LESSON NOTES

Business Chinese for Beginners

S1 #1
Introducing Yourself in a
Business Meeting

CONTENTS

2 Simplified Chinese
2 Traditional Chinese
3 Pinyin
3 English
4 Vocabulary
4 Sample Sentences
5 Vocabulary Phrase Usage

1
7 Grammar
10 Cultural Insight
#

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 SIMPLIFIED CHINESE

1. 李伟: 早安，我是日新公司的李伟，我约了王⼩姐。

2. 接待员: 请稍等，我会通知王⼩姐您到了。

3. : (几分钟后)

4. 王芳: 李先⽣，早安。我是王芳，谢谢光临。

5. 李伟: 王⼩姐，早安。这是我的名⽚，请多关照。

6. 王芳: 谢谢。请进来我的办公室。你要喝点什么吗？

7. 李伟: 不⽤了，谢谢。

TRADITIONAL CHINESE

1. 李偉: 早安，我是日新公司的李偉，我約了王⼩姐。

2. 接待員: 請稍等，我會通知王⼩姐您到了。

3. : (幾分鐘後)

4. 王芳: 李先⽣，早安。我是王芳，謝謝光臨。

5. 李偉: 王⼩姐，早安。這是我的名⽚，請多關照。

CONT'D OVER

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6. 王芳: 謝謝。請進來我的辦公室。你要喝點什麼嗎？

7. 李偉: 不⽤了，謝謝。

PINYIN

1. Lǐ Wěi: Zǎo ān, wǒ shì Rì Xīn gōngsī de lǐ wěi, wǒ yuēle Wáng xiǎojiě.

2. Jiēdài yuán: Qǐng shāo děng, wǒ huì tōngzhī Wáng xiǎojiě nín dàole.

3. :(Jǐ fēnzhōng hòu)

4. wáng fāng: Lǐ xiānshēng, zǎo ān. Wǒ shì Wáng Fāng, xièxiè guānglín.

5. Lǐ Wěi: Wáng xiǎojiě, zǎo ān. Zhè shì wǒ de míngpiàn, qǐng duō guānzhào.

6. Wáng Fāng: Xièxiè. Qǐng jìnlái wǒ de bàngōngshì. Nǐ yào hē diǎn shénme ma?

7. Lǐ Wěi: Bùyòngle, xièxiè.

ENGLISH

1. John: Good morning, I'm John Li from the "Daily Innovative Company". I have an
appointment with Ms. Wang.

2. Receptionist: Could you please wait and I will let Ms. Wang know that you have
arrived?

3. : (after few minutes)

CONT'D OVER

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4. Monica: Good morning, Mr. Li. I am Monica Wang. Thank you for coming over today.

5. John: Good morning, Ms. Wang. This is my business card. Please give me guidance
and advice.

6. Monica: Thank you. Please, come in to my office. Would you like something to drink?

7. John: No, thank you.

VOCABULARY

Simplified Traditional Pinyin English Class

to have an
appointment
约了 约了 yuēle phrase
with

to wait a
稍等 稍等 shāoděng moment phrase

通知 通知 tōngzhī announcement noun

这 这 zhè this pronoun

名⽚ 名⽚ míngpiàn business card noun

办公室 辦公室 bàngōngshì office noun

什么 什麼 shénme what pronoun

not necessary,
nothing is
不⽤ 不⽤ bùyòng phrase
needed

SAMPLE SENTENCES

CHINESECLASS101.COM BUSINESS CHINESE FOR BEGINNERS S1 #1 - INTRODUCING YOURSELF IN A BUSINESS MEETING 4

我约了⼩王⼀起吃饭。 请稍等⼀下。
Wǒ yuēle xiǎo wáng yīqǐ chīfàn. Qǐng shāo děng yí xià.

I arranged to eat with Little Wang. Please wait a moment.

我会发邮件通知你的. 这趟航班被延迟起⻜了，具体起⻜
wǒ huì fā yóujiàn tōngzhī nǐ de
时间要听通知。
Zhè tàng hángbān bèi yánchí qǐfēi le, jùtǐ
I’ll notify you by sending an email.
qǐfēishíjiān yào tīng tōngzhī.

This flight's been postponed, for exact

departure times, listen to the
announcement.

我想要这个，⾏吗？ 这是我的名⽚。
Wǒ xiǎng yào zhège，xíng ma？ Zhè shì wǒ de míngpiàn.

I want this one, ok? This is my business card.

办公室⾥有几个⼈？ 那是什么？
bàngōngshì lǐ yǒu jǐ gè rén Nà shì shénme?

How many people are there in the office? What is that?

我很好，不⽤担⼼我。
Wǒ hěn hǎo , bù yòng dānxīn Wǒ .

I'm good, don't worry about me.

VOCABULARY PHRASE USAGE

请稍等
Qǐng shāo děng
"please wait for a bit"

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请(qǐng) means "please", 稍等(shāo děng) is same as "wait for a bit" in English.

You will hear this phrase a lot when you are asked to wait for a while in any situation, no
matter if you are in a restaurant, office, or doctor's office. You can also hear 等⼀下(děng
yīxià) which means "wait for a moment."

For example...

1. 请稍等，我出去⼀会⼉就回来。
Qǐng shāo děng, wǒ chūqù yīhuǐ'er jiù huílái.
"Please wait, I will be back shortly."

