电子邮件
diànzǐ yóujiàn
What does 电子邮件 mean?
电子邮件 (diànzǐ yóujiàn) is the formal Chinese word for 'email' — literally 'electronic mail,' a direct calque of the English term. Use the full four-syllable form on business cards, contact forms, in HSK tests, and in formal writing. In everyday speech, native speakers almost always shorten it: 邮件 (yóujiàn) is the most common spoken short form, and many young people simply say the English word 'email' or use the verb 发 with no object ('我给你发一封过去').
To send an email is 发电子邮件 (fā diànzǐ yóujiàn) or 写电子邮件 (xiě diànzǐ yóujiàn, to write one). The measure word 封 is shared with 信 (xìn, letter), which is fitting — email is the electronic descendant of the paper letter. Common variants: 邮箱 (yóuxiāng) = inbox / email address; 邮箱地址 = email address.
Note: Slightly formal / written. In daily conversation most native speakers shorten it to 邮件 (yóujiàn) or just say 'email' as an English loanword. Use the full 电子邮件
Character breakdown
electric; electricity
suffix; particle (here: 'electronic')
mail; postal
item; piece (counter for items)
Memory hook: 电子 (electronic) + 邮件 (mail item) = electronic mail = email.
Measure word for 电子邮件
Example sentences
我每天要看很多电子邮件。
Wǒ měi tiān yào kàn hěn duō diànzǐ yóujiàn.
I have to read a lot of emails every day.
neutral
请把你的电子邮件地址告诉我。
Qǐng bǎ nǐ de diànzǐ yóujiàn dìzhǐ gàosu wǒ.
Please tell me your email address.
neutral, polite
他给老板发了一封电子邮件。
Tā gěi lǎobǎn fā le yì fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn.
He sent an email to the boss.
written
对不起，我还没收到你的电子邮件。
Duìbuqǐ, wǒ hái méi shōudào nǐ de diànzǐ yóujiàn.
Sorry, I haven't received your email yet.
neutral
现在很多事情都用电子邮件办。
Xiànzài hěn duō shìqing dōu yòng diànzǐ yóujiàn bàn.
Many things are handled by email nowadays.
written
Common phrases with 电子邮件
Synonyms
邮件 is the common everyday short form for 'email.' Use 邮件 in speech; reserve 电子邮件 for formal writing or when you must distinguish it from paper 信件.
邮箱 means 'mailbox / inbox / email account.' '请给我你的邮箱' asks for the email address, while '请给我发邮件' asks them to send an email. 电子邮件 is the message; 邮箱 is the account.
Don't confuse 电子邮件 with
信 is a paper letter — handwritten or printed and mailed. 电子邮件 is the digital version. The measure word 封 is the same for both.
短信 is an SMS text message sent to a phone number. 电子邮件 goes to an email address. Different medium, different device.
微信 is WeChat — the chat app, not email. Many Chinese people prefer WeChat over email for daily messaging.
FAQ
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