míngxìnpiàn: 明信片 - Postcard

• Keywords: 明信片, míngxìnpiàn, postcard in Chinese, how to say postcard in Chinese, sending a postcard from China, Chinese postcard, souvenir from China, post office in China, travel mail.
• Summary: Learn how to say “postcard” in Chinese with the word 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn). This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of its meaning, cultural significance for travelers in China, and practical usage. Discover how to buy, write, and mail a postcard in China, with 10+ example sentences perfect for beginners. Avoid common mistakes, like confusing it with a business card (名片).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): míngxìnpiàn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A card for sending a message by mail without an envelope.
• In a Nutshell: 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) is the direct and standard Chinese word for “postcard.” The term itself is very literal, describing an “open message card.” It's an essential vocabulary word for anyone traveling in China, as sending postcards from scenic spots is a very popular activity for both domestic and international tourists.

• 明 (míng): This character's primary meaning is “bright,” “clear,” or “open.” It's formed by the sun (日) and the moon (月) together, the two brightest objects in the sky. In this context, it signifies that the message on the card is visible and not concealed in an envelope.
• 信 (xìn): This character means “letter,” “mail,” or “message.” It combines the “person” radical (人) with “speech” (言), suggesting words a person can trust.
• 片 (piàn): This character means a “flat, thin piece” or “slice.” It's used for many card-like objects, like photos (照片 zhàopiàn) or business cards (名片 míngpiàn). Here, it simply describes the physical form of the postcard.

When combined, 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) literally translates to a “bright/open-message-card,” a perfectly logical and descriptive name for a postcard.

While postcards are common worldwide, they hold a special place in modern Chinese travel culture. With the rise of domestic tourism, collecting and sending 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) has become a ritual for many travelers.

• A Tangible Memory: In a hyper-digital age, the act of choosing, writing, and mailing a physical postcard is seen as a more thoughtful and personal gesture than a social media post. Major tourist destinations, from the Great Wall to the ancient town of Lijiang, have shops dedicated to selling unique and beautifully designed postcards.
• The “Slow Mail” Phenomenon (慢递 màndì): A unique practice that has gained popularity in China is “slow mail.” Many tourist shops offer a service where you can write a 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) to yourself or a friend and have them mail it on a future date, such as a year from now or on a specific birthday. This adds a layer of romanticism and future reflection to the simple act of sending a postcard.
• Special Postmarks (邮戳 yóuchuō): Unlike the standard postmarks in many Western countries, post offices in Chinese tourist areas often have special, pictorial postmarks (纪念邮戳 jìniàn yóuchuō) featuring the local landmark. Getting this special stamp on your postcard is part of the experience and makes it a more valuable collectible.

The term 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) is used in a very straightforward manner. It's a neutral term used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts related to travel, post offices, and souvenirs.

• At a Souvenir Shop: You will use this word to ask for postcards. (e.g., “Nǐmen yǒu míngxìnpiàn ma?” - “Do you have postcards?”)
• At the Post Office (邮局 yóujú): You will use it when talking about mailing the card. (e.g., “Wǒ yào jì zhè zhāng míngxìnpiàn.” - “I want to mail this postcard.”)
• With Friends: You might talk about the postcards you've sent or received as part of sharing your travel experiences.

The word itself has no strong positive or negative connotations; its meaning is entirely dependent on the context of the conversation.

