前略 (ぜんりゃく): This phrase means 'skipping the greetings'. You use it at the start of a letter or email. It tells the reader you are getting straight to the main topic.

前略

This phrase means 'skipping the greetings'. You use it at the start of a letter or email. It tells the reader you are getting straight to the main topic.

KMT6FormalStandardDiscourse MarkerWritten OnlyBusiness Letter OpeningsGrammar

前略Primary

This phrase means 'skipping the greetings'. You use it at the start of a letter or email. It tells the reader you are getting straight to the main topic.

前略、早速ですが、先日お送りした見積書についてご確認いただけましたでしょうか。草々

Pardon the lack of pleasantries, but to get right to it, have you had a chance to review the estimate I sent the other day? Sincerely,

FormalPastAffirmativeClause InitialRequestBusiness & Finance Work & Career

前略、来週のゼミの課題について質問があり、ご連絡いたしました。レポートの提出期限は延長されないのでしょうか。草々

Forgive the directness, I am writing because I have a question about next week's seminar assignment. I was wondering if the report deadline will not be extended. Sincerely,

FormalNon PastNegativeClause InitialConjecturalEducation Work & Career

前略、先日はお忙しい中、ありがとうございました。取り急ぎお礼まで。草々

Skipping the formalities, thank you very much for your time the other day despite your busy schedule. Just a quick note to express my thanks. Sincerely,

PolitePastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeDaily Life Work & Career

前略、体調不良のため、明日の会議を欠席させていただきたく存じます。大変申し訳ございません。草々

Pardon my bluntness, but due to ill health, I would like to be excused from tomorrow's meeting. I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Sincerely,

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialDesireWork & Career Medicine & Health

前略、標記の件、至急資料をお送りください。よろしくお願いいたします。草々

To get straight to the point, regarding the matter mentioned in the subject line, please send the documents urgently. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely,

FormalNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialRequestBusiness & Finance

This is different from 拝啓 (haikei). That word always needs a season greeting. This is also different from 急啓 (kyuukei). 急啓 (kyuukei) is only for very urgent letters. You can use 前略 (zenryaku) when you want to get straight to the point. It does not matter if it is urgent or not.

Watch out: You must use '草々' (sōsō) to end a letter that starts with '前略'. Do not use '敬具' (keigu). That is for a different starting phrase.

Don't use this when writing to someone very important. It can seem rude if you skip greetings.

Use this when you want to skip the usual polite greetings in a letter. It means you are getting straight to your main point. It makes your letter sound direct and formal.

Often confused with(1)

急啓

An opening for a formal letter or email indicating urgency, used to skip preliminary greetings and get straight to the main point. It literally means 'urgent notice' or 'urgent respectful statement'.

Contrasts with(1)

拝啓

This is a very polite way to start a letter. It means something like 'Dear Sir or Madam'. You always use it with 'keigu' at the end of the letter.

Less formal alternatives(1)

拝啓

This is a very polite way to start a letter. It means something like 'Dear Sir or Madam'. You always use it with 'keigu' at the end of the letter.

拝啓

This is a very polite way to start a letter. It means something like 'Dear Sir or Madam'. You always use it with 'keigu' at the end of the letter.

敬具

This is a polite way to end a formal letter. It is like saying 'Sincerely' in English.

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Dictionary

前略

This phrase means 'skipping the greetings'. You use it at the start of a letter or email. It tells the reader you are getting straight to the main topic.

KMT6FormalStandardDiscourse MarkerWritten OnlyBusiness Letter OpeningsGrammar

前略Primary

This phrase means 'skipping the greetings'. You use it at the start of a letter or email. It tells the reader you are getting straight to the main topic.

前略、早速ですが、先日お送りした見積書についてご確認いただけましたでしょうか。草々

Pardon the lack of pleasantries, but to get right to it, have you had a chance to review the estimate I sent the other day? Sincerely,

FormalPastAffirmativeClause InitialRequestBusiness & Finance Work & Career

前略、来週のゼミの課題について質問があり、ご連絡いたしました。レポートの提出期限は延長されないのでしょうか。草々

Forgive the directness, I am writing because I have a question about next week's seminar assignment. I was wondering if the report deadline will not be extended. Sincerely,

FormalNon PastNegativeClause InitialConjecturalEducation Work & Career

前略、先日はお忙しい中、ありがとうございました。取り急ぎお礼まで。草々

Skipping the formalities, thank you very much for your time the other day despite your busy schedule. Just a quick note to express my thanks. Sincerely,

PolitePastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeDaily Life Work & Career

前略、体調不良のため、明日の会議を欠席させていただきたく存じます。大変申し訳ございません。草々

Pardon my bluntness, but due to ill health, I would like to be excused from tomorrow's meeting. I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Sincerely,

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialDesireWork & Career Medicine & Health

前略、標記の件、至急資料をお送りください。よろしくお願いいたします。草々

To get straight to the point, regarding the matter mentioned in the subject line, please send the documents urgently. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely,

FormalNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialRequestBusiness & Finance

Watch out: You must use '草々' (sōsō) to end a letter that starts with '前略'. Do not use '敬具' (keigu). That is for a different starting phrase.

Don't use this when writing to someone very important. It can seem rude if you skip greetings.

Use this when you want to skip the usual polite greetings in a letter. It means you are getting straight to your main point. It makes your letter sound direct and formal.

Often confused with(1)

急啓

An opening for a formal letter or email indicating urgency, used to skip preliminary greetings and get straight to the main point. It literally means 'urgent notice' or 'urgent respectful statement'.

Contrasts with(1)

拝啓

This is a very polite way to start a letter. It means something like 'Dear Sir or Madam'. You always use it with 'keigu' at the end of the letter.

Less formal alternatives(1)

拝啓

This is a very polite way to start a letter. It means something like 'Dear Sir or Madam'. You always use it with 'keigu' at the end of the letter.

拝啓

This is a very polite way to start a letter. It means something like 'Dear Sir or Madam'. You always use it with 'keigu' at the end of the letter.

敬具

This is a polite way to end a formal letter. It is like saying 'Sincerely' in English.

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前略

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with3

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery

前略

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with3

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery