正式邮件和申请
Chapter Overview and Learning Objectives
Chapter 8 took you to a library service counter to register a study group in person. This chapter moves the same institutional world onto the page: you will learn to write and understand a formal email, using the polite requests (麻烦您, 请) and confirmation questions (是不是, 对不对) you developed in Chapter 8, but now shaped into the opening, body, and closing of a written formal message. You will continue to recycle 根据, 通过, and 虽然...但是, and you will meet 未 and 无 for the first time as a recognition-only preview of formal written negation in short glossed notices, alongside continued recognition of 被 and 把 from Chapter 8. This chapter closes Unit II and prepares you for the Unit II assessment in Chapter 10.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Use vocabulary connected to email, formal correspondence, and written applications.
- Open and close a formal email using appropriate polite address and sign-off language.
- State a written request clearly using 麻烦您 or 请 in email form.
- Ask a confirmation question in writing to check a detail before submitting an application.
- Recognize 未 and 无 in short formal notices without being required to produce them.
- Read a model formal email and a short notice about an application deadline.
- Listen to a description of what a well-formed formal email should include.
- Write a complete, correctly formatted formal email requesting something from an office.
Communication Scenario
Xiao Chen and Xiao Lin's study group has now been approved to use the library study room, but they want to request a regular weekly time slot rather than booking room-by-room each time. Because this is a special request beyond the normal procedure, the staff member suggests they put it in writing as a formal email to the student services office.
- You will listen to a short explanation of what a formal email to an office should include.
- You will read a model formal email and a short posted notice about an application deadline.
- You will orally explain what you would include in a formal email of your own.
- You will write a complete formal email requesting something from an office, following the correct format.
Core Vocabulary: Formal Email and Applications
| 汉字 | Pinyin | Part/Function | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 邮件 | yóujiàn | noun | mail; email | 我给办公室发了一封邮件。 |
| 尊敬的 | zūnjìng de | formal address phrase | respected (formal salutation opener) | 尊敬的老师： |
| 主题 | zhǔtí | noun | subject (of an email); topic | 请在主题里写清楚你的申请。 |
| 附件 | fùjiàn | noun | attachment | 表格在附件里，请查收。 |
| 回复 | huífù | verb / noun | to reply; a reply | 办公室通常一天之内回复邮件。 |
| 截止日期 | jiézhǐ rìqī | noun | deadline | 申请的截止日期是这个星期五。 |
| 此致 | cǐ zhì | formal closing phrase | (formal letter closing, literally "to this") | 此致 敬礼 |
| 敬礼 | jìnglǐ | formal closing phrase | (formal letter closing, "with respect") | 此致 敬礼 |
| 格式 | géshì | noun | format | 正式邮件有一定的格式。 |
| 说明 | shuōmíng | verb / noun | to explain; explanation | 请在邮件里说明你的情况。 |
| 具体 | jùtǐ | adjective | specific; concrete | 请写得具体一点。 |
| 查收 | chá shōu | verb-object | to check and receive (formal, used for attachments) | 表格在附件里，请查收。 |
These words are productive for this chapter and its recycling in Chapter 10. 此致 and 敬礼 are taught as a fixed formulaic closing pair; learners are not asked to analyze their internal grammar. 格式 remains general; specific institutional formatting conventions vary and should be treated as illustrative.
Pronunciation Focus: -n versus -ng, Continued, and Reading Formal Text Aloud
This chapter continues consolidating the -n/-ng contrast from Chapter 8 in new words such as 邮件, 附件, and 截止日期, and adds practice reading a formal written passage aloud at a natural, even pace — a first step toward the formal reading-aloud skill that becomes more prominent in Unit III. The ian/uan finals introduced receptively in Chapter 8 reappear in 附件 and 邮件 for continued listening exposure; detailed production work remains outside this chapter's scope.
| Feature | Practice Note |
|---|---|
| -n vs. -ng contrast (consolidated) | contrast 邮件 (yóujiàn) and 尊敬 (zūnjìng); keep the nasal final clearly forward or back depending on the word |
| ian finals in formal vocabulary (receptive) | listen for the final in 附件 (fùjiàn) and 邮件 (yóujiàn); recognition only |
| even-paced formal reading aloud | practice reading the model email in the Reading Practice section aloud slowly, keeping tone-bearing syllables clear and pausing at punctuation rather than mid-phrase |
This chapter treats formal reading aloud as an emerging skill connected to the Pronunciation Matrix's "formal reading aloud" system, which begins receptively in this unit and develops further in Unit III.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns: Formal Email Structure and Written Stance
This chapter does not introduce a new core grammar structure. Instead, it takes the formal requests and confirmation questions consolidated in Chapter 8 and shows how they are organized into the fixed structure of a formal email, while continuing to recycle 根据, 通过, and 虽然...但是. 未 and 无 are previewed here for recognition only, alongside the continuing recognition-only preview of 被 and 把 from Chapter 8.
