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Business Chinese — Professional Vocabulary & Phrases
Whether you are attending meetings, exchanging business cards, or negotiating contracts in Mandarin, this guide covers the vocabulary, phrases, and cultural knowledge you need to operate professionally in a Chinese business environment.
Meetings (会议 huìyì)
Chinese business meetings tend to be formal, especially the first one. Punctuality is expected — arriving five minutes early is standard. The most senior person in the room usually speaks first and sets the tone.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会议 | huìyì | meeting / conference | |
| 议程 | yìchéng | agenda | |
| 会议室 | huìyì shì | meeting room / conference room | |
| 开会 | kāihuì | to hold a meeting / attend a meeting | |
| 演讲 | yǎnjiǎng | speech / presentation | |
| 发言 | fāyán | to speak (at a meeting) | |
| 讨论 | tǎolùn | to discuss / discussion | |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide / decision | |
| 方案 | fāng'àn | plan / proposal / solution | |
| 总结 | zǒngjié | to summarise / summary | |
| 记录 | jìlù | minutes / record / notes | 会议记录 = meeting minutes |
| 投影仪 | tóuyǐngyí | projector |
Meeting Phrases
我们开始吧。
Wǒmen kāishǐ ba.
Let's get started.
今天的议程是……
Jīntiān de yìchéng shì...
Today's agenda is...
你觉得怎么样？
Nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?
What do you think?
我同意你的看法。
Wǒ tóngyì nǐ de kànfǎ.
I agree with your view.
我有不同的意见。
Wǒ yǒu bùtóng de yìjiàn.
I have a different opinion.
我们下次再讨论这个问题。
Wǒmen xià cì zài tǎolùn zhège wèntí.
Let's discuss this issue next time.
Introductions & Business Cards (名片)
The exchange of business cards (名片 míngpiàn) is a ritual in Chinese business culture. Present your card with both hands, print side facing the recipient. When receiving a card, accept it with both hands, read it carefully, and never write on it or toss it casually on the table. Place it respectfully in front of you during the meeting.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 名片 | míngpiàn | business card | Present and receive with both hands |
| 自我介绍 | zìwǒ jièshào | self-introduction | |
| 久仰 | jiǔyǎng | I've long admired your reputation | Formal first-meeting phrase |
| 幸会 | xìnghuì | pleased to meet you (formal) | |
| 合作 | hézuò | cooperation / to cooperate | |
| 拜访 | bàifǎng | to pay a visit (formal/business) | |
| 握手 | wòshǒu | handshake / to shake hands |
Introduction Phrases
您好，我叫[名字]，是[公司]的[职位]。
Nín hǎo, wǒ jiào [míngzi], shì [gōngsī] de [zhíwèi].
Hello, my name is [name], I am [title] at [company].
这是我的名片。
Zhè shì wǒ de míngpiàn.
Here is my business card.
久仰大名。
Jiǔyǎng dàmíng.
I've long heard of your great name. (formal greeting)
很高兴认识您。
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nín.
Very pleased to meet you.
请多多指教。
Qǐng duōduō zhǐjiào.
Please give me your guidance. (humble closing)
Negotiations & Contracts (谈判)
Chinese negotiations often take longer than Western ones. Building trust (关系 guānxi) comes before signing contracts. Expect multiple rounds of discussion, and be prepared for the other side to consult internally before committing. A signed contract is important, but the ongoing relationship often matters more.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 谈判 | tánpàn | negotiation / to negotiate | |
| 合同 | hétóng | contract | |
| 条件 | tiáojiàn | terms / conditions | |
| 报价 | bàojià | quotation / to quote a price | |
| 折扣 | zhékòu | discount | 九折 = 10% off (90% of price) |
| 利润 | lìrùn | profit / margin | |
| 成本 | chéngběn | cost | |
| 签字 | qiānzì | to sign (a document) | |
| 达成协议 | dáchéng xiéyì | to reach an agreement | |
| 妥协 | tuǒxié | to compromise |
Negotiation Phrases
这个价格能不能再优惠一点？
Zhège jiàgé néng bù néng zài yōuhuì yīdiǎn?
Can you offer a better price?
我们可以签合同了吗？
Wǒmen kěyǐ qiān hétóng le ma?
Can we sign the contract now?
交货期是什么时候？
Jiāohuò qī shì shénme shíhòu?
What is the delivery date?
我需要跟公司汇报一下。
Wǒ xūyào gēn gōngsī huìbào yīxià.
I need to report back to my company.
Titles & Hierarchy (职位)
Hierarchy matters in Chinese business. Address people by their surname plus their title — for example, 王经理 (Wáng jīnglǐ, Manager Wang) or 李总 (Lǐ zǒng, Director Li). Using 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ) shows respect to senior people and is expected in formal settings.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 董事长 | dǒngshì zhǎng | chairman of the board | |
| 总经理 | zǒng jīnglǐ | general manager / CEO | |
| 副总经理 | fù zǒng jīnglǐ | deputy general manager / VP | |
| 经理 | jīnglǐ | manager | |
| 主管 | zhǔguǎn | supervisor / director | |
| 同事 | tóngshì | colleague | |
| 助理 | zhùlǐ | assistant | |
| 实习生 | shíxí shēng | intern |
Grammar Notes — Formal Register
Business Chinese uses a more formal register than everyday speech. Here are key patterns to be aware of.
Use 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ)
The polite "you" is mandatory when addressing clients, senior colleagues, or anyone you want to show respect to. 您好 (Nín hǎo) replaces 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) in all business greetings.
