Meaning of 此致?

[ABCinChina]

I saw the word 此致 in a business email but have no idea what it means. I asked my girlfriend what it meant and here was her explanation...

比如说：此致敬礼，它的意思就是在这里向您敬礼，表示尊敬。。比如说：此致敬礼，它的意思就是在这里向您敬礼，表示尊敬。。

I can't completely understand what she's trying to say here, but the best translation for 此致 to me would be "respect". Any other thoughts?

[skylee]

As far as I know, 此致 is used in the older format of formal correspondence. It is not used alone. In such a format, the letter starts with 敬啟者 or 逕啟者, and then the body of the letter, and then greetings, and then 此致 (meaning that this letter is meant for), followed by the name of the recipient of the letter, then the name of the sender, then the date.

This thread is relevant -> http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/5011-translation-help-please-to-whom-it-may-concern

This is perhaps helpful -> http://home.sbc.edu.hk/~cmc/writing/003.ppt

[gougou]

I've only seen it used as part of the greeting at the end of some emails (I guess you'd use it in letters as well, but I wouldn't know as I haven't received any business letters yet...), like "Yours sincerely" in English.

For example:

　　此致

商祺，

[skylee]

More on 此致 ->

The Lin Yutang Dictionary -> http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/cgi-bin/agrep-lindict?query=%a6%b9&category=wholerecord

9. 此致 [ci3zhi4], phr., (form closing letter) the above to inform you.

Xinhua Zidian ->

此致

cǐzhì

[with greetings]――用于书信、报告等末尾,表示亲切祝愿或友好地致意

Website of the Chinese Faculty of the Chinese University of HK -> http://win2003.chi.cuhk.edu.hk/bowen/week_topic/Weekly_Topic-View.asp?id=134

「此致」

　　一般函件結束處常見「此致」一辭。「致」字雖有多義，但作為函件之結束語，是取其「給與、送給」之義。「此致」是「這給與」或「這送給」的意思。既說「給與、送給」，則必有給與和送給的對象，所以一般函件，用「敬啟者」開其端，於結束處便用「此致」，而收信人之大號尊稱則另行抬頭書寫。國內一般函件既慣以稱呼收信人開其端，而又沿用「此致」作結；不過，再另抬頭寫收信人大號，就顯得重覆了，所以另行抬頭寫的便「敬禮」兩字。倘這個寫法，形成習慣，以致積非成是，那是毫無辦法的。推其錯誤之始，恐怕是把「此致」和「此告」、「此啟」、「此布」、「此令」等混淆了之故。因為「告」、「啟」、「布」、「令」都可作名詞用，「此告」、「此啟」、「此布」、「此令」用於文件結束處，是聲明這是一則通告、這是一則啟事、這是一個命令。在語文邏輯上，「此致」與「此告」、「此啟」、「此布」、「此令」該是有所不同的。

梁巨鴻　30/12/2002

[roddy]

I like to think of it as a formal 'that's all folks'

[ABCinChina]

Thanks for the help, guys! Unfortunately, I'm very simple minded and explanations like "Yours Sincerely" work great for my brain. Thanks for the PP though Skylee, too bad my Chinese is not yet at the level where I can understand what is being explained.

[fireball9261]

I think you could translate 此致 like this:

此 - this, thus

致 - given

Therefore, 此致 is like "thus, I have given you the above letter" or "this (above letter) has given (to you)".

or another way:

此 - this

致 - give

Therefore, 此致 could also mean "(I will) this (warm regards/warm wishes/blessings) give (to you)". It would be equivalent to "regards", "warm wishes", and "sincerely".