CEFR B1-B2
Mandarin Business Phrases: Meetings, Emails, and Professional Communication
Mandarin business culture has strong conventions around hierarchy, the exchange of business cards, the role of the host in business dinners, and the formal register in written communication. These phrases handle the standard professional Mandarin-language interactions with notes on the regional differences.
Pleased to meet you.
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nín. (.)
IPA [xən˨˩˦ kaʊ˥ɕiŋ˥˩ ʐən˥˩ʂʐ̩ nin˧˥]
hěn gāoxìng rènshi nín
The formal 'nín' (您) is critical for business contexts; using 'nǐ' (你) in initial business interactions reads as casual.
Here is my business card.
Zhè shì wǒ de míngpiàn. (.)
IPA [ʈʂɤ˥˩ ʂʐ̩˥˩ wo˨˩˦ tɤ miŋ˧˥pʰjɛn˥˩]
zhè shì wǒ de míngpiàn
Present and receive business cards with BOTH HANDS. This is one of the most consistently observed business protocols in Mandarin-speaking regions. Read the received card before putting it away; do not write on it in the presence of the giver.
I work for...
Wǒ zài... gōngzuò. (....)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ tsaɪ˥˩ ... kʊŋ˥tswo˥˩]
wǒ zài... gōngzuò
Pattern: 'wǒ zài [company name] gōngzuò'. For job title: 'wǒ shì [title]' (I am [title]).
Could we schedule a meeting?
Wǒmen néng yuē ge shíjiān kāihuì ma? (?)
IPA [wo˨˩˦mən nəŋ˧˥ ɥɛ˥ kɤ ʂʐ̩˧˥tɕjɛn˥ kʰaɪ˥xweɪ˥˩ ma]
wǒmen néng yuē ge shíjiān kāihuì ma
'Kāihuì' (开会) is the standard verb for holding a meeting.
I would like to discuss the contract.
Wǒ xiǎng tǎolùn yíxià hétong. (论合.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ ɕjaŋ˨˩˦ tʰaʊ˨˩˦lwən˥˩ i˧˥ɕja˥˩ xɤ˧˥tʰʊŋ]
wǒ xiǎng tǎolùn yíxià hétong
Tone sandhi: yī (一) becomes yí before the fourth-tone xià. 'Tǎolùn yíxià' (discuss for a bit) is the standard softening pattern in Chinese business register.
What is your opinion?
Nín de yìjiàn shì shénme? (?)
IPA [nin˧˥ tɤ i˥˩tɕjɛn˥˩ ʂʐ̩˥˩ ʂən˧˥mə]
nín de yìjiàn shì shénme
Soliciting opinions in Chinese business culture often requires direct invitation; group dynamics can suppress voluntary contributions from junior staff.
We need more time to consider this.
Wǒmen xūyào gèng duō shíjiān kǎolǜ. (.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦mən ɕy˥jaʊ˥˩ kəŋ˥˩ two˥ ʂʐ̩˧˥tɕjɛn˥ kʰaʊ˨˩˦ly˥˩]
wǒmen xūyào gèng duō shíjiān kǎolǜ
'Kǎolǜ yíxià' (考虑一下, let me think about it) is a common polite deferral; not necessarily a negative response.
Could you send me the documents?
Qǐng fā wénjiàn gěi wǒ. (文.)
IPA [tɕʰiŋ˨˩˦ fa˥ wən˧˥tɕjɛn˥˩ keɪ˨˩˦ wo˨˩˦]
qǐng fā wénjiàn gěi wǒ
'Wénjiàn' (文件) is documents/files. 'Fā' (发) is to send. For email specifically: 'fā yóujiàn' (发邮件, send mail).
Thank you for your time.
Xièxie nín de shíjiān. (.)
IPA [ɕjɛ˥˩ɕjɛ nin˧˥ tɤ ʂʐ̩˧˥tɕjɛn˥]
xièxie nín de shíjiān
Standard sign-off after a business meeting.
Let us discuss the price.
