Chapter 12

Chinese at School and at Work

In This Chapter

Navigating the world of school

Keeping your office supplied

Having business meetings

Making presentations

Time to get down to shēng yì 生意 (shuhng yee) (business). Your shēng yi, that is. Want to know how to manage that job in Jiangsu or how to deal with the head honcho? This chapter helps you do business in Chinese — everything from making a business appointment to conducting a meeting.

Because China has the fastest growing economy in the world, it’s no wonder you gravitated to this chapter. Think of it. China is the fastest-growing source of international profits for U.S. companies, with over a billion potential customers. The United States is China’s second largest trading partner (after Japan) and has hundreds of satellite offices everywhere from Shanghai to Shenzhen. With hundreds of billions (that’s right, billions) of dollars in exports throughout the world, China is most decidedly making its mark.

Before you get that job in Wuhan, though, you need to get a good education. This chapter helps you navigate the academic side of things, from kindergarten through college and beyond.

Going to School

You may get out of it for the first 5 or 6 years of life, but eventually we all have to shàng xué 上学 (上學) (shahng-shweh) (go to school) for about 12 years or so. The following sections break down everything you need to know about school-related terms.

Schools and supplies

Table 12-1 lists all the different kinds of xué xiào 学校 (學校) (shweh shyaow) (school) you or your children may be ready to attend.

Table 12-1 Schools

Chinese	Pronunciation	English
ìrjiān zhàogù zhōngxīn日間照顾中心 (日间照顧中心)	ir-jyan djaow-goo joong-sheen	day-care center
yōu’ér yuán 幼儿园 (幼兒園)	yo-are ywan	kindergarten
xiǎo xué 小学 (小學)	shyaow shweh	elementary school
zhōng xué 中学 (中學)	joong shweh	middle school
gāozhōng xué 高中学 (高中學)	gaow-joong shweh	high school
zhuānyè xuéxiào 专业学校 (專業學校)	jwan-yeh shweh-shyaow	vocational school
dà xué 大学 (大學)	dah shweh	college
wǎng shàng kèchéng 网上课程 (網上課程)	wahng shahng kuh-chuhng	online courses
yánjiū yuàn 研究院	yan-jyo ywan	graduate school
yī xuéyuàn 医学院 (醫學院)	ee shweh-ywan	medical school
fǎ xuéyuàn 法学院 (法學院)	fah shweh-ywan	law school
shāng xuéyuàn 商学院 (商學院)	shahng shweh-ywan	business school

Say you’ve applied for dà xué and gotten into the one that was (lucky you) your shǒu xuǎn首选 (首選) (show shwan) (first choice). By the end of the first day of class, you need to buy kèběn 课本 (課本) (kuh-bun) (textbooks) and yòngpǐn 用品 (yoong-peen) (supplies). Here are some supplies you may need, depending on the kè 课 (課) (kuh) (classes) you register for:

bǐjìběn 笔记本 (筆記本) (bee-jee-bun) (notebook)

bǐjìběn diànnǎo 笔记本电脑 (筆記本電腦) (bee-jee-bun dyan-naow) (laptop)

gāngbǐ 钢笔 (鋼筆) (gahng-bee) (ballpoint pens)

jìsuàn qì 計算器 (计算器) (jee-swan chee) (calcuator)

mùtān lābǐ 木炭蜡笔 (木炭蠟筆) (moo-tahn lah-bee) (charcoal crayons)

qiānbǐ 铅笔 (鉛筆) (chyan-bee) (pencils)

sùmiǎo diàn 素描垫 (素描墊) (soo-myaow dyan) (sketch pad)

táishì diànnǎo 台式电脑 (台式電腦 (tye-shir dyan-naow) (desktop ­computer)

The Children’s Palace in Shanghai is one of the most prestigious after-school arts programs for gifted children in all of China. Built in 1918 as a private villa by the Iraqi Jewish Kadoorie family, who came to Shanghai in the late 1800s, the palace’s ornate features; large fireplaces; huge, winding staircase; and marble hallways lent themselves to its original name: Marble Hall. Tourists often come here to see the children perform as one of the highlights of a trip to Shanghai.

