非正式信件（Informal Letter）寫給親近的朋友或家人——這是三種語氣裡最放鬆的。題目裡會看到：
- a close friend
- your penfriend
- your cousin / your brother / your mother
- someone you have known for years
很多考生覺得「朋友信最簡單」——錯。Informal 信有獨特陷阱：字數不夠（朋友間本來話就少）、或是太過隨便（slang / 表情符號 / 網路縮寫，全部扣分）。
開頭結尾
| 開頭 | 結尾 | |-----------------|-------------------------------| | Hi Emma, | Best wishes, / All the best, | | Dear Mike, | Love, (只用在家人或戀人) | | Hey Sam, | Take care, | | Dear Auntie, | Lots of love, (家人) |
- Dear 在 informal 信裡可以用——但不能接 Mr/Ms（一接就變 semi-formal）。Dear Mike 是 informal，Dear Mr Mike 就 semi-formal 了。
- Love, 只用寫給家人或伴侶——寫給普通朋友用 Love, 會顯得太親密、甚至讓考官皺眉。
縮寫 — 這次必須用
在 formal 跟 semi-formal 信裡縮寫禁止，但在 informal 信裡縮寫是必要的。不用縮寫反而顯得你不會寫 informal：
| ❌ 太僵硬 | ✅ 自然 informal | |----------------------|-----------------------| | I am writing to... | I'm writing to... | | I cannot wait | I can't wait | | It is so good | It's so good | | We have been | We've been | | You will love it | You'll love it | | Do not worry | Don't worry |
6 個 informal 招牌句型
這些是 native speaker 寫給朋友真的會用的句子——也是考官期待看到的：
| 中文 | 英文 | 用在 | |-------------------|---------------------------------------------|----------------| | 跟你說喔！ | Guess what? | 爆猛料前 | | 你不會相信 | You won't believe what happened... | 故事開場 | | 我一直很想跟你說 | I've been dying to tell you... | 急著分享 | | 反正我要走了 | Anyway, got to go — | 結尾前過渡 | | 等不及你回信 | Can't wait to hear back! | 結尾前 | | 你覺得如何？ | Let me know what you think! | 徵詢意見 |
如何自然撐到 150+ 字（不顯生硬）
這是 informal 信最大的難題。朋友之間本來就話少——「我上週去花蓮玩，很好玩，下次我們一起去」——中文寫得完，英文 150 字怎麼辦？
技巧 1：加具體感官細節
| 乾巴巴 | 有畫面 | |--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | The food was good. | The night market had this incredible grilled squid — you could smell it two streets away. | | I met new friends. | I ended up chatting to a couple from Germany who were cycling around the whole island. |
技巧 2：反問對方問題（Simon 跟 IELTS Liz 都推薦）
朋友信不是獨白——是對話。每封 informal 信問對方 2-3 個問題。加字數又讀起來自然：
How's your mum doing after her operation? Did you end up going to that concert? Any chance you could come over in August?
160 字完整範文（旅遊分享）
題目：You have just returned from a holiday. Write to a friend.
- describe where you went
- explain what you did
- suggest going there together one day
Hi Jasmine,
[§1 Hook + 開場] Guess what? I've just got back from the most amazing week in Taitung, and I've been dying to tell you all about it!
[§2 哪裡 + 感官細節] We stayed in this tiny homestay right on the east coast — imagine waking up every morning to the sound of waves crashing about thirty metres from your window. The owner was this lovely old uncle who made us breakfast every day and insisted on teaching my boyfriend how to fish off the rocks.
[§3 做了什麼 + 個人反應] We hiked up to this hot spring hidden in a forest (took us nearly three hours — I was honestly ready to give up), cycled along the coastal road at sunset, and ate way too much grilled squid at the night market. The stars at night were unreal — I've never seen anything like it.
[§4 邀約 + 反問] Seriously, you have to come with me next time. I was thinking maybe October when it cools down a bit? How's your work schedule looking then? Any chance you could sneak a week off?
[§5 收尾] Anyway, got to go — I've got photos to send you separately!
Can't wait to hear back!
Lots of love, Min-hui
字數：160。注意：
- 用了 Guess what? / I've been dying to tell you / Anyway, got to go / Can't wait to hear back — 四個招牌 informal 句型
- 縮寫頻繁：I've, it's, you'll, can't, I'd
- 問了三個問題給對方：自然撐字數
- 感官細節豐富（聲音、氣味、視覺）
台灣考生最常犯的錯 — 太過隨便
Informal ≠ 可以用網路縮寫、slang、表情符號。以下全部扣分：
| ❌ 絕對不行 | 為什麼 | |--------------------|-------------------------------------------| | LOL, OMG, WTF | 網路縮寫不是 Academic English | | u, thx, pls, r u | 簡寫體（文字訊息體）不算信件語言 | | gonna, wanna, gotta | 口語發音拼法，寫出來扣分（但 got to 可以） | | lmao, tbh, imo | 網路首字縮寫 | | 😊 / 😭 / :) | 任何表情符號 | | hahaha / kekeke | 笑聲擬聲字 | | very very very | 重複字加強不是 informal，是不成熟 |
規則：informal ≠ chat。Informal 信是寫給朋友的一封手寫信，不是 LINE 訊息。
練習
寫一封 150+ 字的 informal 信給你的朋友 Alex，推薦他去看一部你最近看的電影：
- 電影名稱跟類型
- 為什麼你覺得他會喜歡
- 看完可以一起討論
目標：
- [ ] 用 Hi Alex, + Best wishes, / Take care,
- [ ] 至少 3 個縮寫（I've, it's, you'll）
- [ ] 至少 2 個 informal 招牌句型
- [ ] 反問對方 2-3 個問題
- [ ] 沒有 LOL / OMG / 表情符號
- [ ] 160 字左右
延伸閱讀：