La lettre 30秒了解
- A written message sent by post.
- A character of the alphabet.
- Feminine noun.
- Used for personal and formal communication.
- Definition
- A letter is a written message, typically sent by post, addressed to a specific person or organization.
- Usage
- In French, 'la lettre' is used in various contexts. It can refer to a physical letter sent through the mail, a written communication in general, or even a character in the alphabet (though 'la lettre' in this sense is less common than 'le caractère'). It's a fundamental word for expressing written communication.
I received a lettre from my grandmother.
She wrote a lettre of complaint.
This lettre is the first of the alphabet.
- Etymology
- The word 'lettre' comes from the Latin word 'littera', which also means 'letter' or 'alphabet'. This Latin root is shared with many other European languages, highlighting the ancient origins of written communication.
- Historical Significance
- Letters have played a crucial role throughout history, enabling the spread of knowledge, the administration of empires, and the connection between individuals across distances. From ancient correspondence to modern-day epistles, 'la lettre' represents a fundamental form of human interaction and record-keeping.
- Modern Usage
- In contemporary France, while emails and digital messages are prevalent, physical letters still hold a special significance for formal communications, personal greetings, and official documents. 'La lettre' also appears in compound phrases like 'lettre d'amour' (love letter) or 'lettre de motivation' (cover letter), demonstrating its continued relevance.
- Basic Sentence Structure
- 'La lettre' is a feminine singular noun. It will typically be preceded by a definite article ('la'), an indefinite article ('une'), or a possessive adjective ('ma', 'ta', 'sa', etc.).
J'ai reçu une lettre ce matin.
Il a écrit sa lettre d'adieu.
- Common Verbs
- Verbs commonly associated with 'la lettre' include 'écrire' (to write), 'envoyer' (to send), 'recevoir' (to receive), 'lire' (to read), and 'ouvrir' (to open).
Tu dois écrire une lettre à tes parents.
Nous allons envoyer la lettre par la poste.
Elle a hâte de recevoir sa lettre.
- Specific Types of Letters
- 'La lettre' is often used in specific contexts to denote particular types of written correspondence.
C'est une lettre d'amour très touchante.
Elle a écrit une lettre de motivation pour le poste.
N'oublie pas de signer ta lettre.
- Plural Form
- The plural form is 'les lettres'. This can refer to multiple letters or, in a more abstract sense, the letters of the alphabet.
J'ai reçu trois lettres aujourd'hui.
Les lettres de cet alphabet sont difficiles à prononcer.
- In the Mail System
- You'll frequently hear 'la lettre' when people discuss sending or receiving mail. Imagine a conversation at a post office ('la poste') or when someone asks if you've checked your mailbox ('la boîte aux lettres').
"Est-ce que tu as regardé ta boîte aux lettres ? Il y a peut-être une lettre pour toi."
- Formal and Official Communications
- In professional or administrative settings, 'la lettre' is very common. Think of job applications, official notifications, or legal documents. The term 'lettre de motivation' (cover letter) is a prime example you'll hear during job searches.
"J'ai envoyé ma lettre de candidature hier."
- Personal Correspondence
- Even with modern technology, personal letters are still written and exchanged, especially for special occasions or to convey deep feelings. You might hear conversations about 'une lettre d'amour' or 'une lettre de félicitations' (congratulations letter).
"Elle m'a écrit une adorable lettre pour mon anniversaire."
- In Education
- In language classes, 'la lettre' is used when discussing the alphabet, spelling, and writing. Teachers might ask students to identify 'les lettres' or spell words.
"Pouvez-vous épeler votre nom ? Quelles sont les lettres ?"
- Figurative Language
- Occasionally, 'lettre' can be used metaphorically, though this is less common for beginners. For example, a 'lettre de cachet' was a historical royal decree, but this usage is very specific and dated.
Le roi a signé une lettre de cachet.
- Confusing 'Lettre' with 'Caractère'
- A common error is using 'la lettre' to refer to a single character of the alphabet when 'le caractère' is more precise in linguistic or typographic contexts. While 'la lettre' can sometimes mean a character, it's primarily for written messages. For example, if you're discussing the alphabet, 'les lettres' is acceptable, but if you're talking about a specific symbol, 'le caractère' is better.
Incorrect: "Le caractère 'A' est la première lettre de l'alphabet."
Correct: "Le caractère 'A' est la première lettre de l'alphabet." (Here, 'lettre' is acceptable as it refers to a letter of the alphabet, but 'caractère' could also be used.)
