Want to improve your Mandarin for work and career success?
In this post, we take you on a journey to learn essential Business Chinese vocabulary used in real-world work situations.
We'll break down workplace conversations from a popular Chinese TV show featuring actor Lay Zhang and gain insights into the nuances of business communication in China.
Note: After watching the video, you'll find the video transcript followed by a complete vocabulary list below.
Transcript of "Business Chinese with Lay Zhang: Master Mandarin Conversations for Career Success!" From The Video Above
Níng zǒng, hǎo!
宁总，好！
Hello, General Manager Ning!
Sù zhàn sù jué hǎo la!
速战速决好啦！
Let's settle this quickly and decisively!
Duìbuqǐ, gè wèi, wǒ chídào le!
对不起, 各位，我迟到了!
Sorry, everyone, I'm late!
Níng Shù, lái lái lái!
宁恕，来来来！
Ning Shu, come here.
Gāng péi kèhù qù kàn le dòng xiězìlóu.
刚陪客户去看了栋写字楼。
I just accompanied the client to see an office building.
Dì yī, shàng gè yuè de yèjì chūlái le.
第一，上个月的业绩出来了。
First, last month's performance came out.
Níng Shù zàicì huòdé dì yī míng.
宁恕再次获得第一名。
And Ning Shu won the first place again.
Dàjiā zhǎngshēng gǔlì yīxià.
大家掌声鼓励一下。
Let's give a round of applause.
Dì èr jiàn shì,
第二件事，
The second thing,
Wǒ yěshì wúnài.
我也是无奈。
I am also helpless.
Lín shuǐ fēngōngsī zǒngjīnglǐ jìnggǎng shàng zhōu gōngbù.
临水分公司总经理竞岗上周公布。
Linshui Branch General Manager Competition Announced Last Week.
Zhè dōu yī zhōu le.
这都一周了。
It's been a week.
Zàizuò de gè wèi méiyǒu rén zhǔdòng lái zhǎo wǒ tán.
在座的各位没有人主动来找我谈。
And no one here has come to talk to me.
Zhǐ hǎo wǒ lái zhǎo nǐmen le.
只好我来找你们了。
I have to come to you.
Wǒ míngbai dàjiā de gùlǜ.
我明白大家的顾虑。
I understand everyone's concerns.
Dōu zài shànghǎi dài guàn le.
都在上海待惯了。
Everyone is used to staying in Shanghai.
Ràng shéi qù sān xiàn chéngshì dōu juéde cánkù.
让谁去三线城市都觉得残酷。
Making anyone go to third-tier cities feels cruel.
Dàn nǐmen yě yào huàn gè jiǎodù kàn wèntí.
但你们也要换个角度看问题。
But you have to look at the problem from a different angle.
Qù le línshuǐ,
去了临水，
Once in Linshui,
Nǐmen kěyǐ dúlì fùzé yīgè dìqū de yèwù.
你们可以独立负责一个地区的业务。
You can be responsible for the business of a region independently.
Rúguǒ zuò de hǎo,
如果做得好,
If you do well,
Duì yǐhòu shì gè fēicháng yǒulì de tiàobǎn.
对以后是个非常有利的跳板。
it will be a very favorable springboard for the future.
Wǒ xīwàng dàjiā zìjué biǎotài.
我希望大家自觉表态。
I hope that everyone will make a conscious statement.
Jìrán dàjiā dōu bù yuàn zìjué biǎotài,
既然大家都不愿自觉表态，
Since everyone is unwilling to make a conscious statement,
Nàme zhǐhǎo ànzhào zhège jìdù de gōngzuò yèjì,
那么只好按照这个季度的工作业绩，
we have to follow the work performance of this quarter,
Juédìng shéi qù shéi liú le.
决定谁去谁留了。
It's decided who will go and who will stay.
Guǎn zǒng, yào bù wǒ qù ba!
管总，要不我去吧！
General Manager Guan, how about I go?
Níng zǒng zěnme xiǎng de?
宁总怎么想的？
What does General Manager Yang think?
Shànghǎi bù hǎo ma? Pǎo dào línshuǐ gàn shénme?
上海不好吗？跑到临水干什么？
Isn't Shanghai good? Why go to Linshui?
