致信 (zhì xìn) — to send a letter to (someone, especially formally)

Definition

致信 is a written/formal verb meaning 'to send a letter to' (someone, often an official). It emphasizes the act of formally addressing someone in writing, more formal than 写信.

verb
to send a letter to (someone, especially formally)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 致信。
    Tā zhì xìn zǒng tǒng biǎo dá le zì jǐ de guān diǎn.
    He sent a letter to the president expressing his own views.
  • 致信。
    Gōng sī zhì xìn kè hù tōng zhī xīn zhèng cè.
    The company sent a letter to customers notifying them of the new policy.
  • 致信。
    Tā zhì xìn biān jí bù xún wèn tóu gǎo shì yí.
    She sent a letter to the editorial department inquiring about submission matters.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

致zhìsend
信xìnletter

致 (send) and 信 (letter) combine to mean send 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
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 →

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.

Open 信 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.