最近我換了份工作,每天都需要寫英文信,所以就複習一下文法,也分享給大家商用英文該注意的一些地方與模板:)
一開始,會遇到的就是信件主旨與開頭稱呼
主旨
對內信件,我自己的習慣是會把關鍵字放在最前方。若很緊急的會再加上備註,如:
[Meeting minute] marketing weekly meeting @ 9 am
[Urgent]Please advise…
若是對外,我可能會在前方加上公司,如:
[HTC]Quotation Request for Gift Bags(贈品袋的詢價請求)
[LV]Sales Promotion for 2012 A/W Collection(2012 秋冬新品上市的促銷活動)
開頭稱呼
假設我要寫給Andy這個人好了,我通常都會寫
Hi Andy,
而不是
Dear Andy,
原因是,我覺得寫Dear(親愛的),過於正式很奇怪XD寫Hi比較輕鬆,對於一般信件來說也不會讓人有太大壓力。但若是正式的信最好還是用Daer好。
通常寫信內容,不外乎是這些目的
告訴寫信的人為何寫這封信
- I am writing to inquire …(我寫這封信想詢問 …)
- I am writing to enquire about…(我想詢問有關…)
- I am writing in reference to …(我寫這封信是關於 …)
- After having seen your advertisement in… , I would like to …(讀了你們在XXX的廣告後,我想…)
- In reply to your e-mail of 29 Dec., …(回覆你12月29日的email…)
- With reference to your email of 29 Dec., I…(有關你12月29日的email…)
- After having received your email address from… , I …(我從OOO得到你的email地址,我想…)
場面話
- How have you been?(最近好嗎?)
- How is your new project going on?(你案子進行還順利嗎?)
- Thank you for all the good advice you have given me.(advice當「忠告、建議」時,是不可數名詞,複數不加s。)
- Thank you for your email about/regarding…(有關XXX,謝謝你的Email…)
詢問會議時間/確定會議時間地點
- I suggest we have a con-call tonight at 9:30pm. Please let me know if the time is okay for you and Ben. (我建議我們今晚九點半電話會議,你和Ben有沒有空?)
- Could you please let me know if you are available for a meeting on 12th April?(可以的話請讓我知道4/12的會議你是否方便出席?)
- 口語:I’m talking about the meeting scheduled for next week.
正式:I am writingin reference tothe meeting scheduled for next week.
正式:I am writing to youregardingthe possibility of scheduling a meeting for next week.(通常 in reference to 用於「說明已經跟對方提過的事」,regarding 的用法比較廣泛。) - It would be helpful if your sales manager could have a short meeting with our senior manager. Is next Monday afternoon good for you?
- I would like to call a meeting in the afternoon about our annual plan.(今天下午我建想就年度計劃開會討論一下)
- I want to talk to you over the phone regarding the new project. (我想跟你電話討論新專案)
- Let’s meet before the candidate arrives.(在候選人抵達之前,我們先見個面。)
- A meeting was held on July 22 to discuss new procedures for invoicing customers.
(Meeting是可數名詞,前面須加冠詞,有限定時加the,沒有限定時加a或an。) - We plan to attend the company’s annual meeting.(我們計畫出席公司的年度會議)
- I’d like to remind you of the meeting(我想提醒你開會)(不是remind you the meeting)
詢問意見/評論
- Thank you and look forward to having your opinion on budget. (謝謝你,希望能聽到更多你對預算建議)
請對方回信
- Can you get back to me asap?(你能盡快回覆我嗎?)(正式語言會不怕麻煩用as soon as possible,但非正式會直接用ASAP)
- Looking forwardto your reply/feedback. (靜候佳音)
- We are looking forward to hearing from you.(這句話在email文末最常出現,look forward to是「期待」之意,後面須接V-ing或名詞。)
- I look forward to hearing from you.(我很期待能夠收到您的回覆)
給資料/夾帶檔案
- I attach the evaluation report for your reference. (我附加了評估報告供您閱讀)
- Attached please find today’s meeting notes. (今天的會議記錄在附件裡)
- For other known issues related to individual features, please see attached release notes.(其他個人特徵方面的資訊詳見附件)
- I add some comments to the document for your reference. (我在文件上添加了一些備註,僅供參考)
- Please review the attached documents thoroughly.(請仔細檢視附件)
- I have attached the previously mentioned documents for your review.(上述資料已於信末夾帶檔案內附上供您參考)
Please see the attached documents for a quotation of the requested services.(請參閱附加檔案內之服務相關報價) - I am attaching(我附上…)
- Attached you will find(你可以看到附件…)
- Please find attached(請看附件…)
解釋事情狀況與進度
- Please see comments below. (請看以下的評論)
- My answers are in blue below. (我的回答已用藍字表示)
- Give me time to consider.(我需要一些時間思考一下)
I’ll think about it.(比起來第一句就更正式。片語think about相較於單字consider更口語) - Let’s discuss it(我們來討論)(不是discuss about it)
- We consider buying…(我們考慮買…)(不是consider to buy)
