英文商务信函格式
您的商务信函写作能力直接影响到买家对您公司的评估。您给他的每一份信函、邮件或者传真,都代表着您公司的形象,显示您公司的水平和实力,同时,相信您也一定是用这种方式来评估和了解您的买家。所以,商务信函写作决定了您能否以专业的方式跟买家进行有效的沟通,在您的业务往来中占据着举足轻重的地位。
商务信函写作前言
作为一家外贸出口企业,您必须经常跟您的国外客商打交道。因而,各种商务信函的写作成了您工作中的一个重要部分。您是否有这样的感受,花费了大量的时间和精力,对自己所写的信件是否专业、是否符合通常的规范却没有十足的把握。在本手册里,我们将为您介绍商务信函写作的基本知识和技巧,相信对您的工作具有很高的参考价值。
商务信函的重要性
也许你会问“商务信函真的这么重要吗”?
是的,答案是肯定的。
让我们一起来看看以下的调查结果。
当买家和供应商从互相并不了解的基础上开始进行业务联系时,买家通常是怎样来评估跟他联系的供应商的呢?
[参考全美最畅销的贸易书籍“Building an Import-Export Business”] 以下5个方面是买家最关心的:
供应商如何回复买家的邮件?
供应商网上的简介和/或目录是否做得专业?
当买家询问信息时,供应商是否完整答复所有问题?
供应商的信头是否写明了和传真号码?
供应商如何答复买家提出的要求?
供应商多久做出答复?
供应商是否愿意对产品进行修改?
买家询问多个问题时,供应商是否答复所有的问题?
供应商的信用如何?
供应商的银行信用记录如何?
供应商银行帐户开立的年数?
大致的通常收支情况?
银行给供应商的贷款额度?
银行对供应商的帐户情况是否满意?
供应商贸易往来的信用如何?
合作者与该供应商的合作年数?
供应商可承受多大的定单?
交货是否及时?
是否能准确地完成定单?
供应商是否使用了标准质量管理认证体系?
比如ISO 9000、ISO 14,000(环境)、Hazard Analysis at Critical Points
(适用于出口美国的海产品)
由此可见,您的商务信函写作能力直接影响到买家对您公司的评估。您给他的每一份信函、邮件或者传真,都代表着您公司的形象,显示您公司的水平和实力,同时,相信您也一定是用这种方式来评估和了解您的买家。所以,商务信函写作决定了您能否以专业的方式跟买家进行有效的沟通,在您的业务往来中占据着举足轻重的地位。
商务信函的基本结构
传统信件
这里我们介绍一种商务信函中最通用的格式-齐头式。主要特征就是每行均从左边顶格写,常常采用开放式的标点方式,即除了信文部分,其它部分在必要时才使用标点。信中各段落之间均空一行。
1、信头The heading
信头就是指书信中发信人的地址和发信的日期等。
通常情况下,公司都会专门印制带有信头的信笺纸,包括发信人的姓名,地址,电话,传真等。当我们撰写传统信件时,直接使用这种信笺纸就可以。
2、编号(写信人的名字缩写)和日期The sender name and the date
这部分内容是为了方便今后查询信件用的。
3、封内地址The inside address
这里就是指收信人的姓名和地址,一般写在信笺的左上方。收信人名称地址的格式和信头的格式相同,但必须把收信人的姓名一并写出。另外,如果不是完全公事化的书信往来,或者已经从公事的关系渐渐发展成为带有私人性质的友好信件往来,由于称呼这一栏的内容已经说明了收信人的身份,所以可以不必填写封内地址。
4、事由The subject heading
事由也就是我们通常说的主题,可以直接写明信件的重点,让人不必读完全信才了解到信的内容。所以事由要写得简明扼要。
5、称呼The salutation
指对收信人的一种称呼。
较常使用的有Dear Sirs, Dear Madam, Dear Mr. XX,。称呼后面的标点,一般使用逗号。
称呼里的第一个字母要大写。
6、开头语The open sentences
开头语没有统一的格式,但习惯上先用客套的语句把收到对方来信的日期,主题及简单内容加以综合叙述,使对方一目了然这是答复哪一封去信的。如果是第一次通信,也可以利用开头语作必要的自我介绍,并表明目的要求。开头语一般与正文分开,自成一节,要求简单明了。
7、正文The body of the letter
信的主体。一封信件的优劣,完全要看正文写的好或坏。我们会在后面继续讨论写作商务信函的一些技巧、规则。
英文信件结尾8、结尾语The complimentary close
结尾语一般用来总结文本所谈的事项,提示对收信人的要求,如“希望来信来函定货”,“答复询问”等,另外也附加一些略带客套的语气。正文结束后,另起一段写结尾语。
9、结束语The complimentary close
结束语是结束信函时的一种客套,应该与前面的称呼相呼应。例如:“Sincerely,” “Best Regards, ”or “Y ours Truly,”. 结束语写在结尾语下隔一行,只有第一个字母大写,后面加逗号。
10、签名The signatrue
写在结束语的下面,签上写信人的名字。如果是传统的信件,写信人最好亲笔签上您的名字,因为用印章的话,说明该信件并非本人亲自过目,只是通函而已,不为人重视。签名的下面,最好写上发信人的职位。
11、附件Enclosure
如果信中有附件,应在左下角注明Encl. 或Enc.。
例如:
Encls: 2 Invoices
Enc.: 1 B/Lading
范文
1、请求建立商业关系
Rogers Chemical Supply Co. 10E.22S treet Omaha8,Neb Gentlemen: We have obtained your name and address from Aristo Shoes, Milan , and we are writing to enquire whether you would be willing to establish business relations with us. We have been importers of shoes for many years. At present, We are interested in extending our, range and would appreciate your catalogues and quotations.If your prices are competitive we would expect to transact a significant volume of business. We look forward to your early reply.
