款手机的所有功能，我们建议您访问我们的官方网站下载详细的用户手册。此外，如果您在使用过程中遇到任何问题，可以随时联系我们的客服团队，我们将竭诚为您服务。 谢谢！ 此致， [公司名称]客服部
如果客户在使用手机时遇到问题，他们应该怎么做？
邮件中提到“如果您在使用过程中遇到任何问题，可以随时联系我们的客服团队”。
邮件中提到“如果您在使用过程中遇到任何问题，可以随时联系我们的客服团队”。
下周一的团队例会与往常有什么不同？
Read this passage:
主题：关于下周一团队例会的提醒 各位团队成员， 大家好！ 请大家记住，我们下周一的团队例会将提前一小时，也就是上午9点开始，地点仍在原会议室。会议内容将包括上周工作总结和下周工作计划。请大家提前做好准备。 谢谢合作！ [你的名字]
下周一的团队例会与往常有什么不同？
邮件中明确指出“我们下周一的团队例会将提前一小时，也就是上午9点开始”。
邮件中明确指出“我们下周一的团队例会将提前一小时，也就是上午9点开始”。
This sentence asks someone to send a file to the speaker via email. The common structure for 'sending something via a method' is '把 [object] 通过 [method] 发给 [recipient]'.
This sentence means 'I received an important email yesterday, from my boss.' The clause '来自我的老板' functions as an additional detail about the email.
This sentence translates to 'To confirm the meeting time, I sent her an email.' '为了' introduces the purpose of the action.
Choose the most appropriate synonym for "电子邮件" in a formal business context.
While '信件' and '书信' refer to letters, and '电邮' is an informal abbreviation, '函件' (correspondence) is a broader term that encompasses various forms of written communication, including formal emails in a business setting, making it the most appropriate synonym for a C2 level understanding.
Which of the following phrases best describes the function of an "电子邮件" in a modern, professional setting?
At a C2 level, understanding the nuanced role of email in professional contexts is crucial. While email can be used for fast communication, personal information, and urgent notices, its primary and most defining function in a modern professional setting is as a platform for formal business exchanges.
In a scenario where you need to attach a large document to an "电子邮件", what is the most common and practical approach to ensure successful delivery?
For large attachments, directly attaching them to an email can cause delivery issues due to size limits. Splitting into multiple emails is inefficient, and mailing a hard drive is outdated and impractical. Using cloud storage and sharing a link is the most common, professional, and efficient solution at a C2 level of practical understanding.
It is generally acceptable to use highly informal language and slang in a business "电子邮件" to a client you've never met.
In a C2-level professional context, maintaining a formal and respectful tone in business emails, especially to new clients, is crucial. Informal language and slang are generally inappropriate and can convey a lack of professionalism.
If an urgent issue arises outside of working hours, sending an "电子邮件" is always the most effective and immediate way to get a response from a colleague.
While emails are common, for urgent issues outside of working hours, a phone call or an instant message is often more immediate and effective than an email, which might not be checked until the next working day. A C2 learner should understand the limitations of email for truly time-sensitive matters.
When sending a "电子邮件" with sensitive information, it is best practice to always encrypt the email or use a secure file transfer method.
At a C2 level, understanding data security is paramount. For sensitive information, relying solely on standard email protocols is often insufficient. Encryption or secure file transfer methods are best practices to protect confidentiality.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Practice pronunciation with tones
Say "diàn zǐ yóu jiàn" out loud, focusing on the 4th tone for diàn and jiàn, and the 3rd tone for zǐ and yóu. Tones are crucial in Chinese!
Break down the characters
Understand the meaning of each character: 电 (diàn) means electricity, 子 (zǐ) means child/seed (often used as a suffix for 'thing'), 邮 (yóu) means post/mail, and 件 (jiàn) means item/document. So, literally, it's 'electric mail item'.
Use it in a simple sentence
Try saying "我发送了一个电子邮件" (Wǒ fāsòng le yí ge diànzǐ yóujiàn) - "I sent an email."
Connect to related words
Relate it to other words you might know: 电话 (diànhuà) - telephone, 电脑 (diànnǎo) - computer. Notice the common character 电 (diàn) for electricity.
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Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Plus de mots sur technology
万能插头
A2Universal adapter.
航天
B1The science and technology of travel beyond Earth's atmosphere into outer space.
人工智能
B1The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems, including learning, reasoning, and self-correction.
附件
B1An extra document, file, or piece of equipment that is sent along with a main letter, email, or device. Essential for digital literacy and office communication.
自动化
B1The use of largely automatic equipment in a system of manufacturing or other production process to reduce human intervention.
区块链
C1blockchain
突破
B1A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development. It involves overcoming a significant obstacle or limitation.
宽带
B1A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously; high-speed internet.
浏览
B1To browse, skim through, or look over quickly without reading in great detail.
照相机
A1Camera.
