Must-know Business Chinese Vocabulary Terms (Pt.1)

In today's globalized economy, mastering business Chinese is becoming increasingly essential for professionals who want to excel in international markets. Understanding key business Chinese vocabulary can enhance communication, foster better relationships with Chinese-speaking partners, and ultimately lead to successful business ventures.
Below, we outline some must-know business Chinese vocabulary terms that will equip you with the linguistic tools necessary to navigate the Chinese business landscape effectively.

Basic Business Terms

01. Business – 商务 (Shāngwù)

This term is fundamental in various contexts, such as 商务会议 (Shāngwù huìyì – business meetings) and 商务合作 (Shāngwù hézuò – business cooperation).
Example:

We have an important business meeting.我们有一个重要的商务会议。Wǒmen yǒu yīgè zhòngyào de shāngwù huìyì.

02. Company – 公司 (Gōngsī)
公司 (Gōngsī) means "company" or "corporation." It’s essential when referring to different types of business entities, such as 国有公司 (Guóyǒu gōngsī – state-owned company) and 私营公司 (Sīyíng gōngsī – private company).

Example:This company is a multinational corporation.这家公司是一家跨国公司。Zhè jiā gōngsī shì yījiā kuàguó gōngsī.

03. Market – 市场 (Shì chǎng)

Example:We need to analyze the market trends to make better business decisions.我们需要分析市场趋势以做出更好的商业决策。Wǒ men xū yào fēn xī shì chǎng qū shì yǐ zuò chū gèng hǎo de shāng yè jué cè.

04. Economy – 经济 (Jīng jì)

Example:The global economy is showing signs of recovery.全球经济显示出复苏的迹象。Quán qiú jīng jì xiǎn shì chū fù sū de jì xiàng.

05. Marketing – 市场营销 (Shìchǎng yíngxiāo)

Example:Our marketing team is planning a new advertising campaign.我们的市场营销团队正在计划新的广告活动。Wǒmen de shìchǎng yíngxiāo tuánduì zhèngzài jìhuà xīn de guǎnggào huódòng.

06. Investment – 投资 (Tóu zī)
Example:The company is looking for new investment opportunities in the tech industry.
公司正在寻找科技行业的新投资机会。

Gōng sī zhèng zài xún zhǎo kē jì háng yè de xīn tóu zī jī huì.

07. Negotiation – 谈判 (Tán pàn)Example:We need to have a negotiation with our suppliers to lower the prices.
我们需要与供应商进行谈判以降低价格。

Wǒ men xū yào yǔ gōng yìng shāng jìn xíng tán pàn yǐ jiàng dī jià gé.

08. Collaboration – 合作 (Hé zuò)
Example:Collaboration between departments is key to our success.
部门之间的合作是我们成功的关键。

Bù mén zhī jiān de hé zuò shì wǒ men chéng gōng de guān jiàn.

09. Profit – 利润 (Lì rùn)
Example:Our company's profit has increased by 10% this year.
我们公司今年的利润增加了10%。
Wǒ men gōng sī jīn nián de lì rùn zēng jiā le 10%.

10. Capital – 资本 (Zī běn)
Example:We need additional capital to expand our operations.
我们需要额外的资本来扩大我们的业务。

Wǒ men xū yào lǐng wài de zī běn lái kuò dà wǒ men de yè wù.

Source: eChineseLearning