Teachers and subjects

Remember your favorite xiǎo xué lǎoshī 小学老师 (小學老師) (shyaow shweh laow-shir) (elementary school teacher)? Remember how great it felt to learn how to yuè dú 阅读 (閱讀) (yweh doo) (read)? Well, soon enough yuè dú turns into xuéxí 学习 (學習) (shweh-shee) (studying) and maybe even some serious academic or scientific yánjiū 研究 (yan-jyo) (research), and you really have to hunker down. Table 12-2 lists all sorts of subjects you may study with a lǎoshī 老师 (老師) (laow-shir) (teacher) or jiào shòu 教授 (jyaow show) (professor).

Table 12-2 Academic Subjects

Chinese	Pronunciation	English
dàishù xué 代数学 (代數學)	dye-shoo shweh	algebra
Fǎyǔ 法语 (法語)	fah-yew	French
guójì guānxì 国际关系 (國際關係)	gwaw-jee gwan-shee	international relations
huàxué 化学 (化學)	hwah-shweh	chemistry
jǐhéxué 几何学 (幾何學)	jee-huh shweh	geometry
jīngjìxué 经济学 (經濟學)	jeeng-jee-shweh	economics
lìshǐ 历史 (歷史)	lee-shir	history
shēngwùxué 生物学 (生物學)	shung-woo-shweh	biology
shùxué 数学 (數學)	shoo-shweh	mathematics
wénxué 文学 (文學)	wuhn-shweh	literature
wúdǎo 舞蹈	woo-daow	dance
wùlǐ 物理	woo-lee	physics
Xībānyáyǔ 西班牙语 (西班牙語)	shee-bahn-yah-yew	Spanish
xìjù 戏剧 (戲劇)	shee-jyew	drama
Yìdàlìyǔ 意大利語 (意大利語)	ee-dah-lee-yew	Italian
Yīngyǔ 英语 (英語)	eeng-yew	English
yìshù 艺术 (藝術)	ee-shoo	art
zhèngzhìxué 政治学 (政治學)	juhng-jir-shweh	political science
zhéxué 哲学 (哲學)	juh-shweh	philosophy

Here are some class-related phrases:

Nǐ xué shénme? 你学什么? (你學甚麼?) (nee shweh shummah?) (What are you studying?)

shàng kè 上课 (上課) (shahng kuh) (to go to class)

xué 学 (學) (shweh) (to study)

Exams and semesters

After you get into the swing of the xuéqí 学期 (學期) (shweh-chee) (semester), you begin to realize your time isn’t your own. You have classes to attend, kè wài huódòng 课外活动 (課外活動) (kuh wye hwaw-doong) (extracurricular activities) to participate in, and a whole bunch of kǎoshì 考试 (考試) (exams) to take. These words and phrases come in handy during the school year:

qīmò kǎo 期末考 (chee-maw kaow) (final exam)

qīzhōng kǎo 期中考 (chee-joong kaow) (midterm)

suí tǎng cèyàn 随堂测验 (隨堂測驗) (sway tahng tsuh-yan) (pop quiz)

wénzhāng 文章 (wuhn-jahng) (essay)

Wǒ děi xiě yìpiān wénzhān. 我得写一篇文章. (我得寫一篇文章.) (waw day shyeh ee-pyan wuhn-jahng.) (I have to write an essay.)

zuì hòu qīxiàn 最后期限 (最後期限) (dzway hoe chee-shyan) (deadline)

After you’ve studied hard and taken that kǎoshì, you may want to ask your tóngxué 同学 (同學) (toong-shweh) (classmate) one of these questions:

Nǐ déle jǐfēn? 你得了几分? (你得了幾分?) (nee duh-luh jee-fun?) (What [grade] did you get?)

