頭とう語ご

noun

opening greeting in a letter

Refers to set phrases like 拝啓 (haikei) or 謹啓 (kinkei) used at the beginning of formal Japanese letters. Often paired with a closing greeting (結語).

• 手て紙がみの頭とう語ごには「拝はい啓けい」や「前ぜん略りゃく」などがある。

  Opening greetings in letters include 'haikei' and 'zenryaku'.