Shì a! Tā hái zhǔdòng yāoqiú shànggǎng qù.
是啊！他还主动要求上岗去。
Yes! He even volunteered to go on duty.
Zhēnshi zuì le!
真是醉了！
He was really drunk!
Rén gè yǒu zhì ma!
人各有志嘛！
Everyone has his own ambition!
Nǐ yǒu bìng, shì ba?
你有病，是吧？
You're sick, aren't you?
Wǒ xīnxīnkǔkǔ dài nǐ zhème jiǔ!
我辛辛苦苦带你这么久！
I've worked so hard to take care of you for so long!
Hǎo bù róngyì ràng nǐ chūxiàn zài xià gè yuè de shēngzhí míngdān lǐ!
好不容易让你出现在下个月的升职名单里！
It's been so difficult to finally get you on the promotion list for next month!
Nǐ hěn yǒu kěnéng fù zǒng zhuǎn zhèng zhīdào bù zhīdào?
你很有可能副总转正知不知道？
Do you know that you're very likely to be promoted from Vice President to regular President?
Nǐ xiànzài gàosu wǒ huí línshuǐ.
你现在告诉我回临水。
You're telling me to go back to Linshui now.
Zhè bù shì dǎ wǒ liǎn ma?
这不是打我脸吗？
Isn't this a slap in my face?
Duìbùqǐ, guǎn zǒng!
对不起, 管总！
Sorry, General Manager Guan!
Wǒ zhēn de hěn gǎnxiè nǐ yīzhí zhème zāipéi wǒ!
我真的很感谢你一直这么栽培我！
I really appreciate that you have been so nurturing me!
Zhè cì huí línshuǐ zhège juédìng.
这次回临水这个决定。
The decision to return to Linshui this time.
Qíshí hái yǒu yīgè gèng zhòngyào de lǐyóu.
其实还有一个更重要的理由。
In fact, there is a more important reason.
Nín shuō wǒ tīng tīng! Yǒu shénme bǐ nǐ de zhíyè dàolù gèng zhòngyào?
你说我听听! 有什么比你的职业道路更重要?
You say I listen! What is more important than your career path?
Nín zhīdào wǒ shì línshuǐ rén.
您知道我是临水人。
You know I'm from Linshui.
Wǒ zài yīgè dānjīn jiātíng lǐ zhǎng dà.
我在一个单亲家庭里长大。
I grew up in a single-parent family.
Wǒ mā yòu dāng diē yòu dāng mā,
我妈又当爹又当妈，
My mother was both father and mother,
Bǎ wǒmen jiě dì liǎo lāchě dà.
把我们姐弟俩拉扯大。
and she raised the two of us, brother and sister.
Niánqīng de shíhòu zhěng de dōu shì xīnkǔ qián.
年轻的时候挣的都是辛苦钱。
When my mother was young, she earned a lot of hard money,
Dào lǎo le shēntǐ luò xià bùshǎo bìnggēn.
到老了身体落下不少病根。
As she grew older, she developed many health issues.
Xiànzài tā yīgèrén zài línshuǐ.
现在她一个人在临水。
Now she is alone in Linshui.
Wǒ quèshí bù rěnxīn.
我确实不忍心。
And I really can't bear it.
Zuìjìn nǎozi lǐ yīzhí xiǎngqǐ nà jù huà:
最近脑子里一直想起那句话：
Recently, I have been thinking of that sentence in my mind that
"Zǐ yù yǎng ér qīn bù dài!"
“子欲养而亲不待！ ”
"The child wishes to support, yet the parent does not wait!"
Guǎn zǒng,
管总，
General Manager Guan,
Yuánliàng wǒ zhōng xiào bù néng liǎng quán!
原谅我忠孝不能两全！
Forgive me for not being able to balance loyalty and filial piety!
Nǐ jiě ràng wǒ zhàogù nǐ.
你姐让我照顾你。
Your sister asked me to take care of you.
Wǒ yǐjīng rén zhì yì jǐn le.
我已经仁至义尽了。
And I have done my best.
Zhè shì wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme gēn tā shuō.
这事我不知道怎么跟她说。
I don't know how to tell her about it.
Nǐ zìjǐ jiěshì qù ba!
你自己解释去吧！
You can explain yourself.
