Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 12
A letter to a client
〜折に ・ 拝啓 … 敬具 ・ 〜かたがた ・ 〜なりとも
In this lesson, you will learn to write a formal business letter: to open it with 拝啓, a greeting for the season and good wishes, and close it with 敬具; to refer to an occasion with 〜折に; to do two things with one letter or visit with 〜かたがた; and to say 'even a little' with 〜なりとも. It is mid-July, and Mori asks Lisa to draft a thank-you letter to a food company in Shizuoka that he visited last week.
By the end you will be able to say
先日 伺った 折には、お世話に なりました。Thank you for your kindness when I visited the other day.
拝啓 盛夏の 候、貴社 ますます ご清栄の ことと お慶び 申し上げます。Dear Sirs, in this season of midsummer, we are glad to know your company continues to prosper.
お礼かたがた ご報告 申し上げます。I write to thank you and, at the same time, to report.
少しなりとも お役に立てれば 幸いです。We would be glad to be of even a little help.
今後とも 何卒 よろしく お願い申し上げます。We ask for your continued support.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜折に — on the occasion when — Verb (plain) or noun + の + 折に (折には) refers to an occasion in formal speech and letters; it is a politer 時に.
- 拝啓 … 敬具 — the frame of a formal letter — A formal letter opens with 拝啓, a greeting for the season and good wishes for the reader, and closes with 敬具.
- 〜かたがた — while also; partly to — Noun + かたがた joins two purposes in one visit or one letter; it belongs to formal speech and writing.
- 〜なりとも — even just (a little) — A small amount + なりとも means 'even just that much'; it is modest and formal and goes with a wish or a request.