1. The Shape of a Formal Email
| Part | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 主题 (subject line) | states the purpose of the email in a few words | 申请：学习室固定时间 |
| 尊敬的 + title/name： | formal opening address, followed by a colon | 尊敬的老师： |
| body paragraph(s) | states the request, gives background, and explains the situation | 我们想申请固定的学习室时间… |
| 此致 敬礼 | fixed formal closing, written on two lines before the sender's name | 此致 敬礼 |
| sender's name | identifies who is writing | 小陈、小林 |
此致 and 敬礼 always appear together as a fixed pair at the end of a formal letter or email; they are learned as a set formula, not analyzed word by word at this stage.
2. Formal Requests and Confirmation Questions in Written Form
| Pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 麻烦您 + verb phrase | a polite written request, as effective in email as at a counter | 麻烦您帮我们看一下这个申请。 |
| 请 + verb phrase | a clear, standard polite instruction or request in written correspondence | 请告诉我们这个申请需要多长时间。 |
| statement + ，是不是？/ ，对不对？ | a written confirmation question, checking a detail before submitting | 我们可以先发邮件申请，是不是？ |
The same patterns you practiced in speech in Chapter 8 now appear inside a written document; the grammar has not changed, only the medium and the surrounding formal structure.
3. Explaining a Situation with 根据, 通过, and 虽然...但是 (Recycled)
This chapter continues to recycle 根据 (to explain what a request is based on), 通过 (to explain how something was done or communicated), and 虽然...但是 (to contrast a rule with a special circumstance) inside the body of a formal email. No new complement, aspect, comparison, or modification system is introduced.
4. First Look at 未 and 无 (Recognition Only)
无附件的申请恕不受理。
You will see 未 and 无 in official notices and posted instructions like these throughout this chapter's reading material. For now, simply recognize that 未 functions like a more formal, written version of "not yet," and 无 functions like a more formal, written version of "没有" (without/there isn't). You are not expected to produce sentences with 未 or 无 in this volume, just as you are not yet expected to produce 被 or 把 sentences; full productive control of formal written negation is scheduled for later study.
Model Exchange: 写邮件之前的讨论
Context: before writing their email, Xiao Chen and Xiao Lin talk through what it should say; spoken planning that leads into the written email in the Reading Practice section.
小林：我们要写一封正式邮件，申请固定的学习室时间，对不对？
小陈：对，先写清楚我们是谁，然后说明我们已经用了学习室三个星期。
小林：根据你上次问到的规定，好像可以申请固定时间，但是需要说明原因。
小陈：那我们可以说，因为小组每个星期都在同一个时间见面，所以想申请固定的学习室。
小林：好，最后麻烦你再问一下，如果这次申请没有被批准，我们是不是可以再申请一次？
小陈：好主意，我把这个问题也写进邮件里。
小林：邮件最后别忘了写"此致，敬礼"，再写上我们两个人的名字。
小陈：没问题，我们发了邮件以后，通过邮箱等他们的回复就行了。
Xiao Lin: We need to write a formal email applying for a fixed study-room time, right? Xiao Chen: Right — first write clearly who we are, then explain that we've already used the study room for three weeks. Xiao Lin: Based on what you asked about last time, it seems we can apply for a fixed time, but we need to explain the reason. Xiao Chen: Then we can say that because the group meets at the same time every week, we'd like to apply for a fixed study room. Xiao Lin: OK, and finally, please also ask whether, if this application isn't approved, we can apply again. Xiao Chen: Good idea, I'll put that question in the email too. Xiao Lin: Don't forget to write "Sincerely, With respect" at the end of the email, then put both our names. Xiao Chen: No problem — once we've sent the email, we just wait for their reply through email.