我会通知他∕她
Wǒ huì tōngzhī tā
"I will notify him/her"

我会(wǒ huì) means "I will" and 通知(tōngzhī) is a verb that means "notify." 他∕她(tā)
is the same as "him" or "her" in English.

When you want to tell someone that you will pass on their message, instead of 通知
(tōngzhī) you can also use 告诉(gàosù), which means "to tell (someone)."

For example...

1. 不⽤担心，我会告诉她。
Bùyòng dānxīn, wǒ huì gàosù tā.
"Don't worry, I will tell her."

不⽤了，谢谢。
Bùyòngle, xièxiè.
"No, thanks."

不⽤了，谢谢。(Bùyòngle, xièxiè.) means "need not, thanks". 不⽤(bùyòng) is literally

"not needed". 了(le) is just a final particle.

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When you refuse or turn off an offer because you think that it is unnecessary, you add the
word 谢谢(xièxiè) at the end so as to reject something in a polite way.

For example...

1. 不⽤了，谢谢。我已经很饱了。
Bùyòngle, xièxiè. Wǒ yǐjīng hěn bǎole.
"No, thanks. I'm full already."

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Self-Introduction in a Business Setting

早安，我是日新公司的李伟，我约了王⼩姐。
Zǎo ān, wǒ shì Rì Xīn gōngsī de Lǐ Wěi, wǒ yuēle Wáng xiǎojiě.
"Good morning, I'm John Li from the "Daily Innovative Company". I have an
appointment with Ms. Wang."

In this lesson, we will learn:

1. Greetings

2. Self-Introduction

3. How to say that you have an appointment

1. Greetings

There are no special business greetings in China. 您好 (nǐn hǎo), which means "Hello", is
good enough in all business scenarios. You can say 早安 (zǎo ān) and 午安 (wǔ ān), which
mean "Good morning" and "Good afternoon" respectively, depending on the time of the
day as well.

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2. Self-Introduction

We will take a look at a self-introduction in a business setting. Even though it is not very
much different than the self-introduction you may know, it still has some characteristic
expressions. One of the most important things is stating the company you work for, like in
the dialogue:

1. 我是日新公司的李伟。
Wǒ shì Rì Xīn gōngsī de Lǐ Wěi.
"I'm John Li from the Daily Innovative Company."

Note that here John Li introduces himself shortly to the secretary to let her know whom
he is. Moreover, when he meets Monica, he adds:

1. 请多关照。
Qǐng duō guānzhào.
"Please give me guidance and advice."

This phrase is quite formal and would be omitted in an informal setting. This expression is
only used when meeting for the first time. It has a long literal meaning, but it implies that
the speaker is humble to learn or take suggestions from the other person.

Here is a list of the expressions you will need for a formal self-introduction.

English Chinese Pinyin

"I am..." 我是... Wǒ shì...

"[NAME] from [COMPANY]" [COMPANY] 的 [NAME] [COMPANY] de [NAME]

"Please give me guidance 请多关照。

and advice." Qǐng duō guānzhào.

3. How to Say That You Have an Appointment

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After a brief self-introduction, John Li tells his purpose for the visit to the secretary: that
he has an appointment with Monica.

1. 我约了王⼩姐。
Wǒ yuēle Wáng xiǎojiě.
"I have an appointment with Ms. Wang."

The pattern 我约了 X先⽣/Y⼩姐 (Wǒ yuēle X xiānshēng / Y xiǎojiě) is the simplest way
to tell someone that you have an appointment with someone. Note that it is common
that Chinese people have an English name, sometimes you may hear someone called by
their English name instead of Mr./Ms. [Surname], but it depends on their relationship with
the business partner.

You can also say 我和X先⽣/Y⼩姐有约 (Wǒ hé X xiānshēng / Y xiǎojiě yǒu yuē). This
literally means "I with Mr. X /Ms. Y have an appointment." It is also formal and you will
always hear it in the real business world.

Sample Sentences:

1. 我约了陈先⽣。
Wǒ yuēle Chén xiānshēng.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Chen."

2. 我约了David。
Wǒ yuēle David.
"I have an appointment with David."

3. 我和张⼩姐有约。
Wǒ hé Zhāng xiǎojiě yǒu yuē.
"I have an appointment with Ms. Zhang."

Examples from the Dialogue:

1. 李先⽣，早安。我是王芳，谢谢光临。
Lǐ xiānshēng, zǎo ān. Wǒ shì Wáng Fāng, xièxiè guānglín.
"Good morning, Mr. Li. I am Monica Wang. Thank you for coming over today."

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Sample Sentences:

1. 我是李伟。
Wǒ shì Lǐ Wěi.
"I am John Li."

2. 我是Monica。
Wǒ shì Monica.
"I am Monica."

CULTURAL INSIGHT

Business Cards in China

Business card exchange is very common and important in China. Remember to greet your
business contacts with a handshake and a slight bow. Then address people by using Mr. or
Ms., followed by their surname.

When giving your business card, make sure that you use both hands and turn your card
with your name facing your business counterpart.

After you receive the card, remember to study the other person's card for a few seconds
to show your politeness.

Useful expression:

1. 请多关照。
Qǐng duō guānzhào.
"Please give me guidance and advice."

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