Intermediate - A Business Lunch Invitation (C1774)

A: 快12点了，你说要不要请这个客户吃饭？
kuài shı́ èr diǎn le, nı̌ shuō yào bu yào qı̌ng zhè ge kèhù
chı̄fàn?
It’s almost noon. Do you think we should ask this client out
to lunch?

B: 他对我们的产品有兴趣吗？
tā duı̀ wǒmen de chǎnpı̌n yǒu xı̀ngqù ma?
Is he interested in our products?

A: 他今天是来参观的，有兴趣，但不一定会下单。
tā jı̄ntiān shı̀ lái cānguān de, yǒu xı̀ngqù, dàn bùyı̄dı̀ng huı̀
xiàdān.
He came today to check them out. He’s interested but isn’t
necessarily going to place an order.

B: 正好是午餐时间，不请客户吃饭不太礼貌吧？
zhènghǎo shı̀ wǔcān shı́jiān, bù qı̌ng kèhù chı̄fàn bùtài lı̌-
mào ba?
It’s lunchtime now. It’s a bit impolite not to take clients out to
eat, isn’t it?

A: 哦，那就请吧。
o, nà jiù qı̌ng ba.
Oh. Ask him, then.

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2011 Praxis Language Ltd.
 B: 其实在中国，很多生意都是在饭桌上做成的。
qı́shı́ zài Zhōngguó, hěn duō shēngyi dōu shı̀ zài fànzhuō
shàng zuòchéng de.
Actually, a lot of business in China is accomplished over
meals.

A: 我明白了。
wǒ mı́ngbai le.
I understand.

C: 潘经理，谢谢你带我参观。我下午还有别的事，
先走了。
Pān jı̄nglı̌, xièxie nı̌ dài wǒ cānguān. wǒ xiàwǔ hái yǒu bié
de shı̀, xiān zǒu le.
Manager Pan, thanks for showing me around. I have some
other things to take care of this afternoon. I’ll be going now.

A: 我们一起吃个饭再走吧。
wǒmen yı̄qı̌ chı̄ ge fàn zài zǒu ba.
Let’s eat together first.

C: 不用了，谢谢！
bùyòng le, xièxie!
No, that’s OK. Thank you!

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2011 Praxis Language Ltd.
Key Vocabulary

快 kuài almost

客户 kèhù client

对 duı̀ towards

产品 chǎnpı̌n merchandise

兴趣 xı̀ngqù interest

参观 cānguān to visit

不一定 bùyı̄dı̀ng not necessarily

下单 xiàdān to place an order

正好 zhènghǎo exactly

午餐 wǔcān lunch

礼貌 lı̌mào polite

其实 qı́shı́ actually

生意 shēngyi business

饭桌 fànzhuō dining table

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2011 Praxis Language Ltd.
 做成 zuòchéng to successfully com-
plete

潘 Pān Pan (name)

经理 jı̄nglı̌ manager

带 dài to bring

别的 bié de other

Supplementary Vocabulary

一定 yı̄dı̀ng definitely, certainly

单子 dānzi bill, invoice

午饭 wǔfàn lunch

成功 chénggōng successful

谈成 tánchéng to negotiate success-

fully

谈生意 tán shēngyi to discuss business

产品经理 chǎnpı̌n jı̄nglı̌ product manager

潜在客户 qiánzài kèhù potential client

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2011 Praxis Language Ltd.