Business Chinese: Essential Phrases and Etiquette
Why Business Chinese Is Different from Standard Chinese
Standard Mandarin taught in most courses is designed for everyday communication. Business Chinese operates in a different register — more formal, more indirect, and layered with face-saving conventions that are easy to misread if you are not prepared. In Chinese business culture, direct refusals are rare. 'This might be difficult' (这可能有些困难, zhè kěnéng yǒuxiē kùnnan) often means no. 'We will consider it' (我们会考虑, wǒmen huì kǎolǜ) often means the same. Learning to read these signals is as important as learning the vocabulary.
Essential Greetings and Introductions
Use titles and surnames in formal contexts. 王总 (Wáng zǒng) — Director/General Manager Wang — is appropriate when addressing senior executives. 您好 (nín hǎo) is the polite form of hello, more appropriate than 你好 (nǐ hǎo) in initial business meetings. When exchanging business cards, receive and present cards with both hands and take a moment to read the card before setting it down — setting it aside immediately is considered dismissive. Key phrase: 幸会幸会 (xìng huì xìng huì) — 'It's an honor to meet you,' appropriate for first meetings with senior counterparts.
Meetings and Negotiation Language
Opening a meeting: 我们今天主要讨论... (wǒmen jīntiān zhǔyào tǎolùn...) — 'Today we will mainly discuss...' Expressing agreement: 我们基本上同意 (wǒmen jīběn shàng tóngyì) — 'We are broadly in agreement.' Requesting clarification: 请问您的意思是... (qǐngwèn nín de yìsi shì...) — 'Could you clarify what you mean by...' Proposing next steps: 我们可以在下周之前给您一个详细方案 (wǒmen kěyǐ zài xià zhōu zhīqián gěi nín yígè xiángxì fāng'àn) — 'We can provide a detailed proposal by next week.' Avoid pushing for yes/no answers directly — ask open questions and allow space for indirect responses.
Business Dining Etiquette
Business dinners in China are relationship-building events as much as meals. The host orders and is expected to ensure the table is well supplied. Toasting is frequent — 干杯 (gānbēi) means 'cheers' (literally 'dry cup'). If you do not drink alcohol, it is acceptable to toast with tea or juice. Refusing food repeatedly can seem impolite — accept at least a small portion. Never stick chopsticks vertically in rice (this resembles incense for the dead). Conversation topics to embrace: Chinese history, culture, and food. Topics to avoid: political controversies, Taiwan, Tibet, and comparisons that may imply Chinese products or practices are inferior.
Written Communication in Business Chinese
Formal Chinese emails open with 您好 and close with 此致敬礼 (cǐ zhì jìng lǐ) — 'With respect.' Subject lines are direct and descriptive. The register is formal throughout — casual abbreviations common in English business emails do not translate well. Key phrases: 请查收附件 (qǐng chá shōu fùjiàn) — 'Please see the attached file.' 请尽快回复 (qǐng jǐn kuài huífù) — 'Please reply at your earliest convenience.' Formal requests always include 请 (please) and often 麻烦您 (máfan nín) — 'sorry to trouble you.'
Guanxi: The Relationship Foundation
No guide to business Chinese is complete without 关系 (guānxi) — the network of personal relationships and mutual obligations that underpins Chinese business culture. Building guanxi takes time: shared meals, follow-up messages after meetings, remembering personal details, and showing genuine interest in your counterpart's work and family. Language is a powerful guanxi-building tool. Even basic Chinese phrases spoken by a non-Chinese speaker signal respect and investment in the relationship. A business Chinese teacher can prepare you not just with vocabulary but with the cultural fluency to navigate these dynamics effectively. [Find a Chinese teacher on Unox →](/teachers)
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