- My flight (CI802) will arrive at 4 pm on Tuesday, October 7.(我的班機將在10/7下午四點抵達)
- These goods will be sent to your address in New Jersey next Tuesday.(這些商品會在下禮拜二送達您紐澤西的地址)
- Please notice that installation is included in the price.(價格包含了安裝費)
- With reference to our recent discussion,I would like to demonstrate this new model for you.(依據我們最近的討論,我想要為您示範這個新的機型)(With是介係詞,後面須接名詞,所以refer須更正為reference)
- The newest computer has a small, attractive footprint.(最新的電腦體積小,不占空間很有吸引力。)
- Our employees’ rights have not been violated. (我們員工的權利沒有受到侵犯)
- The chair, which was badly soiled,was removed from the lobby.(嚴重髒污的椅子被移出大廳。)
- The chair that was badly soiled was removed from the lobby.(那張污損嚴重的椅子被移出大廳。)(which常用在非限定子句中,與逗號連用,說明非重要性的資訊。that不可與逗點連用,用來補充資訊(即限定用法))
- The badly soiled chair was removed from the lobby.(那張污損嚴重的椅子被移出大廳。)
- The team supported her/Jane’s preparing the slides in-house.(團隊支持她的╱珍的準備的機構內部簡報。〔不用Jane〕)
- The mission statement that was approved by the department was forwarded to the CEO.(部門通過的任務宗旨已轉達給執行長。)
- The approved mission statement was forwarded to the CEO.(通過的任務宗旨已轉達給執行長。)
- The boss didn’t like my being late for the meeting.(老闆不喜歡我開會遲到。〔不用me〕)
- Tocut the company’s spending, we decided to eliminate one department.(為了減少公司的支出,我們決定刪減一個部門)
- It was a fast-paced meeting.(這是一個節奏快速的會議)
- The meeting was fast paced.(會議節奏快速)
- I am here on behalf ofmy company. (我在這裡代表我的公司)
- Ifthe company earns more than 1,000,000, year-end bonuses will be doubled.(如果公司賺超過一百萬,年終獎金將會加倍)
- The sales number would have goneup if it had not been for the natural disaster.
(要不是自天災,銷售數字應該會上升)(「would / could have p.p」表示和過去發生的事情相反) - Let megive you the catalogue regarding to the latest products.(這是最新產品的型錄)
- I’m very glad that we were able to find a solution to the PBG project.(我很高興我們能夠找出PBG專案的解決辦法)
- The flow has become much larger after we used this system.(我們用了這個系統之後流量變的大多了)
- The flow has become much larger withthis system.。(如果用「with this system」取代「after」的子句,整句就會更簡潔)
- Most of the employees, however,do come to work on time.(然而,大部份的員工都準時上班)(還有一些好用的副詞如「nonetheless」(但是)、「nevertheless」(雖然如此)、「otherwise」(否則)、「hence」(因此))
- Therefore,it is possible to boost the sales.(因此,增加銷售量是有可能的)
- 好用的介系詞片語(後面接名詞而非子句)
- according to / on the basis of / in light of(根據 / 按照)
- because of / due to / owing to(因為 / 由於)
- on behalf of(代表)
- make use of(運用)
- by means of(藉由)
- as far as(就…的限度 / 在…的範圍)
- at the risk of(冒著…的危險)
- In addition(Also而且)
- 好用的單字
- behind-the-scenes help(幕後協助)
- know-how(知識、技能)
- stick-to-itiveness(堅忍不拔、不屈不撓)
- ready-to-wear clothing(成衣)
- faster-than-expected production(比預期快的生產製造)
- end-of-year reports(年終報告)
- acceptable(可接受)
- substitute(職位代理)
- increase/decrease(增加/減少)
- handle/deal with(處理)
- omit(刪掉)
- cause(造成)
- require/need to(需要)
- discover/find out(發現)
- establish/set up(設立)
- represent/stand for(代表)
- arrive/show up(到達)
- completely(完全地)
- reimburse the shipping fee(補償運費)
- as well as(和…一樣)
- reach out to sb((通常指為了幫助或加入其中而)與(某人)溝通,與(某人)打成一片,走進(某些人)中間)
- Our company has its headquartersin Paris.(我們公司總部在巴黎)(這個字字尾是「s」,並不是複數,而是它的名字形態。其實它是單數)
- He has no experience in this sort of work.(他沒有這類工作經驗)(若是統稱指所有的經歷,不需加”s”;若指某些特定的經歷,可作複數使用)
- The sales are increasing rapidly and are expected to grow by another 13 percent this year alone.(銷售成長迅速,預計單單今年就會成長13%)(「銷售量」可以直接用sales,正式或完整一點用sales volume。要注意的是當你用Sales時,它是一個複數名詞)
- All my data are gone.(我所有數據都沒了)(Data 意為「資料」,是 datum 的複數。很多a結尾的名詞其實都是複數)
- It’s very convenient.(這很方便)(不是it’s very convenience.,這是名詞)
- I will take your advice.(我會採納你的建言)(不是take your advise,advise是動詞)
詢問對方進度或事情
- Do those foreign workers have the necessary expertise to produce our products?