More precise: "Le caractère 'A' est le premier caractère de l'alphabet."
- Gender Agreement
- Forgetting that 'lettre' is a feminine noun is a common mistake. This affects the articles and adjectives used with it. Always remember 'la lettre', 'une lettre', 'cette lettre', etc.
Incorrect: "J'ai reçu le lettre."
Correct: "J'ai reçu la lettre."
Correct: "C'est une lettre importante."
- Overuse in Digital Contexts
- While 'lettre' refers to a physical letter, learners might sometimes use it inappropriately for emails or text messages. In French, 'un e-mail' or 'un message' are more common for digital communication. Using 'lettre' for an email can sound archaic or incorrect.
Incorrect: "Je t'ai envoyé une lettre par e-mail."
Correct: "Je t'ai envoyé un e-mail."
Correct: "Je t'ai envoyé un message."
- 'La missive'
- 'La missive' is a more literary or formal synonym for 'la lettre'. It often implies a longer, more significant, or perhaps more official written communication. It's less common in everyday conversation than 'la lettre'.
The king received a missive from his ambassador.
Le roi reçut une missive de son ambassadeur.
- 'Le courrier'
- 'Le courrier' refers to mail in general, the mail service, or a collection of letters. It's a broader term than 'la lettre'. You might say 'le courrier arrive' (the mail arrives) or 'j'ai beaucoup de courrier' (I have a lot of mail).
The mail carrier delivered the mail.
Le facteur a livré le courrier.
- 'La correspondance'
- 'La correspondance' refers to the act of corresponding or the exchange of letters/messages between people. It emphasizes the ongoing communication rather than a single item.
They maintained a long correspondence.
Ils ont entretenu une longue correspondance.
- 'Le message' / 'L'e-mail'
- These are the modern equivalents for digital communication. 'Le message' is a general term for any message (text, voice, etc.), while 'l'e-mail' specifically refers to electronic mail.
I sent you a text message.
Je t'ai envoyé un message.
Did you check your email?
As-tu vérifié ton e-mail?
- 'Le caractère' (Alphabetical Context)
- As mentioned in the 'Common Mistakes' section, 'le caractère' is the preferred term for a single letter of the alphabet, especially in linguistic or technical discussions. 'Les lettres' is acceptable for the alphabet as a whole, but 'caractère' is more specific for individual symbols.
This word has five letters.
Ce mot a cinq caractères.
按水平分级的例句
J'ai une lettre.
I have a letter.
'une lettre' is an indefinite article, meaning 'a letter'.
C'est une lettre.
It is a letter.
'une lettre' is a feminine noun.
La lettre est rouge.
The letter is red.
'la lettre' uses the definite article 'la' because it's a specific letter.
Je lis la lettre.
I am reading the letter.
'lire' means 'to read'.
Ouvre la lettre.
Open the letter.
'Ouvre' is the imperative form of 'ouvrir' (to open).
La lettre est grande.
The letter is big.
'grande' is the feminine form of the adjective 'grand' (big).
Une lettre pour toi.
A letter for you.
'pour toi' means 'for you'.
Il y a une lettre.
There is a letter.
'Il y a' means 'there is' or 'there are'.
J'ai reçu une lettre de mon ami.
I received a letter from my friend.
'reçu' is the past participle of 'recevoir' (to receive). 'de mon ami' means 'from my friend'.
Elle écrit une lettre à sa mère.
She is writing a letter to her mother.
'écrit' is the present tense of 'écrire' (to write). 'à sa mère' means 'to her mother'.
Peux-tu lire cette lettre pour moi ?
Can you read this letter for me?
'Peux-tu' is 'can you'. 'cette lettre' means 'this letter'.
J'ai envoyé la lettre hier.
I sent the letter yesterday.
'envoyé' is the past participle of 'envoyer' (to send). 'hier' means 'yesterday'.
Où est ma lettre ?
Where is my letter?
'Où est' means 'where is'.
C'est une lettre importante.
It is an important letter.
'importante' is the feminine form of 'important' (important).
J'ai trouvé une vieille lettre dans le grenier.
I found an old letter in the attic.
'trouvé' is the past participle of 'trouver' (to find). 'vieille' means 'old' (feminine). 'grenier' means 'attic'.
Il faut ouvrir toutes les lettres.
It is necessary to open all the letters.
'Il faut' means 'it is necessary'. 'toutes les lettres' means 'all the letters'.