Guided Practice
A. Put the following formal email parts in the correct order.
- 此致，敬礼 / 尊敬的老师： / 小陈、小林 / 我们想申请固定的学习室时间。
B. Turn each casual sentence below into a more formal written request, using 麻烦您 or 请.
- 告诉我截止日期是哪天。
- 看一下附件里的表格。
- 回复我这封邮件。
C. Turn each statement into a written confirmation question, using ，是不是？ or ，对不对？.
- 申请的截止日期是这个星期五。
- 我们可以通过邮件申请。
Listening Practice
Listening script for independent use. Read aloud slowly, then at a natural pace, or have a fluent speaker record it.
写一封好的正式邮件 — What a good formal email should include:
写正式邮件的时候，格式很重要。邮件的主题应该写清楚，让工作人员一看就知道你要做什么。开头要用"尊敬的"加上老师或者工作人员的称呼，后面加冒号。邮件的中间要说明你的情况：你是谁，你想申请什么，为什么想申请。如果你有表格或者证件，可以说"附件里有…，请查收"。如果你想确认一件事，可以在邮件里问一个是不是或者对不对的问题。邮件的最后要写"此致"，然后另起一行写"敬礼"，再写上你的名字。虽然正式邮件看起来步骤不少，但是根据这个格式来写，通常不会出错。
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 正式邮件的主题应该怎么写？ | ______ |
| 正式邮件的开头应该用什么词，后面加什么标点？ | ______ |
| 如果邮件里有表格，应该怎么说？ | ______ |
| 邮件的最后应该写什么？ | ______ |
Speaking Practice
交际任务 — Communicative task: 写邮件之前的讨论
With a partner, plan a formal email together before writing it. One person explains what the email needs to say (using 根据 or 通过 at least once); the other person asks at least one confirmation question about a detail (using 是不是 or 对不对) and suggests at least one polite request to include (using 麻烦您 or 请).
独立练习 — Solo alternative
Record yourself explaining, out loud, what you would include in a formal email requesting something from a real office you are familiar with (a school, a workplace, or a service provider), including the subject line, opening address, body, and closing.
Reading Practice
Read the model formal email and the short posted notice below, then answer the questions. Pinyin support remains reduced in this reading, continuing the phase-out from earlier chapters. The sentences using 未 and 无 are glossed for recognition only.
尊敬的老师：
您好！我们是学习小组的小陈和小林。我们已经通过学生服务办公室申请并使用学习室三个星期了。根据我们了解到的规定，小组如果长期需要用学习室，可以申请一个固定的时间。因为我们小组每个星期都在同一个时间见面，所以想申请固定的学习室时间。
表格在附件里，请查收。麻烦您看一下我们的申请，如果需要更多信息，请告诉我们。另外，我们想确认一下：如果这次申请没有被批准，我们是不是可以下个星期再申请一次？
此致
敬礼
小陈、小林
学生服务办公室通知：
本学期学习室固定时间申请的截止日期是本星期五。未在截止日期前提交申请的小组，将不能申请固定时间，只能继续每次单独申请。无附件的申请恕不受理，请务必将表格放在附件里发送。
- 小陈和小林已经用了几个星期的学习室？
- 他们为什么想申请固定的学习室时间？
- 他们在邮件里确认了什么问题？
- 固定时间申请的截止日期是哪天？
Writing Workshop: A Complete Formal Email
Write a complete, correctly formatted formal email requesting something from an office of your choice (a school, a workplace, a service provider, or a similar institution).
写作任务 — Writing task: Type your email using Pinyin input. Your writing must include:
- A subject line that states the purpose of your email clearly.
- A formal opening address using 尊敬的 plus a title or name, followed by a colon.
- A body paragraph that explains who you are and what you are requesting, using 麻烦您 or 请 at least once and 根据 or 通过 at least once.
- At least one confirmation question, using 是不是 or ，对不对？, checking a detail about your request.
- A formal closing, using 此致 and 敬礼 on separate lines, followed by your name.
修改清单 — Editing checklist:
- The subject line clearly states the purpose of the email.
- 尊敬的 + title/name + colon opens the email correctly.
- 麻烦您 or 请 is used correctly to make the request polite.
- The confirmation question is grammatically correct and genuinely checks a detail.
- 此致 and 敬礼 appear on separate lines before the sender's name.
- Chinese punctuation (，。？！：) is used correctly throughout.
