zūnjìng de: 尊敬的 - Respected, Esteemed, Dear

• Keywords: zunjingde, zūn jìng de, 尊敬的, how to say dear in Chinese, formal Chinese salutation, respected in Chinese, how to write a formal letter in Chinese, respected sir in Chinese, esteemed professor in Chinese, what does zunjingde mean.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 尊敬的 (zūnjìng de), the essential Chinese formal salutation for showing deep respect. This guide explains how to use this term, equivalent to “Respected,” “Esteemed,” or a very formal “Dear,” in letters, emails, and speeches. Perfect for students and professionals who need to address teachers, bosses, or elders correctly in Chinese, this entry covers cultural context, practical examples, and common mistakes to avoid.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zūn jìng de
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Honorific Title
• HSK Level: HSK 5 (for the root word 尊敬)
• Concise Definition: A formal adjective and salutation used to express deep respect and esteem, equivalent to “Respected,” “Esteemed,” or a very formal “Dear.”
• In a Nutshell: 尊敬的 (zūnjìng de) is the go-to phrase in Chinese when you need to formally address someone you hold in high regard. It's not the casual, warm “dear” you'd use with a friend. Instead, it's a powerful honorific that immediately establishes a tone of politeness and deference. Think of it as the formal handshake at the beginning of a letter, email, or speech, signaling that you recognize and respect the recipient's status, age, or expertise.

• 尊 (zūn): This character originally depicted a ceremonial wine vessel being held up with two hands as an offering. This image of presenting something valuable conveys its modern meaning of “to honor,” “to revere,” or “senior.”
• 敬 (jìng): This character is composed of a part meaning “cautious” or “mindful” over a component representing a person kneeling or bowing. Together, it signifies “to respect,” “to be reverent,” or “to be polite” with a sense of carefulness and seriousness.
• 的 (de): A common grammatical particle that modifies a word, turning it into an adjective. Here, it attaches to the verb “尊敬” (to respect/esteem) and turns it into the descriptive adjective “respected/esteemed.”

When combined, 尊敬 (zūnjìng) is a strong, formal term for “respect.” Adding 的 (de) allows you to place it directly before a person's name or title, making it a perfect salutation.

The use of 尊敬的 (zūnjìng de) is deeply rooted in Confucian values that emphasize social hierarchy, harmony, and respect for elders and authority. In Chinese culture, acknowledging a person's social position is not just polite—it's a fundamental aspect of proper communication. A useful comparison for Western learners is the English word “Dear.” In English, “Dear” is incredibly versatile. You can write “Dear Mom,” “Dear John,” or “Dear Mr. President.” Its level of formality depends entirely on the name that follows. In contrast, 尊敬的 (zūnjìng de) is exclusively formal. Using it for a close friend or family member would sound bizarre and create an awkward, emotional distance. Using 尊敬的 correctly demonstrates that you understand and respect Chinese social norms. It shows you are not just speaking the language, but you are also culturally aware, which is highly valued in personal and business relationships.

尊敬的 (zūnjìng de) is primarily used in written communication and formal speeches. It is almost never used in casual conversation.

• Formal Correspondence (Letters and Emails): This is the most common use case. It is the standard salutation when writing to:
  • Teachers and professors (老师, 教授)
  • Supervisors and bosses (经理, 领导)
  • Clients or business partners you don't know well
  • Government officials
  • Hiring managers
• Public Speaking: It's frequently used to begin a speech or presentation to show respect to the audience and any honored guests.
  • Example: “尊敬的各位来宾…” (Respected guests…)
• Formality Level: Strictly formal. For friends, romantic partners, or close family, you would use 亲爱的 (qīn'ài de), which is the direct equivalent of the warm, informal “Dear.”

