A Complete Guide to Chinese Business Etiquette and Culture

If you are heading to China for Chinese business etiquette, adapting is not easily a matter of greeting their physical manners – it is all about finding their own way on an interpersonal standard, too. There’re huge differences among Western and Eastern decorum than when foreigner goes in with slight awareness as well as cultural sensitivity, it rapidly can lead to a discomfited dynamic and missed opportunities. 

Let’s avoid it all. These rely on a connection to provide some social ease and a very passive working environment. This article post will provide you all you need to know when it comes to creating a potential business encounter.

In Chinese business etiquette and culture, spending a great time with commercial contacts to make them feel extremely happy is a very common method to doing ventures.

Quick facts about Chinese 

• The official language of China is Chinese, with several other recognized languages.
• China’s official name is the PRC People Republic of China.
• The Capital is Beijing, with the biggest city being Shanghai in China 
• In China, if you’ve parents that are over sixty years old, it is illegal to not visit them regularly.
• China has the biggest residents on earth with more than 1.35 billion.
• Fortune cookies are not a conventional mandarin custom! They ‘were invented in San Francisco.
• Chinese New Year falls on the new moon among Jan 21st and Feb 20th – differing from every year come. The celebration lasts for fifteen days.
•  All of the China uses a similar time zone in spite of the country’s size 
• The national day is October 1.
• The National animal of the china is Giant Panda.

Setting the first impression

Dressing 

This is one of the most significant sorts of Chinese business etiquette as it makes a good quality first impression for many. To convince your business etiquette contacts that you’ve potential, you have to look presentable. Wearing top clothing assists indicate both modesty and status. In Mandarin culture, dressing in proper dark shades is considered pro as compared to bight clothing.

Punctuality

Being prompt to business meetings is extremely valued in mandarin culture as it redirects how finely prepared you’re in your regular life. As with most states, being late can start your relationship off on the incorrect foot. While Chinese exports mightn’t comment on your tardiness it’ll shape their perspective of you in the upcoming time. Similarly, you also should not berate them for being late as this’ll outcome in them losing face.

Handshake 

In addition, at the beginning of the meeting, greeting each other with a handshake is a soft gesture to ease into more discussion. Handshakes in Chinese are not a firm as English states – soft and short is the norm and keep your eye contact brief. Long eye contact can be interpreted as an aggression/Challenge.

Chinese Chatting Etiquette

Small Discuss 

Chinese, very much like English native speakers around the world, often open conversations with small discuss that can break the ice. Some questions like “你去哪儿了？” (Nǐ qù nǎr le? Where have you been?) Or “你吃了吗?” (Nǐ chīle ma? Have you eaten?) Or very common ice-breaking pleasantries in mandarin culture! Therefore, do not feel the need to go into detail in your answer. These important questions are just like in English-based culture, How are you?

Tone 

Moreover, language tone becomes progressively more vital as the discussion continues. Keeping your tone neutral by not allowing your emotions to escalate is vital in sustaining your contacts’ attention. Chinese people are very guarded with emotions in pro settings.

Getting upset, angry, or showing any sort of extreme type of emotion is one of several ways you can lose face in the eyes of contact. This can make them hard to read, often making planning and negotiation difficult. Though, the best way for combating this is to copy their methods and similarly take a guarded approach towering displaying emotion.

Topics of Conversation

Do – Travel, food, climate, and scenery are all well-known and safe topics to use while conversing with Chinese. Always talking about your positive impressions of china in such vital aspects is forever welcomed.

Don’t – Always try to avoid political conversations, particularly those related to Tibet, Taiwan, and human rights. It is wise and polite to keep the basic respect.

Save and Give face (俾面 in Cantonese, 给面子in Mandarin)

面子 face is one of the major aspects of mandarin culture. A Chinese always desires to save face, never to lose it. In order to give any face, pay close attention to elder speakers and rankings, particularly when it comes to GOVT officials.

Be careful when commenting with extremely strong negative statements. For mandarin people, it is impolite to provide negative answers directly. The blunt No should be changed by the euphemistic maybe or we will consider it. 

Chinese Meeting Etiquette

Greetings

Smiling and nodding are common greetings. In administrator business meetings, you’ll be offered a handshake. These handshakes have to be initiated by your mandarin counterpart. Besides, “你好” (nǐ hǎo – hello, hi) or “很高兴认识你” (hěn gāoxìng rènshí nǐ – pleasant to meet you), you can also say it “幸会” (xìng huì; I am very charmed to meet you.) or “久仰” (jiǔyǎng; I have long been looking forward to gathering you), 2 right expressions that’ll no doubt impress. 

Chinese speakers will forever appreciate it if you can use some mandarin words, but ensure you know the right meaning and use them in the correct situations. 