Essential Business Chinese Vocabulary for Work Conversation
#1: Three common ways to say "Sorry, I'm late!" in Chinese:
duìbuqǐ, wǒ chídào le!
对不起，我迟到了！
Sorry, I'm late!
Bàoqiàn, wǒ lái wǎn le!
抱歉，我来晚了！
Sorry, I'm late!
Shízài bàoqiàn, wǒ chídào le!
实在抱歉，我迟到了！
I'm really sorry, I'm late!
#2: 客户 kè hù: client, customer
Tā xiǎng zhīdào zěnme gènghǎo de wéihù kèhù guānxi.
他想知道怎么更好地维护客户关系。
He wants to know how to better maintain customer relationships.
#3: "写字楼" (xiězìlóu) refers to an "office building."
You can use it in a sentence like this:
Tā zài chéngshì zhōngxīn de yī zuò xiězìlóu lǐ gōngzuò.
他在城市中心的一座写字楼里工作。
He works in an office building in the city center.
Nà zuò xiězìlóu hěn gāo, néng kàn dào quánchéng.
那座写字楼很高，能看到全城。
That office building is very tall and offers a view of the entire city.
#4: "业绩" (yèjì) refers to "performance" or "results," in a business context.
Example:
Zhè cì huódòng bǎngzhù wǒmen tígāo le yèjì.
这次活动帮助我们提高了业绩。
This event helped us improve our performance.
#5: 再次 zàicì: again, once more
Wǒ xiǎng zàicì qù zhège dìfang lǚxíng.
我想再次去这个地方旅行。
I want to travel to this place again.
Tā zàicì shēnqǐng nàjiā gōngsī de gōngzuò.
他再次申请那家公司的工作。
He applied for the job at that company again.
#6: 大家掌声鼓励一下。dàjiā zhǎngshēng gǔlì yīxià. Let's give a round of applause.
It is often used in a public setting when you want to acknowledge a person's achievements or performance
Example:
Dàjiā zhǎngshēng gǔlì yīxià, biǎoyǎn zhēn de hěn chūsè!
大家掌声鼓励一下，表演真的很出色！
Let's give a round of applause; the performance was really outstanding!
#7: 分公司 fēngōngsī: branch
It is a company or office that is part of a larger parent company.
Examples:
Wǒ zài zhèjiā gōngsī de běijīng fēngōngsī gōngzuò.
我在这家公司的北京分公司工作。
I work at the Beijing branch of this company.
Zhè jiā fēngōngsī zhèngzài kāizhǎn xīn de xiāoshòu huódòng.
这家分公司正在开展新的销售活动。
This branch is launching a new sales campaign.
#8: 总经理 zǒng jīnglǐ: general manager
Zǒng jīnglǐ bù zài gōngsī lǐ, tā zài chūchāi.
总经理不在公司里，他在出差。
The general manager is not in the office; he is on a business trip.
Tā shì zhèjiā gōngsī de xīn zǒng jīnglǐ.
她是这家公司的新总经理。
She is the new general manager of this company.
#9: lái zhǎo wǒ tán 来找我谈: come to talk to me, come to find me to discuss
Nǐ yǒu shénme wèntí kěyǐ lái zhǎo wǒ tán.
你有什么问题可以来找我谈。
If you have any questions, you can come to talk to me.
#10: 只好 zhǐhǎo: to have no choice but to, have to
Chē huài le, wǒ zhǐhǎo bùxíng huíjiā.
车坏了，我只好步行回家。
The car broke down, so I had no choice but to walk home.
#11: 我明白大家的顾虑。wǒ míngbai dàjiā de gùlǜ. I understand everyone's concerns.
Wǒ míngbai dàjiā de gùlǜ, dàn zhè shì wǒmen bìxū zǒu de lù.
我明白大家的顾虑，但这是我们必须走的路。
I understand everyone's concerns, but this is the path we must take.
#12: 待惯了 dāi guàn le: get used to staying in a certain place or situation
Tā zài nàge chéngshì dāi guàn le, bù xiǎng yí mín.
他在那个城市待惯了，不想移民。
He is used to staying in that city and doesn't want to emigrate.
