Intermediate - Business Style (C0076)

A: 下个月我去中国出差，我听说中国人喜欢边吃
边做生意。
Xiàgeyuè wǒ qù Zhōngguó chūchāi, wǒ tı̄ngshuō zhōng-
guórén xı̌huan biān chı̄ biān zuòshēngyı̀.
I’m going to China on a business trip next month. I’d
heard that Chinese people like to do business while din-
ing.

B: 没错。在中国，生意人喜欢在做生意之前花时
间了解对方。那意味着你将花很多时间边吃边
谈生意，还要和你的中国同事来往。
Méicuò. Zài Zhōngguó, shēngyı̀rén xı̌huan zài zuòshēng-
yı̀ zhı̄qián huā shı́jiān liǎojiě duı̀fāng. Nà yı̀wèi zhe nı̌ jiāng
huā hěn duō shı́jiān biān chı̄ biān tán shēngyi, hái yào hé
nı̌ de Zhōngguó tóngshı̀ láiwǎng.
That’s right. In China business people spend time getting
to know each other before doing business. That means
that you will spend a lot of time talking business over din-
ner and socializing with your Chinese colleagues.

A: 我明白了，但是那样不是很花时间吗？
Wǒ mı́ngbái le, dànshı̀ nàyàng bù shı̀ hěn huā shı́jiān ma?
I see. But doesn’t that take a lot of time.

B: 对。但那很重要，因为在中国许多生意都依靠
良好的关系来完成。你理解那一点很重要。
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). 2007
c Praxis Language Ltd.

1
 Duı̀. Dàn nà hěn zhòngyào, yı̄nwèi zài Zhōngguó xǔduō
shēngyi dōu yı̄kào liánghǎode guānxi lái wánchéng. Nı̌
lı̌jiě nà yı̄diǎn hěn zhòngyào.
Yeah, it takes a lot of time, but it’s important. A lot of busi-
ness in China is carried out through good relationships.
It’s really important that you understand that point.

A: 好吧，我会确保在做生意之前建立起良好的关
系。
Hǎoba, wǒ huı̀ quèbǎo zài zuòshēngyı̀ zhı̄qián jiànlı̀qı̌
liánghǎode guānxi.
Okay. I’ll make sure to build a good relationship before
talking business.

Key Vocabulary

下个月 xiàgeyuè next month

去 qù to go to

出差 chūchāi to take a business trip

听说 tı̄ngshuō to have heard it said that

边......边...... biān ....... biān ... and ... simultaneously

......

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). 2007

c Praxis Language Ltd.

2
 做生意 zuòshēngyı̀ to do business

生意人 shēngyı̀rén businessmen

之前 zhı̄qián before

花 huā to spend

时间 shı́jiān time

了解 liǎojiě to understand

对方 duı̀fāng counterpart

意味着 yı̀wèi zhe to imply

将 jiāng will

谈 tán to discuss

来往 láiwǎng to interact

但是 dànshı̀ but

重要 zhòngyào important

依靠 yı̄kào depend on

良好 liánghǎo good

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3
 关系 guānxi relation; relationship

理解 lı̌jiě understand

确保 quèbǎo ensure; guarantee

建立 jiànlı̀ establish

Supplementary Vocabulary

浪费 làngfèi waste

关照 guānzhào look after

办事 bànshı̀ handle affairs

客户 kèhù customer

情谊 qı́ngyı̀ friendship

友好 yǒuhǎo friendly

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). 2007

c Praxis Language Ltd.