Addressing

Regarding a polite address, most people should be talking to with their titles followed by their surname, for instance - 

• 张教授 (Zhāng jiàoshòu; Professor Zhang).
• 王经理 (Wáng jīnglǐ; Manager Wang),

If you’re not certain about the precise titles, you can also utilize 先生 (xiānshēng; Mr. or Sir, 小姐(xiǎojiě; miss) and 女士(nǚshì; madam) in its place.

Business cards

Business card exchanging is one more important part of introductions. A business card is highly regarded as an extension of the people, so treat the business card extremely carefully. The gentle thing to do is accept the card with your hands and look at it carefully as you do. A business card can also be a major cheat sheet for your counterpart’s right title and rank.

Chinese Dining Etiquette

Seat and order

During a dinner in China, there’s a certain number in which people have to sit down. You can expect senior business people to bestead firstly, and then just wait for the Chinese to show your seat.

Eating

Do not start eating before all others, particularly the seniors and elders as rank is extremely vital in Chinese tradition, do not finish all your meal. Otherwise, the Chinese native at the table will think you’re still hungry and that they did not feed you well enough. This’d outcome in them continuing to add more and more food to your plate.

Drinking

Drinking is a big part of Chinese culture and one that’s worth a fast comment on here! Your Chinese counterpart might wish to take you drinking to see how you charge – and have a great time! You'll most likely drink bai jiu – a very strong drink that could be compared to fuel! It is not for the faint-hearted!

Ensure you eat something before you embark on this ride – very much like the business negotiations, it is a marathon, not a dash so take your time.

Table manners

Never stick chopstick straight from in your food bowl. This act is reserved for funerals, so it’s offensive to a dining table of live persons. Moreover, never tap your food bowl with your chopsticks as this is linked with begging.

Who pays for the delicious meal?

The host will be responsible for paying for the meal as a symbol of gratitude. This is one of the most vital elements of the meal. Chinese people will often insist to pay for the meal. While you’d offer some light protest to them, do not fight then on the matter, as this can cause them to lose face.

If you’re wondering how many times to offer, 2 times is enough unless the bill is big, then a 3rd time is acceptable. Though, if you invite somebody to do an activity or heave a meal, you’re expected to pay for the meal. If this is the reason, don’t show your money to others. Just excuse yourself to the toilet or take care of the bill payments.

Invitation

If you invite somebody to do an activity or have a meal, you’re expected to pay for it. While going Dutch is very common in the young generation, the expectation in a venture setting is to remain that the person who provides the invitation pays. If you do invitation and pay, always try to show your money in front of your respected guests. Before attending or hosting a meal, you’d learn more about the unwritten rule of paying bills.

Chinese Gifts Etiquette

Accepting and giving gifts

When you receive a present, just as when you receive a business card, just accept it with 2 hands. Do not open it instantly unless the person who gives a gift to you requests that you open it right away.

Giving presents to your Chinese persons is a type of art. When do you give and what do you give? To whole should you give? These are important questions worth mentioning. Though, for the sake of brevity, I’ll just give you a proper overview. The most vital thing is to take cultural taboos firmly to avoid offending others.

Don’t

Do not give watches, clocks, chrysanthemums, or green hats as a gift. Gifts shouldn’t be very costly. And if your business counterpart or GOVT officials, ensure you do not give them a reason to mistake your kindness as an inducement.

Numbers

Always pay close attention to the numbers as well as their significance or avoid as appropriate –

• 8 number is the luckiest in Chinese culture if you receive 8 of something, always consider it a symbol of goodwill.
• 4 number is taboo because it pronounces the word of death and is considered unluckily in Chinese culture.
• 6 number is considered a blessing of progress and smoothness.
• 84 number means having accidents 
• 73 number means the funeral.

Enter or Exit the Room in Correct Order

In Chinese culture they respect authority, Chinese prefer disciple in each and every aspect, including entering and exiting the business or conference room for the meeting. The way that they follow is that the highest level person goes into the room at first, and the rest follow him in order. The line that they follow should be respected, and you’d also follow a similar way while entering the room.

Avoid body contact, hand movements, and unnecessary noises 

The Chinese people do not use their hands to speak, so instead of pointing with an index finger on them, use an open palm. Never put your in mouth – it is a rude sign. The Chinese also dislike any kind of body contact such as arm touching or back slaps, and often consider noises like clicking your fingers or whistling or even blowing your nose with hankie you then put back in your shirt or pant pocket to be impolite.

Takeaway…

Whether you are attending an organized networking meeting or any other sort of business conference meeting in China, forever keep in mind that politeness and the right business etiquette and culture are vital to business dealings.

Be respectable of rank and age, don’t rush business, and be mindful of your appearance and conduct, and present your Chinese Business card in accordance with the right process. In that way, you will be best placed for success at your next Chinese business meetings. Get in touch with us today to discuss how to learn the Chinese language efficiently and discover how you can boost your international career.