#13: sān xiàn chéngshì 三线城市: third-tier city
Third-tier cities are typically less developed compared to first-tier and second-tier cities, and they may have lower living costs and slower economic growth.
Example:
Tā juédìng bānjiā dào yīgè sān xiàn chéngshì shēnghuó.
他决定搬家到一个三线城市生活。
He decided to move to a third-tier city to live.
#14: "换个角度看问题" (huàn ge jiǎodù kàn wèntí) means "to look at a problem from a different angle."
For example:
Rúguǒ nǐ huàn ge jiǎodù kàn wèntí, kěnéng huì yǒu bù tóng de jiějué fāngshì.
如果你换个角度看问题，可能会有不同的解决方式。
If you look at the problem from a different angle, you might find a different solution.
#15: 负责" (fùzé) means "to be responsible for" or "to take charge of."
So you could say:
Tā fùzé jiǎnchá gōngzuò de zhěngquèxìng.
他负责检查工作的正确性。
He is responsible for checking the accuracy of the work.
Nǐ yào duì zìjǐ de xíngwéi fùzé.
你要对自己的行为负责。
You must take responsibility for your actions.
#16: The term "跳板" (tiàobǎn) means "springboard" in both a literal and metaphorical sense. Literally, it refers to a board used for jumping. Metaphorically, it's a means to achieve something greater.
#17: "自觉表态" (zìjué biǎotài) means that you take the initiative to "make a conscious statement" or "express your opinion on something"
Example:
Tā zài huìyì shàng zìjué biǎotài chēngchí zhè ge xiāngmù.
他在会议上自觉表态支持这个项目。
He took the initiative to express support for this project at the meeting.
#18: "按照" (ànzhào) means "according to" or " to follow."
It is used to indicate that something is being done based on a specific rule or procedure.
Example:
Ānzhào guīdìng, měi gèrén yào shēnbào yīgè mìng'àn.
按照规定，每个人要申报一个命案。
According to the rules, everyone must report a case.
#19: "要不我去吧？" (yàobu wǒ qù ba?) can be translated as "How about I go?" or "Should I go?"
Example:
Nǐ tài máng le, yào bù wǒ qù ba?
你太忙了，要不我去吧？
You're too busy; how about I go?
#20: "病" (bìng) means "illness" or "disease."
"你有病，是吧？" (nǐ yǒu bìng, shì ba?) can be literally translated as "You're sick, aren't you?"
However, it is often used as a sarcastic question to express disbelief or disdain toward someone's behavior.
Example:
Nǐ zhè yàng zuò bù kěnéng chénggōng! Nǐ yǒu bìng, shì ba?
你这样做不可能成功！你有病，是吧？
You can't succeed by doing this! Are you crazy?
#21: 辛辛苦苦" (xīn xīn kǔ kǔ) is a Chinese idiom, which means "hardworking" or "toil and sweat".
Example:
Tā xīn xīn kǔ kǔ de gōngzuò le yī zhěng tiān, zhǐ wèi le yǎnghuó jiārén.
他辛辛苦苦地工作了一整天，只为了养活家人。
He worked hard all day just to support his family.
#22: "升职名单" (shēng zhí míng dān) means "promotion list".
It refers to a list of employees who have been selected for promotion in a company.
Example:
Gōngsī gāng gōngbù le xīn de shēng zhí míng dān, wǒ hěn gāoxìng kàn dào zìjǐ de míngzì zài shàngmiàn.
公司刚公布了新的升职名单，我很高兴看到自己的名字在上面。
The company just announced the new promotion list, and I'm thrilled to see my name on it.
#23: 很有可能" (hěn yǒu kěnéng) means "very likely"
So you could use it like this:
Tā hěn yǒu kěnéng míngnián huì tíqián tuìxiū.
他很有可能明年会提前退休。
He is very likely to retire early next year.
Jīntiān xià yǔ de jīlǜ hěn yǒu kěnéng hěn gāo.
今天下雨的几率很有可能很高。
It is very likely that it will rain today.
#24: The term "告诉" (gàosu) means "to tell" or "to inform."
Here are two example sentences using "告诉":
Qǐng nǐ gàosu wǒ nǐ de xiǎngfǎ.
请你告诉我你的想法。
Please tell me your thoughts.
