Business Chinese in Chinese

Overview

Business Chinese (商务中文, shāngwù Zhōngwén) encompasses the specialized vocabulary, set phrases, and communication conventions used in professional and commercial contexts. This includes meeting language, email conventions, negotiation terms, and formal correspondence patterns. Business Chinese draws heavily on formal written style but also includes industry-specific terminology.

At the CEFR C1 level, business Chinese competence is essential for anyone working in or with Chinese-speaking organizations. The register is more formal than conversational Chinese but less literary than news or official style. Key features include polite formulas, indirect communication, and specialized vocabulary for contracts, finance, and cooperation.

How It Works

Common business vocabulary

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
合同	hétong	contract
谈判	tánpàn	negotiate
投资	tóuzī	invest
合作	hézuò	cooperate
客户	kèhù	client
项目	xiàngmù	project
方案	fāng'àn	plan/proposal

Email conventions

Chinese	Pinyin	Usage
您好	nín hǎo	opening greeting
请查收附件	qǐng cháshōu fùjiàn	please check the attachment
期待您的回复	qīdài nín de huífù	looking forward to your reply
此致敬礼	cǐ zhì jìnglǐ	respectful closing (formal)
顺颂商祺	shùn sòng shāng qí	business letter closing

Meeting language

Chinese	Pinyin	Usage
我们来谈谈...	wǒmen lái tántan...	Let's discuss...
就此问题	jiù cǐ wèntí	regarding this issue
达成共识	dáchéng gòngshí	reach consensus
会议纪要	huìyì jìyào	meeting minutes

Examples in Context

Chinese	Pinyin	English	Note
我们来谈谈合作的事。	Wǒmen lái tántan hézuò de shì.	Let's discuss the cooperation.	meeting opener
请查收附件。	Qǐng cháshōu fùjiàn.	Please check the attachment.	email
期待您的回复。	Qīdài nín de huífù.	Looking forward to your reply.	email closing
就此问题进行讨论	jiù cǐ wèntí jìnxíng tǎolùn	discuss this issue	formal meeting
这个方案可行吗？	Zhège fāng'àn kěxíng ma?	Is this plan feasible?	evaluation
我们已经达成共识。	Wǒmen yǐjīng dáchéng gòngshí.	We've reached consensus.	agreement
请您过目。	Qǐng nín guòmù.	Please review (this).	polite request
我方认为...	Wǒ fāng rènwéi...	Our side believes...	negotiation
合同已经签署了。	Hétong yǐjīng qiānshǔ le.	The contract has been signed.	completion
请多多关照。	Qǐng duōduō guānzhào.	Please take good care (of our business).	relationship

Common Mistakes

Being too direct in business contexts

• Wrong: 你们的价格太高了 (Your prices are too high -- too blunt)
• Right: 价格方面能否再商量一下？(Could we discuss pricing further?)
• Why: Chinese business culture values indirect communication and face-saving.

Using casual language in business emails

• Wrong: 嗨，附件看看 (Hey, check the attachment)
• Right: 您好，请查收附件。谢谢！
• Why: Business emails require formal greetings, polite language, and proper closings.

Ignoring relationship-building language

• Wrong: Jumping straight to business without pleasantries
• Right: Include relationship phrases: 感谢您的支持, 期待进一步合作
• Why: Chinese business culture prioritizes relationships (关系) alongside transactions.

Practice Tips

• Learn business email templates as complete units: opening, body patterns, and closings.
• Practice meeting language: 我想补充一点, 我同意, 我有不同看法 (I'd like to add, I agree, I have a different view).
• Study industry-specific vocabulary for your field alongside general business Chinese.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Formal Written Style -- formal register skills underpin business Chinese