Nǐ kǎobù jígē ma? 你考不及格吗? (你考不及格嗎?) (nee kaow-boo jee-guh mah?) (Did you fail?)

Nǐ kǎode jígē ma? 你考得及格吗? (你考得及格嗎) (nee kaow-duh jee-guh mah?) (Did you pass?)

Degrees and diplomas

When you’re finally done with all the xuéxí 学习 (學習) (shweh-shee) (studying) and you’re ready to bìyè 毕业 (畢業) (bee-yeh) (graduate), it’s a great day. All that hard work has paid off and you’re ready to get your gāozhōng bìyè wénpǐn 高中毕业文凭 (高中畢業文憑) (gaow-joong bee-yeh wuhn-peen) (high school diploma) or a dàxué xuéwèi 大学学位 (大學學位) (dah-shweh shweh-way) (college degree), you can rest assured that everyone’s very proud of you. Here are some of the degrees you may be getting:

xuéshì xuéwèi 学士学位 (學士學位) (shweh-shir shweh-way) (bachelor’s degree)

suòshì xuéwèi 硕士学位 (碩士學位) (swaw-shir shweh-way) (master’s degree)

bóshì xuéwèi 博士学位 (博士學位) (baw-shir shweh-way) (doctorate)

fǎxué bóshì 法学博士 (法學博士) (fah-shweh baw-shir) (Juris Doctor)

yīxué bóshì 医学博士 (醫學博士) (ee-shweh baw-shir) (medical doctor)

Settling into Your Office Digs

Whether you’re a mìshū 秘书 (秘書) (mee-shoo) (secretary) or the zhǔxí 主席 (joo-she) (chairman) of the board, the atmosphere and physical environment of your bàngōngshì 办公室 (辦公室) (bahn-goong-shir) (office) is pretty important. It can even help get you through an otherwise tough day. May as well make it as comfortable as possible. Why not put a photo of the family dog on your bàngōngzhuō 办公桌 (辦公桌) (bahn-goong-jwaw) (desk) for starters? That should put a smile on your face as you start the day.

You don’t even have to get up out of your yǐzi 椅子 (ee-dzuh) (chair) to notice all the techie stuff around you. These days, just about any office you work in or visit has the following basic things:

chuánzhēn 传真 (傳真) (chwan-jun) (fax)

dǎyìnjī 打印机 (打印機) (dah-een-jee) (printer)

diànhuà 电话 (電話) (dyan-hwah) (telephone)

diànnǎo 电脑 (電腦) (dyan-now) (computer)

fùyìnjī 复印机 (復印機) (foo-een-jee) (copier)

Of course, the first thing you may look around for when you get to work in the morning is the kāfēijī 咖啡机 (咖啡機) (kah-fay-jee) (coffee machine). In fact, the one part of the day you may look forward to the most is the xiūxi 休息 (shyo-she) (coffee break).

As you look around your xiǎogéjiān 小隔间 (小隔間) (shyaow-guh-jyan) ­(cubicle), I bet you can find all these things:

bǐjìběn 笔记本 (筆記本) (bee-jee-bun) (notebook)

dàng’àn 档案 (檔案) (dahng-ahn) (file)

dìngshūjī 钉书机 (訂書機) (deeng-shoo-jee) (stapler)

gāngbǐ 钢笔 (鋼筆) (gahng-bee) (pen)

huíwénzhēn 回纹针 (回紋針) (hway-one-jun) (paper clip)

jiāo dài 胶带 (膠帶) (jyaow dye) (transparent tape)

qiānbǐ 铅笔 (鉛筆) (chyan-bee) (pencil)

xiàngpíjīn 橡皮筋 (shyahng-pee-jeen) (rubber band)

If you can’t find some indispensable item just when you need it, you can always ask someone in the next xiǎogéjiān 小隔间 (小隔間) (shyaow-guh-jyan) (cubicle). The simplest way to ask is by using the phrase Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu _____? 你有没有 _____? (nee yo mayo _____?) (Do you have any _____?) Use that phrase as often as you like. Just make sure you can reciprocate whenever your tóngshì 同事 (toong-shir) (co-worker) needs something as well.

Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu dìngshūjī? 你有没有钉书机? (你有没有訂書機?) (nee yo mayo deeng-shoo-jee?) (Do you have a stapler?)

Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu gāngbǐ? 你有没有钢笔? (你有没有鋼筆?) (nee yo mayo gahng-bee?) (Do you have a pen?)

Talkin’ the Talk

Ollie and Tommy are co-workers in Xi’an. Ollie is about to go into a meeting but can’t find his notebook. He quickly checks with his good friend Tommy in the next cubicle.

Ollie:

Tommy! Wǒ jíde yào mìng! Kuài yào kāihuì le, kěshì zhǎobúdào wǒde bǐjìběn.

Tommy! waw jee-duh yaow meeng! kwye yaow kye-hway luh, kuh-shir jaow-boo-daow waw-duh bee-jee-bun.

Tommy! I’m in such a hurry! We’re about to have a meeting, and I can’t find my notebook.

Tommy:

Wǒ yǒu bǐjìběn. Jiè gěi nǐ.

waw yo bee-jee-bun. jyeh gay nee.

I have a notebook. I’ll loan it to you.

Ollie:

Tài hǎo le! Xièxiè.

tye how luh! shyeh-shyeh.

That’s great. Thanks.

Whenever you add -de yào mìng 得要命 (duh yaow meeng) right after a verb, you add a touch of drama and emphasize whatever the verb is. For example, if you say you’re lèi 累 (lay), that means you’re tired. But if you say you’re lèi de yào mìng 累得要命 (lay duh yaow meeng), that means you’re absolutely exhausted. If you’re not just máng 忙 (mahng) (busy) but rather máng de yào mìng 忙得要命 (mahng duh yaow meeng), you’re extremely busy, ­running around like a chicken without a head. Here are some useful phrases to ­compare:

Wǒ lěng. 我冷. (waw lung.) (I’m cold.)

Wǒ lěng de yào mìng. 我冷得要命. (waw lung duh yaow meeng.) (I’m freezing.)

Jīntiān hěn rè. 今天很热. (今天很熱.) (jeen-tyan hun ruh.) (It’s very hot today.)

Jīntiān rè de yào mìng. 今天热得要命. (今天熱得要命.) (jeen-tyan ruh duh yaow meeng.) (It’s a real scorcher today.)

If you’re going to emphasize a verb by adding -de yào mìng after it, you can’t also use hěn 很 (hun) (very) in the same breath. It makes your statement redundant.

Conducting a Meeting

Congratulations! You’ve finally set up shop in your new office in Beijing or welcomed your business partners from Taiwan and are all set to have your first business meeting. But just what is the purpose of your huìyì 会议(會議) (hway-ee) (meeting)? Is it to yǎnshì 演示 (yan-shir) (give a presentation) about a new chǎnpǐn 产品 (產品) (chahn-peen) (product)? Is it to tánpàn 谈判 (談判) (tahn-pahn) (negotiate) a hétóng 合同 (huh-toong) (contract)? How about shòuxùn 受训 (受訓) (show-shwun) (training) — either you or your Chinese colleagues? Do you have a specific yìchéng (议程) 議程 (ee-chung) (agenda) in mind already? I hope so. You definitely don’t want to look unprepared.

