With this month’s summit in Beijing between the Chinese and US presidents, many companies may want to export to China.
ABOUT TRANSLATION (written communication)
Chinese characters are not phonetic as letters are in alphabetic languages – except for English whose spelling often defies logic (“through” vs. “tough”).
Characters can be pronounced in hundreds of ways called dialects, of which Mandarin, the official national pronunciation, and Cantonese, spoken around Hong Kong in the south, are the two most commonly known in the US. Speakers of one dialect often cannot understand speakers of another. But since the written language is standard, people can write the characters to be understood in a different region.
Characters are written in two different ways: Traditional as used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and among Overseas Chinese in the US vs. Simplified as used in China and Singapore. If your product is aimed at Taiwan or HK, absolutely do not use the same brochure or manual for China.
ABOUT INTERPRETATION (spoken communication)
Your hosts will likely provide you with an interpreter for meetings or conferences. Always hire your own through a professional language agency (such as ours).
In negotiations, your host’s interpreter may conveniently forget to convey to certain terms that are detrimental to you and favor the Chinese side. Your own hired interpreter will ensure that all speech is conveyed accurately and correctly so you have no misunderstandings.
IN MEETINGS
Hierarchy in China is extremely important. Age is revered. If your CEO is young, it’s best to bring along older Board members or advisors to add credibility to your delegation.
The senior-most people on your host’s side will do the talking. Subordinates are quiet unless asked a specific question or clarification. Your delegation should include your top senior executives, such as the CEO and SVP, who are authorized to make decisions.
Status and Titles are equally important. Your business cards with names and titles should be bilingual with Chinese on one side (preferably printed in gold ink) and English on the other.
“Promote” your American delegates if needed to add credibility. If a person is a “manager,” can he or she become a “director” for this trip?
Present your business card with both hands, thumbs up. Put others’ cards on the table in front of you, preferably in the seating order to remember people’s names. After the meeting, put the Chinese cards in a business card case or your front breast pocket. Never put Chinese cards in your wallet and your back pocket. If you have digital cards only, print them for your trip.
Unless you receive specific permission, do not default to American “familiarity,” such as using someone’s first name. Address others as Mr. or Ms. [last name] or preferably with their titles such as “Director Jin” even though this sounds odd in English.
Married women in China do not take their husbands’ last names; they retain their own. If your counterpart is Mr. Liu, his wife is not Mrs. Liu. Instead, call her Madam X [her family name]. Usually, family names (like Smith or Jones) are first in Chinese name order.
OTHER TIPS
Chinese dates are written year-month-day. May 22nd 2026 is therefore abbreviated 26/5/22. If needed, clarify dates by writing the month name in English as above.
Do not point with your index finger. That is rude in most cultures. Instead, point with your full hand, fingers closed and palm up or out.
Positive colors in Chinese culture are red, yellow and green. Negative colors are white and black (as well as green hats).
Contrary to devout religionists, there rarely is a universal “truth.” Truth depends on culture, circumstances, and sources of information. Never insist that yours is the only “right” way.
Avoid having “four” of anything such as examples or items. “Four” in Mandarin sounds very close to word for “death,” [similar to “see” vs. “sea” in English].
TRANSLATION TIPS AND BLOOPERS
Never rely solely on AI to translate your brochures, manuals, proposals, videos, contracts, websites, etc. into Chinese. While AI is good, it is far from perfect. Always default to the hybrid model of professional language agencies such as ours which use AI plus subject-specialized, Master’s-level translators to ensure that your nuances, expressions, word order and meaning are precise.
If you cannot get your translations right, why should your Chinese counterparts trust you to get far more important issues right?
These groups did not follow this Best Practice:
- In a China food market: “Spring onion 2.95, Fresh herpes 0.95"
- US company business card translated by AI: “Standard & Poors” became “Average & Bankrupt."
- English translation on a Mexican restaurant sign in China:
“Zapata’s Mexican cantina does not sponsor prostitutes at our establishment. If you are unsure whether you are a prostitute, ask one of our friendly security guards to sort it out for you."
When you need precision translations into any language or high-level interpreters for any trip or conference anywhere in the world – or for cultural consultations -- please ask us at Auerbach International for a free quote.
XieXie [Thank you]. We look forward to serving you.
Philip Auerbach
Founder, President & CEO
Auerbach International
Headquarters - 415-592-0042