Very truly yours
自米兰职权里斯托鞋类公司取得贵公司和地址,特此修函,祈能发展关系。多年来,本公司经营鞋类进口生意,现欲扩展业务范围。盼能惠赐商品目录和报价表。如价格公道,本公司必大额订购。烦请早日赐复。此致
2、回复对方建立商业关系的请求
Thank your for your letter of the 16th of this month. We shall be glad to enter into business relations with your company. In compliance with your request, we are sending you, under separate cover, our latest catalogue and price list covering our export range. Payment should be made by irrevocable and confirmed letter of credit. Should you wish to place an order, please telex or fax us.
本月16日收到有关商务关系的来函,不胜欣喜。谨遵要求另函奉上最新之出口商品目录和报价单。款项烦请以不可撤销保兑之信用状支付。如欲订货,请电传或传真为盼。此致敬礼
3、请求担任独家代理
We would like to inform you that we act on a sole agency basis fora number of manufacturers. We specialize in finished cotton goods for the Middle eastern market: Our activities cover all types of household linen. Until now , we have been working with your textiles department and our collaboration has proved to be mutually beneficial. Please refer to them for any information regarding our company. We are very interested in an exclusive arrangement with your factoryfor the promotion of your products in Bahrain. We look forward to your early reply. `
本公司担任多家厂家的独家代理,专营精制棉织品,包括各灯家用亚麻制品,行销中东。与贵公司向有业务联系,互利互作。贵公司纺织部亦十分了解有关业务合作之情况。盼望能成为贵公司独家代理,促销在巴林市场的货品。上述建议,烦请早日赐复,以便进一步联系合作。此致敬礼
4、拒绝对方担任独家代理
Thank you for your letter of 1 September suggesting that we grant you a sole agency for our household linens. I regret to say that, at this stage ,such an arrangement would berather premature. We would, however, be willing to engage in a trial collaboration with you company to see how the arrangement works. It would be necessary for you to test the market for our productsat you end. You would also have to build up a much larger turnover tojustify a sole agency. We enclose price lists covering all the products you are interested in and look forward to hearing from you soon.
9月1日有关建议担任家用亚麻制品独家代理的来信收悉。谨致衷心谢意。目前时机尚未成熟,不能应允该安排深感抱歉。然而,本公司乐意与贵公司先试行合作,为今后合作打下基础。为证明担任独家代理的能力,贵公司宜上述货品作市场调查,研究是否可扩大现有之营业额。奉上该货品之报价单,敬希查照。专此候复。此致敬礼
5、同意对方担任独家代理
Thank you for your letter of 12 April proposing a sole agency for our office machines. We have examined our long and ,I must say ,mutually beneficial collaboration. We would be very pleased to entrust you with the sole agency for Bahrain. From our records, we are pleased to note that you have two service engineers who took training courses at our Milan factory .the sole agency will naturally be contingent on you maintaining qualified aftersales staff. We have drawn up a draft agreement that is enclosed. Please examine the detailed terms and conditions and let us know whether they meet with your approval. On a personal note, I must say that I am delighted that we are probably going to strengthen our relationship. I have very pleasant memories of my last visit to Bahrain when you entertained me so delightfully .I look forward to reciprocating on your next visit to Milan . My very best wishes to you and your wife.
4月12日建议担任为公室器具之独家代理来信已经收悉。过去双方合作皆互利互助,能获您的眷顾作我公司于巴林的独家代理,殊感荣幸。据知您公司两服务技师曾到我公司米兰工厂受训。相信您公司在取得代理权后,仍会继续注重合格售后服务人员的训练。现随信附上协议草稿,请查实各项条款,惠复是盼。能加强业务,我亦感到欣喜,前次到访巴林,蒙盛情款待,不胜感激。祈盼您莅临米兰时,容我一尽地主之谊。此致敬礼
6、借引荐建立业务关系
At the beginning of this month , I attended the Harrogate toy fair. While there , I had an
interesting conversation with Mr. Douglas Gage of Edutoys plc selecting an agency for our teaching aids. Douglas described your dynamic sales force and innovative approach to marketing. He attributed his own companys success to your excellent distribution network which has served him for several years. We need an organization like yours to launch our products in the UK. Our teaching aids cover the whole field of primary education in all subjects .Our patented …Matrix‟ math apparatus is particularly successful. You may have reservations American teaching aids suiting your market. This is not a problem since we have a complete range of British English versions. I enclose an illustrated catalogue of our British English editions for your information. Please let me have your reactions to the material. I shall be in London during the first two weeks of October .Perhaps we could arrange a meeting to discuss our proposal.
本用初参观哈洛加特玩具交易会时有幸与教育玩具股份有限公司的道格拉斯·盖齐先生一谈,提及本公司正物代理人推广教学器材一事。盖齐先生赞扬贵公司积极推广产品,不断推出新的推销方法,并把其公司的成就归于贵公司完善的经销网络。贵公司的经验,正能替本公司在英国经销产品。本公司生产初级教育各学科的教育器村、专利产品梅特里克教学器材更傲视同侪。除美国教学器材外,亦备有全套英式英语版教材,适合当地市场,贵公司无需忧虑切合市场需求。现附上配有插图的英式英语版教材目录,
盼抽空细阅,并赐知宝贵意见。本人拟于10月头两星期前往伦敦,未知能否安排会面,就以上建议作一详谈? 此致敬礼