jì xìn: 寄信 - To Send a Letter, To Mail

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Summary: Learn how to say “to send a letter” in Chinese with the term 寄信 (jì xìn). This guide breaks down the characters 寄 (to send/entrust) and 信 (letter), explores the cultural significance of letter-writing in China, and provides practical examples for using 寄信 at the post office or in conversation. Discover the difference between 寄信 for physical mail and other verbs for sending emails or packages in modern China.

Pinyin (with tone marks): jì xìn

Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (寄 is the verb, 信 is the object)

HSK Level: HSK 3

Concise Definition: To send a letter through the postal service; to mail a letter.

In a Nutshell: 寄信 (jì xìn) is the fundamental Chinese term for the physical act of mailing a letter. It's a highly literal and practical phrase, combining the action of “sending” with the object “letter.” While less common in the age of instant messaging, it remains essential vocabulary for interacting with the post office and for understanding conversations about correspondence.

寄 (jì): This character means “to send,” “to mail,” or “to entrust.” It's composed of 宀 (bǎogài) on top, representing a “roof” or “building,” and 奇 (qí) below. You can think of it as entrusting something (奇) to a building (宀), like a post office, for delivery.

信 (xìn): This character means “letter,” “message,” “information,” and also “trust” or “faith.” It's a combination of the “person” radical 亻(rén) and 言 (yán), meaning “speech” or “word.” A person's word is the basis of trust, and a letter is a physical form of a person's words.

How they combine: Together, 寄 (to send) and 信 (a letter) form the direct and unambiguous phrase “to send a letter.”

The Weight of a Written Letter: Before the digital age, 寄信 was the primary method for long-distance communication in China. A handwritten letter, known as a 家书 (jiāshū) or “letter from home,” carried immense emotional weight, connecting family members separated by vast distances, such as migrant workers in cities or students abroad. The quality of one's handwriting and the eloquence of the prose were seen as reflections of education and sincerity.

Comparison to Western “Mailing a Letter”: The physical act is identical, but the cultural backdrop differs slightly. In the West, while nostalgic, letter writing's decline was a gradual shift from post to landlines to email to texting. In China, the transition was arguably more abrupt, leaping from a letter-and-landline era directly into the all-encompassing mobile ecosystem of WeChat (微信). Consequently, the act of 寄信 today often feels more intentionally nostalgic or formal than in the West. Sending a handwritten letter is a powerful gesture of sincerity precisely because it is so rare.

Modern Formality: Today, 寄信 is often reserved for official purposes—sending documents, applications, or formal invitations—or as a deeply personal, romantic, or thoughtful act.

At the Post Office (邮局): This is the most common context. You'll use this term when telling a taxi driver where you're going, or when explaining to a postal worker what you need to do.

Official and Business Correspondence: While email is standard, some official documents, contracts, and legal notices must be physically mailed. In this context, 寄信 retains its formal and essential function.

Distinguishing from Parcels: The verb 寄 (jì) is used for all postal services. While 寄信 specifically means to mail a letter, you would say 寄包裹 (jì bāoguǒ) to “send a package/parcel” or 寄快递 (jì kuàidì) to “send via express courier.”

Digital Communication: For electronic messages, the verb is 发 (fā). You 发邮件 (fā yóujiàn) “send an email” or 发微信 (fā Wēixìn) “send a WeChat message.” Using 寄 for digital messages is incorrect.

邮局 (yóujú) - Post office. The place where you go to 寄信.

写信 (xiě xìn) - To write a letter. The action you do before you can 寄信.

邮票 (yóupiào) - Postage stamp. You must stick one on before you 寄信.

信封 (xìnfēng) - Envelope. The paper container for the letter.

包裹 (bāoguǒ) - Parcel, package. Another common item you can 寄 at the post office.

快递 (kuàidì) - Express delivery, courier. A faster, more modern service for sending letters and packages.

发邮件 (fā yóujiàn) - To send an email. The most common digital equivalent of 寄信.

寄件人 (jìjiànrén) - Sender. The person who is mailing the item.

收件人 (shōujiànrén) - Recipient, addressee. The person to whom the item is mailed.

明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) - Postcard. Another type of mail you can 寄.