J'ai reçu une lettre importante concernant ma candidature.
I received an important letter concerning my application.
'concernant' means 'concerning' or 'regarding'. 'ma candidature' means 'my application'.
Elle m'a écrit une lettre de motivation pour le poste.
She wrote me a cover letter for the position.
'lettre de motivation' is a cover letter. 'pour le poste' means 'for the position'.
Le facteur a distribué le courrier ce matin, mais pas de lettre pour moi.
The mail carrier delivered the mail this morning, but no letter for me.
'distribué' is the past participle of 'distribuer' (to distribute). 'le courrier' means 'the mail'.
Nous avons échangé des lettres pendant des années.
We exchanged letters for years.
'échangé' is the past participle of 'échanger' (to exchange). 'des lettres' means 'letters'.
La poste a perdu ma lettre.
The post office lost my letter.
'la poste' means 'the post office'. 'perdu' is the past participle of 'perdre' (to lose).
Je conserve toutes les lettres de ma grand-mère.
I keep all of my grandmother's letters.
'conserve' means 'I keep' or 'I preserve'. 'ma grand-mère' means 'my grandmother'.
Il a reçu une lettre anonyme.
He received an anonymous letter.
'anonyme' means 'anonymous'.
Il faut répondre à cette lettre dans les plus brefs délais.
It is necessary to reply to this letter as soon as possible.
'répondre à' means 'to reply to'. 'dans les plus brefs délais' means 'as soon as possible'.
La correspondance entre les deux écrivains révèle des personnalités complexes.
The correspondence between the two writers reveals complex personalities.
'correspondance' refers to the exchange of letters. 'écrivains' means 'writers'.
Une lettre de créance est un document officiel attestant de la légitimité d'un diplomate.
A letter of credence is an official document attesting to the legitimacy of a diplomat.
'lettre de créance' is a specific term for 'letter of credence'. 'attestant' means 'attesting'.
Malgré l'avènement des e-mails, la lettre manuscrite conserve un charme indéniable.
Despite the advent of emails, the handwritten letter retains an undeniable charm.
'Malgré' means 'despite'. 'l'avènement' means 'the advent'. 'manuscrite' means 'handwritten'.
Il a reçu une lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception.
He received a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt.
'lettre recommandée' is a registered letter. 'accusé de réception' is acknowledgment of receipt.
La lecture de cette lettre m'a beaucoup ému.
Reading this letter moved me greatly.
'La lecture' means 'the reading'. 'ému' is the past participle of 'émouvoir' (to move emotionally).
Elle a décliné l'invitation par lettre.
She declined the invitation by letter.
'décliné' is the past participle of 'décliner' (to decline). 'par lettre' means 'by letter'.
La lettre d'information trimestrielle sera envoyée la semaine prochaine.
The quarterly newsletter will be sent next week.
'lettre d'information' is a newsletter. 'trimestrielle' means 'quarterly'.
Le contenu de la lettre était confidentiel.
The content of the letter was confidential.
'contenu' means 'content'. 'confidentiel' means 'confidential'.
La missive diplomatique contenait des informations cruciales pour les négociations.
The diplomatic missive contained crucial information for the negotiations.
'missive diplomatique' is a diplomatic missive. 'cruciales' means 'crucial'.
L'étude de la correspondance d'un auteur peut éclairer son œuvre.
The study of an author's correspondence can shed light on their work.
'éclairer' means 'to shed light on' or 'to illuminate'.
Il a rédigé une lettre de résiliation de contrat avec une grande précision.
He drafted a letter of contract termination with great precision.
'rédigé' is the past participle of 'rédiger' (to draft). 'lettre de résiliation de contrat' is a letter of contract termination.
La lettre ouverte publiée dans le journal a suscité un vif débat.
The open letter published in the newspaper sparked a heated debate.
'lettre ouverte' is an open letter. 'suscité' is the past participle of 'susciter' (to spark or arouse).
Le ton de la lettre suggérait une profonde déception.
The tone of the letter suggested deep disappointment.
'Le ton' means 'the tone'. 'suggérait' is the imperfect tense of 'suggérer' (to suggest).
Il a fallu décrypter les allusions subtiles présentes dans la lettre.
It was necessary to decipher the subtle allusions present in the letter.
'décrypter' means 'to decipher'. 'allusions subtiles' means 'subtle allusions'.
La lettre de cachet, aujourd'hui abolie, était un instrument de pouvoir arbitraire.
