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此致 (cǐ zhì) — used at the end of a formal letter to introduce a polite closing salutation

Definition

此致 is a fixed letter-writing phrase used only at the end of a formal letter, right before the closing salutation (e.g. 此致敬礼). Unlike the verb 致 ('to send / to express'), it is not used as a standalone verb.

verb
used at the end of a formal letter to introduce a polite closing salutation

Examples

  • 此致。
    Tā zài xìn mò xiě le cǐ zhì jìng lǐ.
    He wrote 'respectfully yours' at the end of the letter.
  • 。
    Zhèng shì gōng hán tōng cháng yǐ cǐ zhì jìng lǐ jié shù.
    Official correspondence usually ends with 'respectfully yours'.
  • 此致。
    Qǐng nǐ zài xìn wěi jiā shàng cǐ zhì ān kāng.
    Please add 'wishing you peace and health' at the end of the letter.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

此cǐthis
致zhìsend/express

“此” refers to the message or letter, and “致” means to send or express, forming the formal closing sense.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

Open 此 →

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
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì致zhì
Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Open 致 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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