Use 请 (qǐng) generously
请 means "please" and softens requests. 请坐 (qǐng zuò, please sit), 请问 (qǐngwèn, may I ask), 请稍等 (qǐng shāo děng, please wait a moment). Omitting 请 in formal settings sounds abrupt.
Hedging with 可能 (kěnéng) and 也许 (yěxǔ)
Direct disagreement is avoided in Chinese business. Instead of saying "no", use softening phrases: 这个可能有点困难 (zhège kěnéng yǒudiǎn kùnnán — this might be a bit difficult) or 我们再考虑一下 (wǒmen zài kǎolǜ yīxià — let us think about it further).
把 (bǎ) structure for handling objects
Common in business contexts: 把合同签了 (bǎ hétóng qiān le — sign the contract), 把文件发给我 (bǎ wénjiàn fā gěi wǒ — send the document to me). The 把 construction emphasises doing something specific to a definite object.
Passive voice with 被 (bèi) for formal reporting
会议被取消了 (huìyì bèi qǔxiāo le — the meeting was cancelled). 被 constructions are more common in written business Chinese and formal reports than in casual speech.
Chinese Business Culture — 6 Things to Know
- 关系 (guānxi) is everything. Business relationships in China are built on personal trust, not just contracts. Invest time in dinners, small talk, and relationship-building before expecting to close a deal. The relationship often matters more than the terms on paper.
- Business cards are sacred. Always present and receive cards with both hands. Read the card when you receive it — never pocket it immediately or write on it. Have your card printed in English on one side and Simplified Chinese on the other.
- 白酒 (báijiǔ) culture at business dinners. Toasting with baijiu (a strong Chinese spirit, typically 40-60% ABV) is common at business banquets. The host will toast first. Saying 随意 (suíyì, at your own pace) lets you sip rather than drain the glass. If you do not drink alcohol, say 我不喝酒 (wǒ bù hējiǔ) early — most hosts will respect this.
- Face (面子 miànzi) matters in every interaction. Never publicly criticise, correct, or embarrass a Chinese colleague or partner. Give people room to save face. Praise in public, discuss problems in private. Losing face can permanently damage a business relationship.
- Gift-giving has rules. Gifts are common but avoid clocks (送钟 sòng zhōng sounds like 送终 sòng zhōng, attending a funeral), sharp objects (symbolise cutting ties), and anything in sets of four (四 sì sounds like 死 sǐ, death). Gifts are typically not opened in front of the giver.
- Hierarchy determines everything — seating, speaking order, and who pays. The most senior person enters the room first, sits facing the door, and speaks first. In Chinese business dinners, the host always pays. Offering to split the bill can cause offence.
Related lessons
Business Chinese Journey
Start with introductions
Master the phrases for introducing yourself in a business context — then work through meetings, emails, and phone calls
New to Chinese?
See the full adult learner path
Business Chinese is one piece — see the complete communication-first learning path
Chinese Business in Southeast Asia
Business Chinese in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia operates quite differently from the mainland China playbook. The core concepts — 关系 (guānxi), 面子 (miànzi), and hierarchy — are present in every interaction. But the context is multicultural, multilingual, and shaped by decades of Southeast Asian Chinese diaspora culture.
Code-switching is normal
In Singapore and Malaysia, business meetings frequently mix Mandarin with English (and sometimes Cantonese or Hokkien). Do not be surprised if a conversation starts in English, shifts to Mandarin for a sensitive point, and then returns to English. This is not rude — it is how multilingual business culture works.
Baijiu is rare outside mainland contexts
Singapore and Malaysian Chinese business dinners more commonly feature beer (Heineken, Tiger), whisky, or simply tea and soft drinks. The pressure to drink baijiu is largely a mainland China phenomenon. Red wine has become common at formal business dinners in Singapore. That said, toasting (干杯 gānbēi) is still a feature of dinners.
Cards and hierarchy still matter
The business card ritual (both hands, read carefully) is observed across Southeast Asian Chinese business culture. Hierarchy from mainland China applies equally — address people as 王经理 (Manager Wang) or 李总 (Director Li). The formality level may be slightly lower than in a Beijing boardroom, but the respect signals remain the same.
关系 here is built differently
In Singapore/Malaysia, guanxi is built through shared community ties (同乡 tóngxiāng = people from the same hometown/clan), school alumni networks, and clan associations (会馆 huìguǎn). The business association dinner, the Chinese clan dinner, and the golf game are the relationship-building venues, not the KTV or the baijiu banquet.
Mandarin proficiency varies widely
Your counterpart in Singapore may speak Mandarin at a level ranging from native fluency to heavily accented "Singaporean Mandarin" influenced by Hokkien or Cantonese. Do not correct pronunciation or laugh at accent differences — this is a fast way to lose 面子 for both parties. Meeting people where they are is itself a form of 关系-building.
If You Speak Cantonese, Hokkien, or Hakka...
- You already understand 关系 and 面子 intuitively — these concepts are deeply embedded in Cantonese and Hokkien business culture. You are not learning new values; you are learning the Mandarin vocabulary for what you already know.
- Terms like 生意 (shēngyi, business/trade), 客人 (kèrén, customer), 收钱 (shōu qián, collect money) are near-identical across many dialects. Your dialect vocabulary transfers more than you think.
- When in doubt about the right level of formality, default to 您 (nín) over 你 (nǐ) — it is impossible to offend by being too polite in a business setting.