Scheduling and planning a meeting

You may be one of those people who needs to ānpái huìyì yìchéng 安排会议议程 (安排會議議程) (ahn-pye hway-ee ee-chung) (schedule a meeting) just to prepare for another meeting. Here are some things you may want to do at such a preliminary meeting:

jiějué wèntí 解决问题 (解決問題) (jyeh-jweh one-tee) (solve problems)

tǎolùn wèntí 讨论问题 (討論問題) (taow-lwun one-tee) (discuss problems)

tuánduì jiànshè 团队建设 (團隊建設) (twan-dway jyan-shuh) (team ­building)

zhìdìng huìyì yìchéng 制定会议议程 (制定會議議程) (jir-deeng hway-ee ee-chung) (set an agenda)

What is your role at these meetings? Are you the one to zhǔchí huìyì 主持会议 (主持會議) (joo-chir hway-ee) (lead the meeting) or just to cānjiā huìyì 参加会议 (參加會議) (tsahn-jya hway-ee) (participate in the meeting)? Are you the xiétiáorén 协调人 (協調人) (shyeh-tyaow-run) (facilitator) of the meeting, trying to elicit as much fǎnkuì 反馈 (反饋) (fahn-kway) (feedback) as possible? Or do you always have the unenviable task of contacting everyone to qǔxiāo huìyì 取消会议 (取消會議) (chyew-shyaow hway-ee) (cancel the meeting)?

Suppose you’re the one who’s leading the meeting and you want to make sure everyone has a say in matters. Here are some phrases you can use to try to include everyone in the process:

Jack, nǐ hái yǒu shénme xūyào bǔchōng ma? Jack, 你还有什么需要补充吗? (Jack, 你還有什麼需要補充嗎?) (Jack, nee hi yo shummuh shyew-yaow boo-choong mah?) (Jack, do you have anything else to add?)

Shéi hái yǒu shénme yìjiàn huòzhě wèntí? 谁还有什么意见或者问题? (誰還有甚麼意見或者問題?) (shay hi yo shummuh ee-jyan hwaw-juh one-tee?) (Who still has any comments or questions?)

Wǒmen xūyào duì zhèige xiàngmù biǎojué ma? 我们需要对这个项目表决吗? (我們需要對這個項目表決嗎?) (waw-men shyew-yaow dway jay-guh shyahng-moo byaow-jweh mah?) (Do we need to vote on this item?)

Making the initial greeting

Suppose you’ve already had some contacts with your business counterparts on the phone or via e-mail but have never actually met them until now. A mere “nice to meet you” may not suffice, especially if you want to emphasize how very glad you are to finally be speaking face to face. Here are a couple of phrases you can use:

Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nín běnrén. 很高兴见到您本人. (很高興見到您本人.) (hun gaow-sheeng jyan daow neen bun-run.) (I’m glad to meet you in person.)

Zǒngsuàn jiàn dào nín le, shízài ràng wǒ hěn gāoxìng. 总算见到您了, 实在让我很高兴. (總算見到您了, 實在讓我很高興.) (dzoong-swan jyan daow neen luh, shir-dzye rahng waw hun gaow-sheeng.) (It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.)

Always greet the person who holds the highest rank first before saying hello to others. Hierarchy is important to the Chinese, so try to always be conscious of this convention, or you may unintentionally cause someone to lose face by not acknowledging his or her importance in the overall scheme of things. This consideration goes for your side of the equation as well. The leader of your team should enter the room first and then wait to be seated by the host of the meeting.

The people you meet with may have one of the following titles:

chǎngzhǎng 厂长 (廠長) (chahng-jahng) (factory director)

dǒngshì 董事 (doong-shir) (director of the board)

fù zǒngcái 副总裁 (副总裁) (foo dzoong-tsye) (vice president)

jīnglǐ 经理 (經理) (jeeng-lee) (manager)

shǒuxí kuàijì 首席会计 (首席會計) (show-she kwye-jee) (chief financial officer)

zhǔrèn 主任 (joo-run) (director of a department)

zhǔxí 主席 (joo-she) (chairman)

zǒngcái 总裁 (總裁) (dzoong-tsye) (president)

zǔzhǎng 组长 (組長) (dzoo-jahng) (team leader)

In Chinese, last names always come first. When addressing someone with a title, always say the last name first, followed by the title. So if you know someone’s name is Lǐ Pēijié (lee pay-jyeh) (Lǐ being the surname), and he’s the director of the company, you address him as Lǐ Zhǔrèn (lee joo-run) (Director Li).