(「專門技術」的英文是expertise;experience指的是「經驗」)
要求/提醒對方做…
- At your convenience, I would really appreciate you looking into this matter/issue. (如果可以,我希望你能仔細審查這件事)
- It would be nice if you could provide a bit more information on the user’s behavior. (您若是能夠就用戶行為方面提供更多的資訊就太好了)
- Please sign this document. Thank you!(麻煩你幫我簽署這份文件,謝謝)
- Could you possibly…?(你可不可以…)
- I would be grateful if you could…(如果你可以…,我會非常感謝)
- I would appreciate your immediate/prompt attention to this matter.(很希望你能儘快關注此事)
- Notice that the shipment will be arrived in 5 days.(注意貨物將在五天後抵達)(如果本句前面再加上「You should」,雖然結構沒問題,但句子就顯得累贅)
- May I suggest you ask…(我想建議你去問…)(不是suggest you to ask)
幫對方解決事情…
- I’ll be pleased to help you sort out this problem as soon as possible.(我很樂意幫助你盡快解決這個問題)
- I would be glad/delighted to…(我很樂意…)
- I will investigate the matter.(我會調查此事)
- I will contact you shortly(我會盡快聯繫您)
道歉/告知不好消息
- I have to apologize that……(我必須道歉的是……)
- Sorry that……(遺憾的是……)(apologize難,比較正式,sorry簡單,就不那麼正式)
- I am afraid that(很遺憾…)
- Unfortunately(很不幸…)
- Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience.(造成不便,真的很抱歉)
最後,要怎麼收尾呢?收尾就講些場面話再加上聯絡方式
若有問題請聯繫我
- Please call me if you have any questions. (有任何問題,歡迎打電話給我)
- Please give me a call if you have any questions.(有任何問題,歡迎打電話給我)
- If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. (若您有任何問題或疑慮,請不吝與我聯繫)
- Thank you for your help. Please contact us again if we can help in any way.(謝謝你的幫忙。有需要我們的地方,請和我們聯絡。)
- If you need further information or assistance , please revert. (若需要更近一步的資訊與協助,請回覆)
- Feel free to give your comments. (請隨時提出您的建議)
- Your comments and suggestions are welcome! (歡迎您提供建議!)
- Please advise as necessary.(請不吝賜教)
- Shall you have any problem accessing the folders, please let me know. (如果開啟文件有問題請和我聯繫)
謝謝幫忙
- Thank you for considering my request. (謝謝你考慮我的要求)
- Thank you for any help you can provide. (謝謝你提供協助)
- I will appreciate your help with this situation.(很感謝你願意幫忙)
- Thank you foryour time. (感謝撥冗)
- Thank you for your time and consideration.(感謝您的寶貴時間)
- I look forward to seeing you.(很期待與你見面)
- We look forward to a successful working relationship in the future.(期待有機會合作。)
結尾祝福
- Best regards,(regards也可以加 kind, warm)
- Sincerely(最正式的用法)
- Yours sincerely,
- Respectfully,
簽名檔
記得寫上你的名字、職稱、公司、聯絡資訊。若會跟國外聯絡,電話最好加上國際碼。通常結尾祝福跟簽名檔直接內建就好了,每次寫信就不用重複寫一樣的資訊了!
如:
Sincerely,
Jimmy Smith
Sales Representative, XXX Company
+886–950–043–432
這樣,一封信就大致上完成了!(撒花)
其實,我覺得最難的是要交代現有發生狀況,若有很多專有名詞,很難用英文表達出來。但有時候就是這樣,剛開始不熟悉不知道怎寫,久了就習慣了,有天,回頭來看,會突然發現,原來自己離最一開始的地方,已經走了那麼遠了!共勉之:)
參考資料來源:
【商務英文書信】職場 email 真的不能用 Dear 開場嗎?
【商用英文】別再用老掉牙的 Dear、 Sincerely ! e-mail 大補帖教你寫出有效又專業的商業 e-mail!
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