Formal Written Style in Chinese

Overview

Formal written Chinese (书面语, shūmiànyǔ) is a distinct register that draws heavily on classical Chinese elements and uses vocabulary and constructions that rarely appear in speech. Key markers include 将 (formal 把), 予以 (give/grant), 进行 (carry out), 加以 (apply to), and set phrases like 兹通知如下 (hereby notified as follows).

At the CEFR C1 level, reading and producing formal written Chinese is essential for academic, business, and professional contexts. The gap between spoken and written Chinese is among the largest of any modern language, making this a distinct skill to develop.

Formal writing uses longer sentences, more classical function words, passive constructions, and abstract vocabulary. Recognizing these patterns is critical for reading news, academic papers, contracts, and government documents.

How It Works

Common formal written patterns

Formal	Spoken equivalent	Meaning
将	把	(disposal marker)
予以	给	give/grant
进行	做	carry out
加以	--	apply to / give
兹	现在	hereby/now
鉴于	因为	in view of
致	给	to (in letters)
若	如果	if

Formal sentence structures

Pattern	Example	Meaning
将 + N + V	将进行讨论	will conduct a discussion
予以 + V	予以批准	to grant approval
加以 + V	加以改进	to make improvements
对...进行 + N	对此进行调查	to investigate this

Examples in Context

Chinese	Pinyin	English	Note
将进行讨论	jiāng jìnxíng tǎolùn	will conduct a discussion	将 + 进行
予以批准	yǔyǐ pīzhǔn	to grant approval	formal action
加以改进	jiāyǐ gǎijìn	to make improvements	formal action
兹通知如下	zī tōngzhī rúxià	hereby notified as follows	notice formula
鉴于以上情况	jiànyú yǐshàng qíngkuàng	in view of the above	formal reasoning
对该问题进行了讨论	duì gāi wèntí jìnxíng le tǎolùn	discussed the issue	formal phrasing
特此通知	tècǐ tōngzhī	hereby notified	notice closing
经研究决定	jīng yánjiū juédìng	after deliberation it was decided	formal decision
若有任何问题	ruò yǒu rènhé wèntí	if there are any questions	formal conditional
致全体员工	zhì quántǐ yuángōng	to all employees	formal address

Common Mistakes

Using spoken forms in formal writing

• Wrong: 我们要把这个问题做好。(casual)
• Right: 我们将此问题加以解决。(formal)
• Why: Formal writing requires formal vocabulary; spoken forms undermine the register.

Overusing 进行 as a filler

• Wrong: 对工作进行了工作 (redundant)
• Right: 开展了工作 or simply 工作了
• Why: 进行 is productive but should not be inserted mindlessly; sometimes a direct verb is better.

Mixing registers inconsistently

• Wrong: 兹通知大家，我们明天不上班啦。(formal opening, casual ending)
• Right: Maintain consistent register throughout a document
• Why: Register mixing creates an awkward, unprofessional impression.

Usage Notes

Formal written style is expected in official notices, academic papers, business contracts, news reports, and formal correspondence. It is NOT used in personal messages, social media, or casual conversation. The ability to switch between registers is a hallmark of C1 proficiency.

Practice Tips

• Read Chinese news (新华社, 人民日报) and highlight formal vocabulary and constructions.
• Practice rewriting casual sentences in formal style: 因为天气不好所以不去 → 鉴于天气状况，活动取消.
• Learn the most common formal formulas: 兹通知, 特此说明, 经研究决定.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Classical Chinese Elements -- classical elements underpin formal style
• Next steps: Rhetorical Patterns -- advanced persuasive structures
• Next steps: Business Chinese -- formal style in business contexts
• Next steps: Abstract Grammar Patterns -- advanced formal constructions
• Next steps: News and Official Style -- media and government register