Writing guide
Writing to a pen pal in China
✍️ A few words to start and end with
Nobody expects a whole letter in their language. A greeting and a sign-off in it says you thought about who is reading — and gives them something to correct, which is a fine way to start a friendship.
- Hello
- 你好 · Nǐ hǎo
- Opening a letter
- 亲爱的…： · Qīn’ài de …:
- Thank you for your letter
- 谢谢你的来信。 · Xièxie nǐ de láixìn.
- Signing off
- 祝好， · Zhù hǎo,
🕰 What time it is there
It is 05:08 in China right now. 🍂 autumn there
Mention the time of day or the season you are writing in. It is the detail that makes a letter feel sent from somewhere, and the one they are most likely to answer in kind.
🧭 Members in China, in numbers
Counts only, and only once at least 3 members share an answer.
- Chinese (Mandarin) 19
- English 16
- English 5
- French 4
- Books 12
- Culture 11
- Cooking 8
- Music 8
- Drawing 7
- Animals 6
- Writing 6
- Coffee 5
If you speak one of the languages they are learning, say so in your first letter — a pen pal who can help is a pen pal worth answering.
🌍 How China answered the world questions
Good openers: ask them about the one where they differ from everybody else.
When is dinner at your home?