8 Tips for Business Cultural Competence

1.     Understand the importance of face 面子 miànzi. Praise in public, criticise in private, and always give credit and honour to the team rather than the individual.

https://www.china-mike.com/chinese-culture/cult-of-face/ 

2.     The old 100 surnames 老百姓lǎobǎixìng. Surnames come first, and given names are used only with family and close friends. Learn to pronounce the most common. https://www.thechairmansbao.com/blog/the-ten-most-common-surnames-in-china/

3.     Use respectful titles, such as Manager Wang 王经理 Wáng Jīnglǐ. Find out who is the leader in the group, and address them appropriately, with deference to seniority. https://www.edstellar.com/blog/chinese-workplace-culture 

4.     Build relationships 关系 guānxì before you expect return on investment. Be patient, small talk will be required as you build trust and mutual understanding. https://www.pon.harvard.edu/daily/international-negotiation-daily/negotiation-in-china-the-importance-of-guanxi/ 

5.     Use polite phrases and formal language. Communication should be courteous, pay attention to body language, and note that silence can be meaningful too. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/chinese-culture/chinese-culture-communication 

6.     你吃饭了吗？Nǐ chīfànle ma?  Have you eaten? is a popular Chinese greeting. Although the meaning is casual, it underlines the importance of sharing a meal. https://chinesepod.com/blog/2016/04/27/how-to-say-hello-in-chinese/ 

7.     Inviting others to a restaurant and paying the bill is a way to show respect, and gain face. Check for seating arrangements and wait for your host to start before eating. https://wildgreatwall.com/why-chinese-people-fight-to-pay-a-bill/ 

8.     The etiquette for 干杯 Gānbēi！Cheers! requires that the rim of your cup should be lower than the person you are toasting to indicate their higher status. https://daxueconsulting.com/understand-drinking-culture-china/