• Example 1:
  • 我想给我朋友寄一张明信片。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng gěi wǒ péngyǒu jì yī zhāng míngxìnpiàn.
  • English: I want to send a postcard to my friend.
  • Analysis: A classic and useful sentence. Note the measure word for card-like objects is 张 (zhāng).
• Example 2:
  • 这张明信片上的风景真美！
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng míngxìnpiàn shàng de fēngjǐng zhēn měi!
  • English: The scenery on this postcard is so beautiful!
  • Analysis: This sentence is great for commenting on a postcard you're looking at. “上的 (shàng de)” means “on top of” or simply “on.”
• Example 3:
  • 昨天我收到了你从上海寄来的明信片。
  • Pinyin: Zuótiān wǒ shōudào le nǐ cóng Shànghǎi jì lái de míngxìnpiàn.
  • English: Yesterday I received the postcard you sent from Shanghai.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses key verbs: 收到 (shōudào) “to receive” and 寄 (jì) “to send/mail.”
• Example 4:
  • 请问，卖明信片的地方在哪里？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, mài míngxìnpiàn de dìfang zài nǎlǐ?
  • English: Excuse me, where is the place that sells postcards?
  • Analysis: A very practical question for any tourist. “卖…的地方 (mài…de dìfang)” is a useful structure for “place that sells…”
• Example 5:
  • 我的爱好是收集世界各地的明信片。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de àihào shì shōují shìjiè gèdì de míngxìnpiàn.
  • English: My hobby is collecting postcards from all over the world.
  • Analysis: 收集 (shōují) means “to collect.” This sentence shows how to talk about it as a hobby (爱好 àihào).
• Example 6:
  • 你需要买一张邮票才能寄这张明信片。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào mǎi yī zhāng yóupiào cái néng jì zhè zhāng míngxìnpiàn.
  • English: You need to buy a stamp to be able to mail this postcard.
  • Analysis: This connects the postcard to another key vocabulary word, 邮票 (yóupiào), meaning “stamp.”
• Example 7:
  • 他在明信片的背面写满了祝福的话。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài míngxìnpiàn de bèimiàn xiěmǎn le zhùfú de huà.
  • English: He filled the back of the postcard with words of blessing.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces useful words like 背面 (bèimiàn) “back side” and 祝福 (zhùfú) “blessings/well wishes.”
• Example 8:
  • 这套故宫主题的明信片很有收藏价值。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tào Gùgōng zhǔtí de míngxìnpiàn hěn yǒu shōucáng jiàzhí.
  • English: This set of Forbidden City themed postcards is very collectible.
  • Analysis: Here, the measure word is 套 (tào) for a “set.” It also introduces theme (主题 zhǔtí) and collectible value (收藏价值 shōucáng jiàzhí).
• Example 9:
  • 我要把这张明信片寄到德国，邮费是多少？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yào bǎ zhè zhāng míngxìnpiàn jì dào Déguó, yóufèi shì duōshǎo?
  • English: I want to send this postcard to Germany, how much is the postage?
  • Analysis: This uses the 把 (bǎ) structure to talk about handling an object and asks about the postage fee (邮费 yóufèi).
• Example 10:
  • 这家店提供“慢递”服务，你可以给未来的自己写一张明信片。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn tígōng “màndì” fúwù, nǐ kěyǐ gěi wèilái de zìjǐ xiě yī zhāng míngxìnpiàn.
  • English: This shop offers a “slow mail” service; you can write a postcard to your future self.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly explains the cultural concept of 慢递 (màndì) discussed earlier.

For English speakers, the most common mistake is confusing 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) with other “card” words, especially 名片 (míngpiàn).

• False Friend: 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) vs. 名片 (míngpiàn)
  • 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn): Postcard. The first character 明 (míng) means “bright/clear.”
  • 名片 (míngpiàn): Business card. The first character 名 (míng) means “name.”
  • Incorrect: “这是我的明信片。” when handing someone a business card.
  • Correct: “这是我的名片。” (Zhè shì wǒ de míngpiàn.) - This is my business card.
  • The one-character difference completely changes the meaning. Pay close attention to the first character and the tone (míng vs. míng).
• 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) vs. 贺卡 (hèkǎ)
  • A 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) is a single piece of cardstock sent without an envelope.
  • A 贺卡 (hèkǎ) is a “greeting card” (e.g., for birthdays, New Year). It is typically folded and comes with an envelope. You would buy a 贺卡 for an occasion, but a 明信片 as a travel souvenir.

• 名片 (míngpiàn) - Business card. The most common point of confusion.
• 贺卡 (hèkǎ) - Greeting card. A different type of card used for specific holidays or occasions.
• 寄 (jì) - To send, to mail. This is the primary verb used with postcards.
• 邮局 (yóujú) - Post office. The place you go to mail your postcard.
• 邮票 (yóupiào) - Postage stamp. A necessary component for mailing a postcard.
• 邮费 (yóufèi) - Postage fee. The cost to mail something.
• 收信人 (shōuxìnrén) - Recipient, addressee. The person who will receive the postcard.
• 地址 (dìzhǐ) - Address. You write the recipient's 地址 on the postcard.
• 旅游纪念品 (lǚyóu jìniànpǐn) - Tourist souvenir. 明信片 is a very common type of this.
• 慢递 (màndì) - “Slow Mail.” A popular service in tourist areas for sending a postcard to a future date.