The lettre de cachet, abolished today, was an instrument of arbitrary power.
'lettre de cachet' is a historical term. 'abolie' means 'abolished'. 'arbitraire' means 'arbitrary'.
Elle a répondu à la lettre par une missive détaillée.
She replied to the letter with a detailed missive.
'missive détaillée' means 'detailed missive'.
L'analyse épistolaire de ses écrits révèle une profonde introspection.
The epistolary analysis of his writings reveals deep introspection.
'épistolaire' is an adjective related to letters. 'introspection' means deep self-examination.
Les correspondances échangées pendant la période de guerre témoignent des horreurs vécues.
The correspondence exchanged during the war period bears witness to the horrors experienced.
'témoignent' means 'bear witness' or 'testify'.
Il s'agissait d'une lettre de marque, autorisant la capture de navires ennemis.
It was a letter of marque, authorizing the capture of enemy ships.
'lettre de marque' is a historical term for a privateering commission. 'navires ennemis' means 'enemy ships'.
La lettre de cadrage définissait les objectifs macroéconomiques du gouvernement.
The framing letter defined the government's macroeconomic objectives.
'lettre de cadrage' is a framing letter or directive. 'macroéconomiques' means 'macroeconomic'.
Elle a reçu une lettre de mission l'autorisant à représenter l'entreprise.
She received a letter of mission authorizing her to represent the company.
'lettre de mission' is a letter of mission or authorization.
Le contenu allusif de la missive laissait planer un doute quant à ses véritables intentions.
The allusive content of the missive left a doubt hanging over her true intentions.
'laissait planer un doute' means 'left a doubt hanging'.
L'analyse graphologique de la lettre a permis d'identifier l'auteur.
The graphological analysis of the letter made it possible to identify the author.
'graphologique' means 'graphological' (related to handwriting analysis).
La lettre patente, document historique, accordait des privilèges spécifiques.
The letter patent, a historical document, granted specific privileges.
'lettre patente' is a letter patent.
近义词
反义词
常见搭配
常用短语
— To receive a letter.
Elle était très heureuse de recevoir une lettre de son ami.
— To read a letter.
J'ai passé l'après-midi à lire toutes les lettres qu'on m'avait envoyées.
— A newsletter.
Abonnez-vous à notre lettre d'information pour rester informé.
— The letters of the alphabet.
Les enfants apprennent les lettres de l'alphabet à l'école.
— A letter to...
J'écris une lettre à mon professeur pour lui demander des éclaircissements.
— A letter from... / A letter about...
J'ai reçu une lettre de remerciement de l'organisation.
习语与表达
— To be very precise, to follow instructions to the letter.
Il faut suivre ce plan à la lettre près pour que tout fonctionne.
Neutral— A letter from a superior ordering a subordinate to act in a certain way, especially in a legal context.
Le juge a reçu une lettre de jussion du tribunal supérieur.
Formal/Legal— A historical document authorizing a private ship (privateer) to attack and capture enemy vessels.
Les corsaires opéraient sous la lettre de marques.
Historical— A historical type of royal decree in France, used to imprison someone without trial.
Sous l'Ancien Régime, une lettre de cachet pouvait envoyer quelqu'un en prison sans jugement.
Historical— To acknowledge or recognize something in writing.
L'entreprise a fait lettre de reconnaissance pour les services rendus.
FormalSummary
'La lettre' is a versatile French noun primarily meaning 'letter' (as in a written message) and secondarily referring to a letter of the alphabet. Remember its feminine gender and common collocations like 'lettre de motivation'.
- A written message sent by post.
- A character of the alphabet.
- Feminine noun.
- Used for personal and formal communication.
例句
J'ai reçu une lettre de ma grand-mère.
相关内容
更多communication词汇
À bientôt
A1一会儿见。
accepter
A2接受提供的东西。同意或容忍某种情况或提议。
accord
A2人与人之间的协议或和谐。
accueillir
A2在某人到达时迎接或欢迎他们。也指一个地方有容纳一定数量人的能力。
actualité
A2时事、新闻或最近发生的事件。
adresser
A2To address, to speak or write to someone.
affabulation
B2A fabricated story or statement, often fanciful or exaggerated.
affirmation
B2肯定是一种声明，表明某事是真实存在的。它是一种强烈的陈述或确认。
affirmer
B1断言或坚定地陈述某事为事实。在群体中确立自己的地位或权威。
allô
A1喂；用于接听电话时的问候语。
