粛しゅく白はく

interjection

humble greeting at the beginning of a letter

Archaic honorific expression used as a self-deprecating opening in formal correspondence. Compare 敬白 (respectful closing) and 粛啓 (humble opening).

See also: 敬白 · 粛啓

• 古ふるい手て紙がみの書かき出だしに「粛しゅく白はく」と記しるされることがある。

  In old letters, 粛白 is sometimes written at the beginning.