Take Away English-Doing Business in China 在中国经商
时间：2019-01-02 作者：英语课 分类：Take Away English
Are they on track for success?
China has changed enormously 1 over the last 20 years. Its economy has been growing at 10% a year, and it's on track to be the world’s largest economy soon. Today, 80% of the world’s electronic goods are made in China. As a result, more and more western companies want to do business in China. But how easy is it for a westerner to do business there? Here are some tips from the British Embassy 2 in Beijing.
Take your time. In the west, business is ruled by deadlines. Chinese business people seem to act slowly by western standards, so be prepared to wait for decisions.
Build relationships. In the west, it's usual to do business first, and then see if a relationship is possible. In China, it's the opposite. You need to build a relationship before you can do business. This leads to the idea of ‘guanxi’. Guanxi means using personal contacts and relationships to do business, and westerners need to understand how real and strong this is in China.
It can also be useful to find a reliable Chinese ally 3 to work with you. He or she will be able to help with language or cultural problems and will also be able to understand Chinese body language. Remember too that a visit by a westerner is often seen as a great honour by Chinese companies.
You must remember to respect ‘face’. Face means having high status with your peers 4. Face can be lost, given or earned. Never criticize 5 or insult 6 someone in front of others, as losing face will make it impossible to make a deal. On the other hand, if you praise someone by saying good things about him or her, then he or she will gain face, but be careful not to do it too much.
Accept the pecking 7 order. Hierarchy 8 is very important in China, and the group is more important than the individual. In business, Chinese people often don't like taking responsibility individually and may also not like giving opinions in front of peers, in case they lose face.
All these tricks of the trade can help you to play the game and do business successfully in China. Be prepared, and be patient if you want to be a winner in China.
GLOSSARY 词汇表
economy
经济
goods
商品
take your time
慢慢来
build relationships
建立关系
body language
肢体语言
peers
同等地位的人
insult
侮辱, 攻击
pecking order
直译是”啄序”, 指以尊卑,高低等划分的秩序
taking responsibility
承担责任
tricks of the trade
生意秘诀
on track
步入正轨
tips
秘诀
deadlines
限期
ally
联盟
high status
高地位
criticize
批评
make a deal
做交易
hierarchy
等级制度
giving opinions
发表意见
play the game
按照游戏规则
- He helped me enormously with advice on how to do ideological work. 他告诉我怎样做思想工作，对我有很大帮助。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- His research has contributed enormously to our understanding of this disease. 他的研究对我们认识这一疾病贡献很大。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
- He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。
- In that war England was not an ally,she was neutral.在那场战争中，英国不同任何一国结盟，保持中立。
- She felt she needed an ally so badly.她感到她极需一个支持者。
- She enjoys the respect of her peers. 她受到同侪的尊敬。
- She peers into my eyes. 她盯着我的眼睛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Whenever you criticize him,he always has an excuse.你批评他，他总有说头儿。
- You are free to criticize my work.你可以随意批评我的工作。
- You will insult her if you don't go to her party. 你要是不去参加她举办的聚会，就对她太无礼了。
- I can't sit down with that insult.我不能忍受那种侮辱。
- A robin was pecking at crumbs on the ground. 一只知更鸟在地上啄食面包渣。
- It was winter and the sparrows were pecking at whatever they could find. 时值冬季，麻雀啄食着能够找到的任何东西。