The Chinese Business Culture 

Making Appointments

Being late for an appointment is considered a serious insult in Chinese business culture.

The best times for scheduling appointments are April to June and September to October.

Business and government hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There is, however, a five-day work week in larger cities. Do avoid plans to visit government offices on Friday afternoon, because this is sometimes reserved for 'political studying' of the officials.

Store hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily. Most stores in Shanghai, however, remain open until 10:00 p.m.

Most Chinese workers take a break between 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Practically everything "shuts down" during this period, including elevator and phone services.

When scheduling your appointments, be sensitive to holidays such as Chinese New Year. During May Day, or the National Day, many businesses will be closed for up to a week during this period. The date of this occasion varies from year to year due to an official advisory to allow the long holidays.

Guidelines For Business Dress

In Chinese business culture, conservative suits and ties in subdued colours are the norm. Bright colours of any kind are considered inappropriate.

Women should wear conservative suits or dresses; a blouse or other kind of top should have a high neckline. Stick with subdued, neutral, colours such as beige and brown.

Because of the emphasis on conservative, modest, dress in Chinese business culture, flat shoes or very low heels are the main footwear options for women. This is true especially if you are relatively much taller than your hosts. High heels are acceptable only at a formal reception hosted by a foreign diplomat.

Men should wear suits and ties to formal events; tuxedoes are not a part of Chinese business culture.

Jeans are acceptable casual wear for both men and women.

Shorts are reserved for exercise.

Selecting and presenting an appropriate business gift

General Guidelines

Lavish gift giving was an important part of Chinese culture in the past. Today, official policy in Chinese business culture forbids giving gifts; this gesture is considered bribery, an illegal act in this country. Consequently, your gift may be declined.

In many organizations, however, attitudes surrounding gifts are beginning to relax. In any case, you will have to approach giving gifts with discretion, as outlined in the following points.

If you wish to give a gift to an individual, you must do it privately, in the context of friendship, not business.

The Chinese will decline a gift three times before finally accepting, so as not to appear greedy. You will have to continue to insist. Once the gift is accepted, express gratitude. You will be expected to go through the same routine if you are offered a gift.

In the presence of other people, never present a valuable gift to one person. This gesture will cause only embarrassment, and possibly even problems for the recipient, given the strict rules against bribery in Chinese business culture. Do not take any photograph of any gift giving unless it is a symbolic gift presented to the organization as a whole.

Giving a gift to the entire company, rather than an individual, can be acceptable in Chinese business culture as long as you adhere to the following rules:

All business negotiations should be concluded before gifts are exchanged.

Specify that the gift is from the company you represent. If you can, explain the meaning of the gift to the receiver.

Present the gift to the leader of the Chinese negotiating team.

Do not get anything that is obviously expensive, so that the company will not feel obliged to reciprocate.

Valuable gifts should be given to an individual only in private and strictly as a gesture of friendship.

Make sure that the gifts given to people of the same level of importance are equitable or of similar grade. Somehow, they may find out later, and the difference may lead to strains in your relationship.

Do not wrap a gift before arriving in China, as it may be unwrapped in Customs.

If possible, have your gifts wrapped in red paper, which is considered a lucky colour. Plain red paper is one of the few “safe” choices since a variety of meanings, many of which are negative, are attributed to colours in Chinese culture.

Pink and gold and silver are also acceptable colours for gift wrap. Wrapping in yellow paper with black writing is a gift given only to the dead. Also, do check the variations from region to region about colours.

Because colours have so many different meanings in this culture, your safest option is to entrust the task of gift-wrapping to a store or hotel that offers this service.

Selecting and presenting an appropriate business gift

Appreciated Gifts

a good cognac, or other fine liqueur

a fine pen [not a pen with red ink--writing in red ink symbolizes severing ties]

solar calculators

kitchen gadgets

stamps, if the recipient is interested in them [stamp collecting is very popular here]

a cigarette lighter, assuming the recipient is a smoker

Often, gifts are not opened in the presence of the giver.

Acceptable gifts for a company include items from your country or city, such as handicrafts, or an illustrated book. Be sure to bring a supply of these items with you, so that you can reciprocate if it happens that you are presented with a gift.

A banquet is usually a welcome gift; since it's likely you will be invited to one, you will have to follow Chinese business protocol and reciprocate. In some parts of China, although senior local officials host the welcoming party, you might be expected to pay for the cost of the banquet. Check this out and be prepared.

Gifts of food are acceptable, but not at dinner parties or other occasions where appetizers and meals will be served. Candy and fruit baskets, however, are acceptable as thank-you gifts sent after these events.

Eight is considered one of the luckiest numbers in Chinese culture. If you receive eight of any item, consider it a gesture of good will. Six is considered a blessing for smoothness and problem free advances. Four is a taboo because it means 'death.' Other numbers such as '73' meaning 'the funeral' and '84' meaning 'having accidents' are to be avoided. Gifts to Avoid

Scissors, knives, or other sharp objects can be interpreted as the severing of a friendship or other bond. As a gesture of friendship, if you do want to give these items as a gift, ask your friend to give you a very small amount of money, such as 10 cents or One RMB in return for this gift. By doing so, you would have 'sold' it to him rather than given it to him.