Wǒmen tǎolùn yíxià jiàgé. (论价格.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦mən tʰaʊ˨˩˦lwən˥˩ i˧˥ɕja˥˩ tɕja˥˩kɤ˧˥]
wǒmen tǎolùn yíxià jiàgé
Price negotiation is often expected in Chinese business contexts; initial prices are commonly negotiating positions rather than fixed.
We are interested in working with you.
Wǒmen duì hézuò gǎn xìngqù. (合.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦mən tweɪ˥˩ xɤ˧˥tswo˥˩ kan˨˩˦ ɕiŋ˥˩tɕʰy˥˩]
wǒmen duì hézuò gǎn xìngqù
'Hézuò' (合作, to cooperate, work together) is the standard term for business partnership.
I will get back to you soon.
Wǒ huì jǐnkuài gěi nín huífù. (尽复.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ xweɪ˥˩ tɕin˨˩˦kʰwaɪ˥˩ keɪ˨˩˦ nin˧˥ xweɪ˧˥fu˥˩]
wǒ huì jǐnkuài gěi nín huífù
'Jǐnkuài' (尽快, as soon as possible) is the standard business commitment phrase.
Regional notes
Mainland China
Mainland Chinese business culture is strongly hierarchical. The senior figure in the room directs the conversation; junior staff defer publicly. Business cards exchanged with both hands and read carefully are essential. Business dinners are a major part of relationship building (see the [China dining and tipping etiquette](/resources/china-dining-and-tipping-etiquette)). The 'guānxi' (relationship network) is real and central; early business meetings often emphasise building rapport before transactional discussion.
Taiwan
Taiwanese business culture shares the hierarchical framework with mainland China but tends to be slightly less formal in junior-senior interactions. Business cards are exchanged with both hands as in mainland China. Taiwanese English fluency in business contexts is generally higher than mainland China's, especially among younger professionals.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong business operates primarily in Cantonese and English; Mandarin is increasingly important but not dominant. Business culture is hybrid Chinese-Western with strong British colonial heritage in legal and financial sectors. Punctuality is more strictly observed than in mainland China. Business attire is more conservative.
Singapore
Singapore business culture is genuinely multilingual: English is the dominant business language, with Mandarin, Malay and Tamil as supporting languages. Singapore Mandarin uses simplified characters as in mainland China. Business hierarchy is less strict than mainland China; less performative deference is expected. Punctuality is very strictly observed.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Should I use nín (您) or nǐ (你) in Chinese business contexts?
Default to 'nín' (the formal you) in all initial business interactions, when speaking to senior figures, and in formal contexts. Junior colleagues will often use 'nín' even when they could move to 'nǐ'. The senior person typically signals when 'nǐ' is acceptable. Pre-emptively using 'nǐ' with senior business contacts is one of the consistent ways foreign visitors come across as inappropriately casual.
How important is the business card ritual in Chinese business?
Very important and consistently observed. Present and receive business cards with both hands, with the text facing the recipient. Read the received card immediately rather than pocketing it. Do not write on the received card in the giver's presence. Place received cards on the table during the meeting rather than putting them away. The ritual demonstrates respect for the relationship rather than treating it as a transactional exchange.
Should I bring a gift to a Chinese business meeting?
Gifts are appropriate at first major meetings and at year-end. Modest gifts only: a quality product from your home country, a thoughtful book, or a culturally appropriate item. Do not give clocks, sharp objects, or items in sets of four (the number four sounds like the word for death). Present gifts with both hands. The recipient may initially decline; this is a politeness convention - offer again.
What is 'guānxi' and how does it affect business in China?
Guānxi (关系) is the network of personal relationships that underlies Chinese business. It refers to long-term reciprocal connections built through repeated interactions, business meals, favours exchanged, and time spent together. Effective Chinese business often requires guānxi-building before substantive deals; the relationship comes first, the transaction second. Foreign businesses that try to skip directly to transactional discussion often find Chinese counterparts polite but unresponsive. Investing in the relationship is investing in the business.