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.
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'.
Specifically a reply letter. Use when the context is clearly a response.
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).
Formal or literary term for a letter or correspondence. Used in official contexts.
Directly addressing the letter the listener wrote, often in the opening of a reply.
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.
ご来信の内容を確認いたしました。
We have confirmed the contents of your letter.
Please check the letter we sent.
返信が遅くなりすみません。
Sorry for the late reply.
便りがないのは良い便り。
No news is good news.
書簡でのやり取りが続いている。
Correspondence by letter continues.
We have received your letter.