Friendly Letter
BasicFriendly letters use an informal tone.
- Friendly letter format: date → Dear + name, → body → closing → your name.
- Close with Love / Best wishes, not Yours sincerely.
- Keep the tone light: How are you? I miss you.
文體小知識：To friends and family.
§Text Passage
112 May 2026 — Dear Uncle David,
2How are you? I have some exciting news to share with you. Last month, I won second prize in the school writing competition! I could not believe my ears when our teacher called my name. My essay was about a flag-selling day with my classmates. We raised over two thousand dollars for the children's hospital. My parents were very proud of me, and Dad took our whole class out for noodles.
3School life is busy but fun. I am practising basketball every Tuesday and Thursday, and I can almost do a lay-up now. How is Auntie Mary? Is my little cousin learning to walk now? Please send me a photo of her. I also want to ask about your new job in the city. Grandma misses you, and she is teaching me to make dumplings.
4Give my love to Auntie Mary and the baby — we all send our love from Hong Kong. I must finish my homework now. Please write back soon and tell me all your news — your letters always make me smile. Best wishes to everyone at home. Yours, Marco
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
12 May 2026 — Dear Uncle David,
二零二六年五月十二日 — 親愛的 David 叔叔：
How are you?
你好嗎？
I have some exciting news to share with you.
我有些很興奮的消息想同你分享。
Last month, I won second prize in the school writing competition!
上個月，我在學校寫作比賽拿了第二名！
I could not believe my ears when our teacher called my name.
老師叫到我的名字時，我簡直不敢相信自己的耳朵。
My essay was about a flag-selling day with my classmates.
我那篇文章是寫同班同學一起賣旗的一天。
We raised over two thousand dollars for the children's hospital.
我們為兒童醫院籌到超過二千元。
My parents were very proud of me, and Dad took our whole class out for noodles.
爸爸媽媽很為我驕傲，爸爸還請了全班同學去吃麵。
School life is busy but fun.
學校生活又忙又好玩。
I am practising basketball every Tuesday and Thursday, and I can almost do a lay-up now.
我逢星期二、四練籃球，現在差不多能做到上籃。
How is Auntie Mary?
Mary 嬸嬸好嗎？
Is my little cousin learning to walk now?
我的堂妹是不是正在學走路？
Please send me a photo of her.
請寄一張她的照片給我。
I also want to ask about your new job in the city.
我還想問一問你在市區的新工作。
Grandma misses you, and she is teaching me to make dumplings.
奶奶很掛念你，現在還教我包餃子。
Give my love to Auntie Mary and the baby — we all send our love from Hong Kong.
幫我問候 Mary 嬸嬸和寶寶——我們在香港都很掛念大家。
I must finish my homework now.
我要去做功課。
Please write back soon and tell me all your news — your letters always make me smile.
快些寫信回來，和我說一說你的近況——你的信常常都令我笑。
Best wishes to everyone at home.
祝家中各位安好。
Yours, Marco
你的侄兒 Marco 上
1Summary 重點摘要
Friendly letters use an informal tone.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Greeting.
Warm ending.
Kind ending.
When written.
Recent things.
Inquire.
Reply.
Your.
3Step by step Steps
- FormatA friendly letter has five parts: the date at the top right, the greeting Dear plus a name, the body, the closing and the signature. Example: Dear Tom, ... Best wishes, Ann. Neat formatting lets the marker see all five parts at a glance.
- OpeningOpen with a greeting and your news. Example: How are you? I miss you very much. Greet the reader first to sound warm, then give the reason for writing, such as moving house or starting a new school.
- BodyThe body carries your recent news. Example: I moved to a new school. It is big and beautiful. One or two events are enough; give each one a detail or a feeling so the letter is full but never scattered.
- ClosingThe final paragraph sends good wishes and invites a reply. Example: Please write back soon. Best wishes. Common closings are Best wishes, Love and Yours; the name goes on the next line, so the page stays tidy.
- The date lineWrite the date as day, month and year, for example 12 May 2026. Place it at the top right of the page, above the greeting. The day is a number and the month starts with a capital letter; 12th May 2026 is also correct.
- Friendly toneLetters to friends and family use a relaxed tone. Example: How are you? I miss you. Contractions such as I'm and don't are fine, and exclamation marks add warmth; still, keep the letter polite and free of rude words.
5Worked example Example
Question: How do we write a friendly letter to a friend after moving house? Build it part by part with the five-part format.
- Step 1: Write the date and the greeting — 12 May 2026 at the top right, then Dear Tom, on the next line.
- Step 2: Open with a greeting — How are you? I miss you very much. Two warm lines set the friendly tone.
- Step 3: Give your news in the body — I moved to a new school. It is big and beautiful. One message plus one description.
- Step 4: Add one small story — I made a new friend called Jack. A small story brings the letter to life.
- Step 5: Wish and sign — Please visit me soon. Best wishes, Ann. An invitation, then the closing and the name on separate lines.
- Answer: Sample answer: Dear Tom,
How are you? I miss you. I moved to a new school. It is big and beautiful, and I made a new friend called Jack. Please visit me soon.
Best wishes,
Ann All five parts are there: date, greeting, opening, news and the wish with a signature.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Ending?
Q2Greeting?
Q3First para?
Q4Last para?
Q5Date where?
Q6Formal or informal?
8Recap Recap
- Friendly letter format: date → Dear + name, → body → closing → your name.
- Close with Love / Best wishes, not Yours sincerely.
- Keep the tone light: How are you? I miss you.
- One or two pieces of news are enough.
- Invite a reply: Please write soon.