How to Start a Nice Business Conversation

In the course of climbing the corporate ladder, or of just managing the little corner of the world you occupy, you have to communicate with people. Especially in a Chinese business occasion, how to successfully leave your potential customer a good impression and it is very important to have a good start.

Here are some expressions may be helpful in starting a nice business conversation in Chinese:

First, let’s learn some basic Chinese business vocabulary:

您好！nín hǎo！——an polite way to say hello
公司 Gōnɡ Sī ——company
经理 Jīnɡ Lǐ ——manager
总经理 Zǒnɡ Jīnɡ Lǐ ——general manager
秘书 Mì Shū ——secretary
先生 Xiān Shenɡ ——Mr./sir
小姐 Xiǎo Jiě ——Miss.
叫 jiào —— to be named
请问 Qǐnɡ Wèn —— may I ask
贵姓 ɡuì xìnɡ——an polite way ask family name
名片 mínɡ piàn ——name card
打电话 dǎ diàn huà——make a phone call
电话号码 diàn huà hào mǎ——phone number
多少 Duō Shǎo —— how many/how much
很高兴见到你！hěn ɡāo xìnɡ jiàn dào nǐ ！——nice to meet you!
终于 Zhōnɡ Yú ——finally
初次 Chū Cì ——first time
见面 Jiàn Miàn ——to meet
指教 Zhǐ Jiào ——to give advice or comment

The basic thing is to start knowing each other: self-introduction and greetings. And don’t forget shaking hands and smile.

A: 您好，我是A公司的总经理秘书，我叫杨娜。
Nín Hǎo ，Wǒ Shì A Gōnɡ Sī De Zǒnɡ Jīnɡ Lǐ Mì Shū ，Wǒ Jiào Yánɡ Nà。
Hello, I am the general manager’s secretary, my name is Yang na.

B: 您好杨小姐！我是Fred。
Nín Hǎo Yánɡ Xiǎo Jiě ！ Wǒ Shì Fred。
How do you do Miss Yang? I’m Fred.

Or you can start like this:

A: 您好，我是Anna。请问，您贵姓？
Nín Hǎo ,Wǒ Shì Anna 。Qǐnɡ Wèn ，Nín Guì Xìnɡ？
Hello, I’m Anna. May I have you family name, please!

B: 您好，我姓李， 我叫李明。
Nín Hǎo ， Wǒ Xìnɡ Lǐ，Wǒ Jiào Lǐ Mínɡ。
Hello, my family name is Li， my name is LI ming.

A: 很高见到你，李先生。
Hěn Gāo Jiàn Dào Nǐ ，Lǐ Xiān Shenɡ。
Nice to meet you Mr. Li.

These are the simplest way to let others have your name in Chinese. And also you can give your calling card.

A: 这是我的名片。初次见面，请多指教！
Zhè Shì Wǒ De Mínɡ Piàn。Chū Cì Jiàn Miàn ，Qǐnɡ Duō Zhǐ Jiào ！
This is my name card. This is our first time to meet, please give advice.

B: 哪里哪里！ 这是我的名片。
Nǎ Lǐ Nǎ Lǐ ！Zhè Shì Wǒ De Mínɡ Piàn 。
Thanks. this is mine.

In China, when two people meet for the first time, we would like to say: Chū Cì Jiàn Miàn ，Qǐnɡ Duō Zhǐ Jiào ！ to greeting. And to response, we say Nǎ Lǐ Nǎ Lǐ!(where-where) to show moderate.

And how to express your gladness of meeting the person:

A: 很高兴终于和您见面了。
Hěn Gāo Xìnɡ Zhōnɡ Yú Hé Nín Jiàn Miàn Le 。
Nice to meet you finally.

B: 我也是。
Wǒ Yě Shì 。
Me too.

How to ask phone number:

A: 请问，您的电话号码是多少？
Qǐnɡ Wèn ， Nín De Diàn Huà Hào Mǎ Shì Duō Shǎo ？
May I ask, what’s your phone number?

B: 我的电话是188*****。
Wǒ De Diàn Huà Shì 188******。
My phone number is 188******.

A: 谢谢！我会给您打电话。
Xiè Xiè ！ Wǒ Huì Gěi Nín Dǎ Diàn Huà 。
Thanks, I will call you。