外 贸 英 语 函 电 Business English Correspondence 易露霞 陈原 孙美楠 主编 清华大学出版社

Chapter Three Enquiries

Contents of Chapter 15 Section One Introduction Section Two Specimen Letters Section Three Useful Words &Expressions Section Four Useful Sentences Section Five Exercises

Section One:Introdction （ P46 ） What is an enquiry? When a business intends to import, he may send out an enquiry to an exporter, inviting a quotation or an offer for the goods he wishes to buy or simply asking for some general information about these goods. The exporter, on receiving the enquiry, will make a reply to it. In this way, the negotiation is getting started

Notes: enquiry (inquiry) 询盘 without engagement 不受约束 regular customer 老客户 specification 规格 to the point 开门见山 no stock available 无货可供 price-list 价目表

Specimen Letter 1 P47 Comments: This is a short and simple letter of enquiry for you to get acquainted with the general form, from which you can see that the enquiry from regular customers is short, simple and brief to the point. Notes 1 first grade 甲级 2 representative sample 具有代表性的样品 3 by airmail 航邮 4 earliest possible time of shipment 最早装运期 Section Two Specimen Letters

Specimen Letter 2 P47 Comments: This is a letter of inquiring for leather gloves, in which the writer asks for sales terms and samples. Notes 1 genuine leather 真皮 2 rowing demand 日益增长的需要 3 at one’s end 在某地 4 terms of payment 支付条款

Specimen Letter 3 P47 Comments: This is another short and simple letter of enquiry. Remember to keep your enquiry brief, specific, courteous and to the point. Notes 1 at … price 按照 …… 价格 2 pon/on … terms 按照 …… 条款 3 to cover all our present requirements through/from… 从 …… 购入我方目前全部所需

Specimen Letter4 P49 Comments: In this letter, the writer answers the enquiry in detail. Even though the writer does not say how good their products are, we can see clearly from the lines that the writer thinks of his products highly. Notes a full range of samples 全部样品 craftsmanship 工艺

Specimen Letter 5 P50 Comments: When replying the enquiry, the writer submits his quotation. Notes 1 As requested 按照要求 2 in triplicate 一式三份 3 in duplicate 一式两份 4 to place order with/before… 向某人下订单 5 captioned 标题

Specimen Letter 6 P50 Comments: This is a very good example of enquiry letter to follow, sentences are short, words and phrases simple. But the meaning expresses very clearly. Notes 1 sizes 尺寸 2 freight 运费 3 allow/grant/give discount 给予折扣

Specimen Letter 7 P51 Comments: The writer in this letter gives details of the goods and the sales terms. While showing comments on the goods, the writer invites the buyer’s attention to his other products. This is often used in letter-writing. Notes 1 by separate post/by separate mail/under separate cover 另封航邮； 2 be both excellent in quality and reasonable in price 价廉物美 3 not less than 不迟于 4 irrevocable L/C 不可撤消信用证 5 at sight 即期 6 be popular 受欢迎

Specimen Letter 8 P52 Comments: 1 This letter responds to seller’s sales promotion letter by inviting an offer and ends up with remarks to secure better terms and encourage future business. 2 Note how the writer presents his rather strict demands in a friendly, sincere, and matter-of-fact attitude to make his letter effective in both business and human aspects. Notes 1 captioned goods 标题商品 2 prompt delivery 立即装运 3 handle 经营 4 associated firms 联营公司 5 ready market 有销路

Section Three Useful Words & Expressions P53 Section Four Useful Sentences P55 Section Five Exercises P58