Tā gàosu wǒ tā bù huì lái cānjiā jīntiān de huódòng.
他告诉我他不会来参加今天的活动。
He told me he wouldn't be attending today's event.
#25: "打" (dǎ) means "slap"
"打脸" (dǎ liǎn) means "a slap in the face."
In a figurative sense, it refers to something that is humiliating to someone.
Example:
Tā zǐsūn tài gāo, jiéguǒ bèi dǎ liǎn le.
他自信太高，结果被打脸了。
He was too confident and ended up being humiliated.
#26: The phrase "我真的很感谢..." (wǒ zhēn de hěn gǎnxiè...) translates to "I am really grateful..." or "I really appreciate..."
Example Sentence:
Wǒ zhēn de hěn gǎnxiè nǐ de bāngzhù, wǒmen chénggōngle.
我真的很感谢你的帮助，我们成功了。
I am really grateful for your help; we succeeded.
#27: "其实" (qíshí) means "actually" or "in fact".
Here's how you can use it:
Qíshí, tā bùshì yīgè xìnggé juéjiàng de rén.
其实，他不是一个性格倔强的人。
Actually, he is not a stubborn person.
Qíshí, wǒmen dōu yǐjīng zhīdào zhè jiàn shìqíng de zhēnxiàng.
其实，我们都已经知道这件事情的真相。
In fact, we all already know the truth about this matter
#28: "职业道路" (zhíyè dàolù) means "career" or "career path".
Example:
Tā de zhíyè dàolù hěn chénggōng, yǐ chéngwéi yī míng lǐngxiù de gōngchéngshī.
他的职业道路很成功，已成为一名领袖的工程师。
His career has been successful; he has become a leading engineer.
#29: The term "单亲家庭" (dānqīn jiātíng) means "single-parent family".
It refers to a family where a child is raised by only one parent.
Example:
Dānqīn jiātíng de háizi yǒu shíhòu huì miànlín bǐ biérén gèng duō de yālì.
单亲家庭的孩子有时候会面临比别人更多的压力。
Sometimes, children from single-parent families may face more pressure than others.
#30: The term "爹" (diē) is an informal way to refer to one's father in Chinese.
It is similar to "dad" or "daddy" in English.
#31: "辛苦钱" (xīnkǔ qián) , literally means "hard money"and translates to "hard-earned money" in English.
Here is an example sentence using "辛苦钱":
Tā zhège yuè zhuàn de dōu shì xīnkǔ qián, suǒyǐ tā hěn zhēnxī.
他这个月赚的都是辛苦钱，所以他很珍惜。
The money he earned this month is all hard-earned money, so he cherishes it.
#32: "病根" (bìnggēn) means "health issue" or "root cause of an illness".
Yīshēng zhǎodào le tā shēntǐ bùshì de bìnggēn, ràng tā jiēshòu le duìzhèng de zhìliáo.
医生找到了他身体不适的病根，让他接受了对症的治疗。
The doctor found the root cause of his discomfort and provided appropriate treatment.
#33: "一个人" (yī gè rén) means "alone" or "by oneself".
Example:
Tā zǒngshì xǐhuan yīgèrén zuò shì, yīn wéi tā juéde hěn zìyóu.
他总是喜欢一个人做事，因为他觉得很自由。
He always likes to do things alone because he feels very free.
#34: "子欲养而亲不待" (zǐ yù yǎng ér qīn bù dài) is a Chinese proverb that translates to "The child wishes to support, yet the parent does not wait!"
It underscores the importance of cherishing time with loved ones while it is still possible.
#35: "原谅我..." (yuánliàng wǒ...) means "forgive me...".
Example:
Yuánliàng wǒ méiyǒu tíng diànhuà, wǒ bìng le.
原谅我没有听电话，我病了。
Forgive me for not answering the phone; I was sick.
#36: "仁至义尽" (rén zhì yì jìn) is a Chinese idiom, which means "doing one's best".
It means putting in all possible effort while being kind and fair to others.
#37: "解释" (jiěshì) translates to "explain" or "explanation".
Example:
Nǐ kěyǐ jiěshì yīxià zhè duàn huà shì shénme yìsi ma?
你可以解释一下这段话是什么意思吗？
Can you explain what this passage means?
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