What is a 'Zenbun' (Opening Greeting)? ✒️ An In-depth Guide to Greeting Letter Etiquette

The 'Zenbun' refers to the entire block consisting of 'Haikei (Opening Word)' + 'Season-specific greeting' + 'I hope you are doing well'.
In this article, I have summarized the 'I hope you are doing well' part, rather than the opening/closing words or seasonal greetings.

How to choose the opening greeting

▶️ For corporations, organizations, and offices

(Use this when sending to a Representative Director or a corporate contact)

• Go-seiei (Prosperity)(Refers to both health and prosperity, so it can be used for both companies and individuals)

• Go-seiei (Flourishing business)(An expression praising a state where business is thriving)

• Go-han-ei (Prosperity)(An expression praising improvements in performance or a company's growth)

• Go-ryusei (Prosperity)(An expression praising improvements in performance or a company's growth)

• Go-ryusho (Prosperity)(An expression praising improvements in performance or a company's growth)

Depending on the recipient's situation, it may be better to avoid 'Go-seiei (flourishing business)' or 'Go-han-ei', so 'Go-seiei (prosperity)' is the safest choice.
Since it is a greeting that conveys the sentiment of 'I am glad to hear your work is going well,' you don't need to worry about it too much.

▶️ For individuals

(Use this when sending to an individual, or between individuals even if they are business partners)

• Go-seisho (Wishing the recipient is healthy and happy)

• Go-kensho (Wishing the recipient is healthy and well)

• Go-seiei (Wishing the recipient health and prosperity)

It conveys the sentiment of 'I am glad to hear you are doing well.'

Examples of various openings

🔖 Casual openings

・How have you been?
・Are you doing well?

🔖 General openings

・I hope you are continuing to thrive.
・I hope everyone is continuing to thrive.

🔖 Business

・I hope your company is continuing to thrive.
・I hope your company is continuing to prosper.

🔖 Buddhist services/Condolences

・I hope you are continuing to be in good health.
・I hope everyone is spending their days in good health.
・I trust that your entire family is spending their days in good health.

Cases where the opening is omitted

🔖Get-well letters
When sending a get-well letter during illness or a disaster, it is not appropriate to inquire about the recipient's well-being or health.

🔖Letters of condolence
Since the recipient is not in a state of well-being, general openings are also omitted here.

🔖Funeral thank-you notes/Death notices
These also do not require an opening.

For letters of apology, get-well letters for illness or disasters, funeral thank-you notes, and death notices, do not write an opening (including seasonal greetings); instead, write the opening salutation (togo) and begin the greeting immediately after.

◯ Related links (How to write greeting cards)

Ready-to-use example sentences

At Print Mate, we provide many ready-to-use example sentences, including openings. Please feel free to use them.

#GreetingCardOpening #GreetingCardStart #Haikei #Keigu #Kinkei #Kinpaku #OpeningSalutation #ClosingSalutation #Beginning #Start

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