Translation guide
How to refer to a letter you received or sent in Japanese, depending on formality, relationship, and context.
Thank you for your letter.
I received your letter.
Referring to a letter the speaker received from the listener or a third party.
Polite and standard way to refer to a letter from someone else. The honorific prefix お shows respect toward the writer.
Thank you for your letter.
Thank you for the letter you sent the other day.
A slightly warmer, more personal word for a letter or news from someone. Often used in personal correspondence.
I look forward to hearing from you (your letter).
Formal written term for an incoming letter. Rare in everyday speech.
We have confirmed the contents of your letter.
Referring to a letter the speaker themselves wrote and sent.
Neutral way to say 'my letter'. Use 私 even if you are male in polite contexts; in casual speech men may use 僕.
Did my letter arrive?
Humble way to refer to a letter you sent, literally 'the letter from this side'. Softens the directness of 'my letter'.
Please check the letter we sent.
Specifically a reply letter. Use when the context is clearly a response.
Sorry for the late reply.
Talking about letters as objects or the concept of a letter, without specifying sender.
The most common word for 'letter'. Safe in almost any context.
I like writing letters.
Please put this letter in the mailbox.
Can mean letter, news, or tidings. Often used in set phrases like 便りがない (no news).
No news is good news.
Formal or literary term for a letter or correspondence. Used in official contexts.
Correspondence by letter continues.
Directly addressing the letter the listener wrote, often in the opening of a reply.
Polite way to refer to the letter one has received from the addressee. Common in business or formal replies.
Regarding your letter, I am writing to reply.
Very formal written term for 'your letter', used in business correspondence. Often seen in set phrases.
We have received your letter.
While grammatically correct, あなたの手紙 can sound overly direct or even accusatory. Use お手紙 or rephrase to avoid あなた altogether.
I read your letter.
In Japanese, it's often more natural to use the person's name + さん instead of 'your'. For example, say 田中さんのお手紙 (Tanaka-san's letter) rather than あなたの手紙.