- No grammar or vocabulary beyond what has been consolidated through Chapter 9 is required to complete the task; 被, 把, 未, and 无 are not required in your own writing.
Culture and Communication
Formal written Mandarin, like formal written English, tends to be more structured and more distant than everyday speech, even when the underlying request is simple. Fixed formulas such as 尊敬的 and 此致/敬礼 signal that a message belongs to a formal genre before the reader even reaches the content, much as "Dear" and "Sincerely" do in English correspondence. The exact conventions for formal email — including which title to use, how much background to give, and how quickly a reply is expected — vary by school, workplace, and region, so it is worth treating any single office's expectations as one example of common practice rather than as a fixed universal rule.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Opening a formal email like a casual chat message: starting with 你好 alone can feel too informal for an office email; 尊敬的 + title + colon is the expected formal opening.
- Forgetting the closing pair: 此致 and 敬礼 belong together on two separate lines; using only one, or placing them elsewhere in the email, breaks the expected formal pattern.
- Leaving out the confirmation question: a formal email that never checks understanding can leave important details unclear; a well-placed 是不是 or 对不对 question shows careful attention to the process.
- Trying to produce your own 未 or 无 sentences: this chapter only asks you to recognize these patterns in reading, just as with 被 and 把 from Chapter 8; producing your own sentences with them is not expected until a later stage of study.
- Assuming every office expects identical formatting: greetings, titles, and expected response times vary by institution and region; treat this chapter's model as one common pattern rather than a universal standard.
Chapter Summary
This chapter built a working vocabulary for formal email and applications and showed how the formal requests and confirmation questions consolidated in Chapter 8 fit inside the fixed structure of a formal email: subject line, 尊敬的 opening, body, and 此致/敬礼 closing. You continued recycling 根据, 通过, and 虽然...但是, and had your first receptive look at 未 and 无 in a posted notice, alongside the continuing recognition-only preview of 被 and 把 from Chapter 8. These systems come together in Chapter 10, the Unit II assessment.
Chapter Review
部分 A — 听力和阅读 (Listening and Reading)
1. I can follow a spoken explanation of what a formal email should include.
2. I can read a formal email and a posted notice about a deadline and answer questions about them.
部分 B — 口语 (Speaking)
1. I can talk through what a formal email should say, including a request and a confirmation question.
部分 C — 写作 (Writing)
1. I can write a complete, correctly formatted formal email requesting something from an office.
Recognition Check
Say each of the following aloud, paying attention to the -n/-ng contrast: 邮件, 尊敬, 附件, 截止日期. If any of these feel uncertain, review this chapter before continuing to Chapter 10.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 9 Performance Task
正式邮件和申请 — Formal Email and Applications
Complete the following four connected tasks in one sitting to demonstrate your command of formal email vocabulary, structure, and written polite requests.
- Listen to the explanation of a well-formed formal email and complete the listening comprehension table above.
- Read the model email and the posted notice and answer the comprehension questions.
- Speak with a partner (or record independently), planning a formal email following the Speaking Practice instructions.
- Write your own complete formal email, following the Writing Workshop steps and editing checklist.
Answer Key
Guided Practice
A. 尊敬的老师： / 我们想申请固定的学习室时间。 / 此致，敬礼 / 小陈、小林
B. 1. 请告诉我截止日期是哪天。 2. 麻烦您看一下附件里的表格。 3. 请回复我这封邮件。
C. 1. 申请的截止日期是这个星期五，是不是？ 2. 我们可以通过邮件申请，对不对？
Listening Practice
- 主题应该写清楚，让工作人员一看就知道要做什么。
- 开头应该用"尊敬的"，后面加冒号。
- 可以说"附件里有…，请查收"。
- 最后应该写"此致"，另起一行写"敬礼"，再写上名字。
Reading Practice
- 他们已经用了三个星期的学习室。
- 因为小组每个星期都在同一个时间见面，所以想申请固定的学习室时间。
- 他们确认如果申请没有被批准，是不是可以下个星期再申请一次。
- 截止日期是本星期五。
Chapter Review
This checklist is for learner self-reflection; there is no single fixed answer. If any item feels uncertain, review this chapter before continuing to Chapter 10.
Looking Ahead
现在你会做什么 — What you can do now
You can write and understand a complete formal email, from subject line to formal closing, using polite requests and confirmation questions in written form — while continuing to recognize 被, 把, 未, and 无 in official notices without needing to produce them yourself.