信函 (xìn hán) — letter (correspondence) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal noun for a written letter, especially official or business correspondence. Stronger and more formal than the everyday 邮件/书信, which covers any personal or general letter.

noun

letter (correspondence)

Measure word · 封

Examples

信函。
Wǒ zuó tiān shōu dào le yì fēng zhòng yào de xìn hán.
I received an important letter yesterday.
。
Zhè fēng xìn hán shì gōng sī cóng běi jīng jì lái de.
This letter was sent by the company from Beijing.
信函。
Qǐng bǎ zhè fèn xìn hán fān yì chéng yīng wén.
Please translate this letter into English.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

Both 信 and 函 refer to written correspondence, together meaning a letter.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánwords

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

人rén信xìn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

函 comes from an old drawing of an upside-down arrow stored inside a box with one or two handles.

Appears in

Mail & Messaging

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