The following items are to be avoided as they are associated with funerals:

Straw sandals

clocks

handkerchiefs

four of any item [the Cantonese word for “four” sounds similar, in the same language, to “death”]

gifts or wrapping paper in white, black, or blue

What you should know before negotiating

You'll find it beneficial to bring your own interpreter, if possible, to help you understand the subtleties of everything being said during meetings.

Speak in short, simple, sentences free of jargon and slang. Pause frequently, so that people will be able to understand everything you've said.

You will have to make presentations to different levels of the organization.

Before you arrive, have at least 20 copies of your proposal ready for distribution.

Printed presentation materials of any kind should be only in black and white. Avoid colours that are attributed special meanings in this culture, many of them negative.

Generally, the Chinese treat “outside” information with caution.

Except for those educated in the West, Chinese businesspeople largely rely on subjective feelings and personal experiences in forming opinions and solving problems.

Belief in the Communist party line will be a dominant influence in all negotiations.

Empirical evidence and other objective facts will be accepted only if they do not contradict Communist party doctrine and one's feelings.

In this country, responsibility for all decisions rests with the Communist party and assorted government bureaucrats. Individuals working within this network, however, are still accountable for their own actions.

Local decisions are made by the head of the collective.

In Chinese business culture, the collectivist way of thinking still prevails, even in sectors experimenting with free enterprise.

“Saving face” is an important concept to understand. In Chinese business culture, a person's reputation and social standing rests on this concept. Causing embarrassment or loss of composure, even unintentionally, can be disastrous for business negotiations.

The Chinese are very keen about exchanging business cards, so be sure to bring a plentiful supply. Ensure that one side is in English and the other is in Chinese, preferably in the local dialect.

Include your professional title on your business card, especially if you have the seniority to make decisions. In Chinese business culture, the main point of exchanging business cards is to determine who will be the key decision-makers on your side.

If your company is the oldest or largest in your country, or has another prestigious distinction, ensure that this is stated on your card.

It's an asset to have your business cards printed in gold ink. In Chinese business culture, gold is the colour of prestige, prosperity.

Entertaining for business success

Business lunches are growing in popularity here. Business breakfasts, however, are not a part of Chinese business culture, except in Guangdong, Hangzhou and Fujian province where the 'Morning Tea' is very popular.

Evening banquets are the most popular occasions for business entertaining. Generally, these events start between 5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. and last for two hours. If you are the guest, you should arrive on time.

If you wish, arrive around 15 minutes early to a banquet; your Chinese hosts and counterparts will probably be present before the proceedings officially begin.

Banquets are hosted with varying degrees of extravagance, usually in a restaurant.

Wait to be seated, as there is a seating etiquette based on hierarchy in Chinese business culture.

Generally, the seat in the middle of the table, facing the door, is reserved for the host. The most senior guest of honour sits directly to the left. Everyone else is seated in descending order of status. The most senior member sits in the center seat. Follow this seating pattern if you are hosting a banquet or a meal in your residence, whether for business or purely social reasons.

The host is the first person at the table allowed to begin eating by declaring the first toast. Then, the rest of the company can proceed with the meal. If you are the host, take the first piece of the most valued food and put it on your guest of honour's plate after the first toast. This will signify that eating can proceed and is considered a friendly gesture.

Business is not discussed during the meal.

It is not uncommon for a host to order enough food for ten people at a table of five. He or she loses face if there are not plenty of left-overs at the end of a meal. Rice, considered by many Chinese to be filler, is generally not served until the end of a meal. So, if you want to eat rice with your meal be sure to ask the waitress [or 'shou jie'] to serve it early, particularly if the food is spicy.

During a meal, as many as 20-30 courses can be served, so try not to eat too much at once. The best policy is to lightly sample each dish.

Leaving a 'clean plate' is perceived to mean that you were not given enough food--a terrible insult here. On the other hand, leaving a food offering untouched will also give offense; even if you find a dish unappealing, try a small portion for the sake of politeness.

One important part of Chinese business entertaining is a tea drinking ritual known as 'yum cha.' It is used to establish rapport before a meeting or during meals.

If you do not want a 'refill' of tea, leave some in your cup.

If you are served food that does not require utensils, you may be given a bowl of tea for the purpose of dipping and cleaning your fingers.

It's perfectly acceptable to reach in front of others for dishes and other items.

Seeds and bones are placed on the table or in a specially reserved dish; never place these objects in your bowl.

It will be appreciated if you use chopsticks. When you are finished eating, place your chopsticks on the table or a chopstick rest.

Placing your chopsticks parallel on top of your bowl is believed to bring bad luck.