• Example 1:
  • 尊敬的王老师：您好！
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de Wáng lǎoshī: Nín hǎo!
  • English: Respected Teacher Wang: Hello!
  • Analysis: This is the standard, polite way for a student to begin an email or letter to their teacher. Note the use of 您 (nín), the formal “you,” which matches the respectful tone of 尊敬的.
• Example 2:
  • 尊敬的李经理，附件是本月的销售报告。
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de Lǐ jīnglǐ, fùjiàn shì běn yuè de xiāoshòu bàogào.
  • English: Respected Manager Li, attached is this month's sales report.
  • Analysis: A typical opening for a formal work email to a superior. It's professional, polite, and direct.
• Example 3:
  • 尊敬的各位来宾，女士们，先生们，晚上好！
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de gèwèi láibīn, nǚshìmen, xiānshengmen, wǎnshang hǎo!
  • English: Respected guests, ladies, and gentlemen, good evening!
  • Analysis: A classic opening line for a speech at a formal event like a conference, wedding, or ceremony.
• Example 4:
  • 尊敬的招聘经理：我写信申请贵公司的市场专员职位。
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de zhāopìn jīnglǐ: Wǒ xiě xìn shēnqǐng guì gōngsī de shìchǎng zhuānyuán zhíwèi.
  • English: Respected Hiring Manager: I am writing to apply for the Marketing Specialist position at your esteemed company.
  • Analysis: The standard salutation for a formal cover letter when you don't know the hiring manager's name.
• Example 5:
  • 尊敬的客户：感谢您选择我们的服务。
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de kèhù: Gǎnxiè nín xuǎnzé wǒmen de fúwù.
  • English: Esteemed Customer: Thank you for choosing our services.
  • Analysis: Used in formal business communication, such as automated emails or official letters to clients, to maintain a professional and respectful tone.
• Example 6:
  • 尊敬的张教授，关于我的论文，我有一些问题想请教您。
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de Zhāng jiàoshòu, guānyú wǒ de lùnwén, wǒ yǒu yīxiē wèntí xiǎng qǐngjiào nín.
  • English: Esteemed Professor Zhang, regarding my thesis, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you.
  • Analysis: Perfect for university students communicating with their professors. It shows appropriate academic deference.
• Example 7:
  • 尊敬的各位评委，大家好！我今天演讲的题目是…
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de gèwèi píngwěi, dàjiā hǎo! Wǒ jīntiān yǎnjiǎng de tímù shì…
  • English: Respected judges, hello everyone! The topic of my speech today is…
  • Analysis: Used to address a panel of judges in a competition, showing respect for their authority and role.
• Example 8:
  • 尊敬的刘先生，非常感谢您上周给予我的指导。
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de Liú xiānsheng, fēicháng gǎnxiè nín shàng zhōu jǐyǔ wǒ de zhǐdǎo.
  • English: Respected Mr. Liu, thank you very much for the guidance you gave me last week.
  • Analysis: Appropriate for a younger person writing to a senior mentor or an elder they respect, even outside of a formal work hierarchy.
• Example 9:
  • 尊敬的业主们，物业将于下周进行电梯维修。
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de yèzhǔmen, wùyè jiāng yú xiàzhōu jìnxíng diàntī wéixiū.
  • English: Respected property owners, management will be carrying out elevator maintenance next week.
  • Analysis: Used in public notices to address a group of people formally and politely.
• Example 10:
  • 尊敬的全体员工：公司决定…
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de quántǐ yuángōng: Gōngsī juédìng…
  • English: To all respected staff: The company has decided…
  • Analysis: An opening for a formal internal memo or announcement from company leadership to all employees.

• “Dear” is a False Friend: The most common mistake for English speakers is treating 尊敬的 like “Dear.” Remember, “Dear” can be formal or informal, but 尊敬的 is always formal. Using it with a close friend will make you sound sarcastic or like you're trying to create distance.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Wrong: 尊敬的小丽，周末一起去看电影吗？(Zūnjìng de Xiǎo Lì, zhōumò yīqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng ma?)
  • Why it's wrong: This is like writing “Esteemed Ms. Lily, would you like to go to the movies this weekend?” to your best friend. It's comically formal and inappropriate.
  • Correct: 小丽，周末一起去看电影吗？ (Xiǎo Lì, …) or 亲爱的小丽… (Qīn'ài de Xiǎo Lì…)
• Don't Forget the Title/Name: 尊敬的 must be followed by a person's name and/or title (e.g., 王老师, 李经理). Ending a sentence with just 尊敬的 is grammatically incomplete, like saying “Respected,” and then stopping.

• 亲爱的 (qīn'ài de) - The direct equivalent of “Dear” used for close friends, family, and romantic partners. It conveys warmth and intimacy.
• 尊重 (zūnzhòng) - The verb “to respect.” 尊敬的 is the adjectival form used to show this respect in a salutation.
• 您 (nín) - The formal pronoun for “you.” It should almost always be used in any communication that starts with 尊敬的.
• 阁下 (géxià) - A much more formal and somewhat archaic honorific, equivalent to “Your Excellency” or “Your Honor.” Used for heads of state, ambassadors, and other very high-ranking officials.
• 老师 (lǎoshī) - Teacher. One of the most common titles to follow 尊敬的.
• 领导 (lǐngdǎo) - Leader, boss, supervisor. Another very common title used with this salutation.
• 前辈 (qiánbèi) - A senior or elder in a particular field, school, or workplace. Addressing a senior colleague as `尊敬的前辈` shows great respect.
• 致 (zhì) - A verb meaning “to send” or “to extend,” often used in very formal letter openings, like `致尊敬的王校长` (To the respected Principal Wang).