The subject of an email is known as the 'subject line' in English writing and is usually placed before the body of the email to describe the content of the email in a clear and concise way so that the reader can quickly understand the main idea of the email.
Use Spark to send correctly formatted emails in English and Chinese, to save time and effort, you can also use a pre-edited email template with the correct formatting.
Here are some examples and formats for writing email subject lines:
- Describe the subject of the email in a short sentence.
Example: "Meeting Reminder: March 23 at 2 pm" - Use keywords to summarise the subject of the email.
Example: "Urgent: Project Deadline Extension Request" - Preface the subject with a marker to indicate the level of urgency of the email.
Example: "[Important] Budget Meeting Agenda" - Avoid using overly general terms.
Example: "Updates" --> "Weekly Sales Report Updates" - Include specific requirements or action items in the subject matter.
Example: "Action Required: Sign Up for Translation Training" (立即行动：注册翻译培训)
As you can see, a clear, concise, and accurate bilingual email, subject can help readers understand the content of the email more quickly and increase the readability and response rate of the email.
Example of a Chinese business email
Suppose the sender is the sales manager of a company, and the recipient is a potential customer.
Subject: Enquiry about the company's products
Dear Mr./Ms. XX.
Hello! I am the sales manager of ABC Company, thank you very much for your interest in our company's products.
Our company has been developing and producing high-quality electronic products, which include smart watches, smart home devices, smartphones, and so on. Our products enjoy a good reputation in the market and are well-liked by consumers.
I noticed that you have recently viewed our products on our official website and left your contact details. I would like to provide you with more detailed information about our products and welcome any inquiries you may have.
If you are interested in learning more about our products or wish to work with us, we would be pleased to provide you with further information and support. Thank you for your interest and support!
Yours sincerely.
Salutations!
XXX
Sales Manager, ABC Company
The subject of this email is an inquiry about the company's products. The body of the email first introduces the recipient to the company and its products and expresses appreciation for the products in which the recipient is interested. The email then expresses a willingness to learn more about the recipient and provide support, indicating the company's willingness to establish contact with potential customers and seek opportunities for cooperation. The overall email is polite, clear, and concise and meets the requirements for writing business emails.
English business email example
The following is an example of an English business email to a supplier asking for product prices and delivery times.
Subject: Request for Product Information
Dear [supplier name].
I am writing to inquire about the prices and delivery time for your company's [product name]. Our company, [your company name], is interested in placing a bulk order of approximately [order quantity].
Could you please provide us with the following information?
• Unit price for each [product name]
• Minimum order quantity
• Delivery time from the date of purchase
• Payment terms and methods
• Available colors or customization options (if any)
Additionally, we would appreciate it if you could provide us with any other relevant information regarding your products or services that would assist us in making an informed decision.
Please let us know as soon as possible if your company can meet our requirements and provide us with a quotation for the requested products. We would also like to know if there are any discounts available for bulk orders.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards.
[your name]
[your title]
[Your company name]
The above is an example of an English business email to a supplier asking for a price and delivery time. The email begins with a brief description of your company's requirements, followed by a list of the information required, including the unit price of the product, minimum order quantity, delivery time, payment method, etc. The email also mentioned the availability of bulk order discounts. Finally, the email expresses thanks and looks forward to a reply from the other party as soon as possible.
From the above two examples of inquiry business emails in Chinese and inquiry emails in English, we can conclude that a subject is a short description of the email, which allows the recipient to quickly understand the content and importance of the email and avoid missing important emails. It is worth noting that writing a clear subject makes it easier for the recipient to categorize and file the emails, reducing confusion and omissions. In addition, when writing emails, you should try to make them look organized and structured. A clear subject can make the email look more polite and professional. Finally, if you need to respond to an email, writing a clear subject will make it easier for the recipient to understand your email and reply to it, increasing your response rate.