UK Trade & Investment video

We make our YouTube debut on this UK Trade & Investment video, a brief appearance at 1.58

A brief overview of Chinese etiquette

Present your name card with two hands in a formal manner. Receive name cards in a similar way. Study the name for a moment. When seated , place the name card in front of you on the table – this shows respect (and also helps you remember people’s names!).

On Chinese name cards, the family name is usually given first, so Wang Hong Yi is Mr Wang. Do not call him by his first names unless he invites you to do so. Mr Li is the Chairman of XYZ Group and he should be addressed as Mr Li or Chairman Li. Some Chinese will have English names. If they give you their English name it is OK to use it.

Stand up when being introduced. Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. The normal Chinese greeting is Ni Hao (knee how), literally are you well? The reply is also Ni Hao. Thank you is Xiexie (share share) and goodbye is Zaidian (dzeye- jen).

Topics to avoid in conversation are politics, sex and Taiwan.

The Chinese regard punctuality as a virtue.

When a party of Chinese enters a room, the most important person will usually enter first.

It will help the relationship if you can give people face. Do this by praising them, their staff and their company but do not overdo it, as this will be perceived as insincere.

Do not, under any circumstances, cause someone to lose face, for example by criticising them, their company or their country in public.

Do not be surprised to be asked personal questions regarding age, marital status, children, family, income etc.

Chinese have a narrower comfort zone than westerners and tend to stand closer to you than you may find comfortable – if you move away they will follow.

Do not point with your index finger – use the whole hand.

Business may or may not be discussed during a banquet. Dining together is an excellent way to build relationships.

The host normally faces the door with the guest of honour on his right. We will ensure that everyone sits in the right place.

At an evening banquet, the host should make a short speech of welcome and express hopes for a good and fruitful co-operation. A banquet will last for two hours, then people go home.

Do not be surprised if the Chinese slurp their soup or continue the conversation while their mouth is full of food.

The host should offer a short toast to the group at the commencement of drinking. Thereafter other guests should toast each other. The standard Chinese toast is Ganbei (ganbay), which literally means dry glass and is the equivalent to bottoms up. The Chinese believe that drinking alcohol reveals the true person. Be careful!

If you do not want to drink, it may be best to say that you cannot do so due to a medical condition.

Chinese do not usually open gifts at the time of receiving them.

If in doubt, observe what the Chinese do and copy them.

Polite behaviour in UK will also be polite behaviour in China!