Sticking your chopsticks straight up in your rice bowl is considered rude because in this position, they resemble the joss sticks that are used in Chinese religious rituals.

Do not put the end of the chopstick in your mouth.

Try not to drop your chopsticks, as this is considered a sign of bad luck.

Entertaining for business success

When eating rice, follow Chinese custom by holding the bowl close to your mouth.

Slurping and belching at the table can be perfectly acceptable: they are perceived as signs that you are appreciating the meal.

Scorpions, locusts, snake skin, bile, dog meat, soft-shell tortoise and blood are considered delicacies.

Toothpicks are usually offered between courses and at the conclusion of a meal. When using a toothpick, cover your mouth with your free hand for concealment.

Forming a personal relationship ['guanxi' in Chinese] in your business dealings is very important. Part of this involves participating in the strong drinking culture that exists here. Generally, the Chinese regard with suspicion anyone who does not participate in the inevitable drinking that takes place during almost all business dinners. And it is at these kinds of social occasions that most negotiating breakthroughs are made. Prepare some medical excuses for yourself to avoid drinking heavily; if you really wish to avoid alcohol, your companions will accept medical excuses.

Toasting, usually with beer, wine or Chinese white liquors, is an important part of Chinese business etiquette.

You will often find three glasses on your table: a glass for your drink of choice [toast with this glass], a wine glass, and a shot glass for a liquor called 'maotai' or 'wu liang ye.'

The host of a banquet offers the first toast. If you prefer not to drink alcohol, it's perfectly acceptable to toast with a soft drink, glass of juice, or mineral water.

Toasts will be proposed throughout the meal. Two popular toasts are 'ganbei' ['bottoms up!'] and 'kai wei' ['starting the appetite!'].

Sometimes, the Chinese enjoy testing the ability of a foreigner ['lou wai'] to handle his or her alcohol, especially 'er gua toe', a potent clear alcohol that one might compare to airline fuel. A good practice would be to eat something beforehand.

Before smoking, it's polite to offer cigarettes to those in your company.

The meal has reached a definite conclusion when fruit is served and hot towels are presented. Shortly after these items are offered, guests should make preparations to leave. In accordance with Chinese business etiquette, the host will not initiate the guests' departure.

Tipping is generally considered an insult in China. Most government operated hotels and restaurants prohibit acceptance of tips. It is sometimes expected, however, in some of the bigger hotels and by younger service personnel, in the more open cities.

Follow Chinese business protocol and reciprocate with a banquet of the same value; never surpass your host by arranging a more lavish gathering.

Generally, the Chinese are not great experimenters when it comes to their diet. Unless he or she has traveled extensively, the typical Chinese businessperson doesn't like Western food. Better to take your guests to a good Chinese restaurant rather than, for example, the latest French restaurant opening in Beijing. They'll appreciate it.

If you are hosting a banquet, you should arrive at least 30 minutes before your guests.

Home entertaining is very popular in China. If you are invited to a Chinese home, you will probably be asked to remove your shoes. Arrive on time, but not too early.

When inviting people to your home, avoid serving cheese: it is usually incompatible with the national diet.

Acceptable public conduct

The Chinese will sometimes nod as an initial greeting. Bowing is seldom used except in ceremonies. Handshakes are also popular; wait, however, for your Chinese counterpart to initiate the gesture.

If you visit a school, theater, or other workplace, it is likely that you will be greeted with applause as a sign of welcome. In turn, you should respond by applauding back.

Avoid making expansive gestures and using unusual facial expressions.

The Chinese do not use their hands when speaking, and will only become annoyed with a speaker who does.

Some hand gestures, however, are necessary. They are outlined in the next two points.

To summon attention, turn your palm down, waving your fingers toward yourself.

Use your whole hand rather than your index finger to point.

The Chinese, especially those who are older and in positions of authority, dislike being touched by strangers.

Acknowledge the most senior person in a group first.

Smiling is not as noticeable in China, since there is a heavy emphasis on repressing emotion.

Members of the same sex may hold hands in public in order to show friendliness.

Public displays of affection between the sexes are frowned upon.

Do not put your hands in your mouth, as it is considered vulgar. Consequently, when in public, avoid biting your nails, removing food from your teeth, and similar practices.

Pushing and cutting ahead is common in lineups among Chinese, but they do not appreciate being cut in front of themselves.

Spitting in public is no longer acceptable. It is subject to a heavy fine now.

Blowing your nose with a handkerchief is also acceptable, but it is advisable to turn away from people while doing so.

Return to Free Essential Business Culture Guides

Did you know...?

• Alpha Translations Canada Inc. works for 30 of the world's top 50 law firms!

• Michèle Hecken, President and CEO of Alpha Translations Canada Inc. started as a translator 15 years ago!

• the first client Michèle Hecken won 15 years ago is still a client of Alpha Translations Canada Inc. today!

• Alpha Translations Canada Inc. has framework agreements with many fortune 500 companies!