Try to get a list of the names of your Chinese counterparts in advance so you can practice pronouncing them correctly. That’s sure to win a few brownie points right there.

Be sure you have business cards ready (preferably in Chinese as well as English) to give out when you go to China. You should always hand and receive each business card with two hands. Feel free to place the cards you receive in the same order as those seated (for example, from left to right as people seat themselves across from you) so you’ll remember who is who.

If you’re the guest of honor at a dinner banquet, you’re seated facing the entrance to the room. Don’t worry if you get confused figuring out where to sit when facing a round table. Your host will make sure to show you to your seat. (Refer to Chapter 8 for eating etiquette tips.)

Starting the meeting

Here are some things to say when you’re ready to get the business meeting started:

Huānyíng nín dào wǒmen de bàngōngshì. 欢迎您到我们的办公室. (歡迎您到我們的辦公室.) (hwahn-eeng neen daow waw-mun duh bahn-goong-shir.) (Welcome to our office.)

Wǒ xiǎng jièshào yíxià huìyì de cānjiāzhě. 我想介绍一下会议的参加者. (我想介紹一下會議的參加者.) (waw shyahng jyeh-shaow ee-shyah hway-ee duh tsahn-jya-juh.) (I’d like to introduce the conference participants.)

Zài kāihuì yǐqián, ràng wǒmen zuò yíge zìwǒ jièshào. 在开会以前, 让我们做一个自我介绍. (在開會以前, 讓我們做一個自我介紹.) (dzye kye-hway ee-chyan, rahng waw-men dzwaw yee-guh dzuh-waw jyeh-shaow.) (Before the meeting begins, let’s introduce ourselves.)

Zánmen kāishǐ ba. 咱们开始吧. (咱們開始吧.) (dzah-mun kye-shir bah.) (Let’s begin.)

Zǎoshàng hǎo. 早上好. (dzaow-shahng how.) (Good morning.)

Making a presentation

When you want to give a presentation during the meeting, here are some words that you may want to use:

bǎnzi 板子 (bahn-dzuh) (board)

biǎogé 表格 (byaow-guh) (charts)

cǎibǐ 彩笔 (彩筆) (tsye-bee) (marker)

caí liào 材料 (tsye-lyaow) (handouts)

chātú 插图 (插圖) (chah-too) (illustrations)

fěnbǐ 粉笔 (粉筆) (fun-bee) (chalk)

huàbǎn 画板 (畫板) (hwah-bahn) (easel)

túbiāo 图表 (圖表) (too-byaow) (diagrams)

Planning to go high-tech instead? In that case, you may want one of these:

huàndēngjī 幻灯机 (幻燈機) (hwahn-dung-jee) (slide projector)

píngmù 屏幕 (peeng-moo) (screen)

PowerPoint yǎnshì PowerPoint 演示 (PowerPoint yan-shir) (PowerPoint presentation)

tòu yǐng piàn 透影片 (toe yeeng pyan) (transparency)

If you plan on videotaping your presentation, you need a lùxiàngjī 录像机 (錄像機) (loo-shyahng-jee) (video recorder), and if the room is pretty big, you may also want to use a màikèfēng 麦克风 (麥克風) (my-kuh-fung) ­(microphone).

Ending the meeting

Here are some phrases that may come in handy at the conclusion of the meeting:

Gǎnxiè dàjiā jīntiān chūxí huìyì. 感谢大家今天出席会议. (感謝大家今天出席會議.) (gahn-shyeh dah-jyah jeen-tyan choo-she hway-ee.) (Thank you, everyone, for participating in today’s meeting.)

Wǒmen xūyào zài kāihuì tǎolùn zhè jiàn shìqíng ma? 我们需要再开会讨论这件事情吗? (我們需要再開會討論這件事情嗎?) (waw-men shyew-yaow dzye kye-hway taow-lwun jay jyan shir-cheeng mah?) (Do we need another meeting to continue the discussion?)

Zài líkāi zhīqián, wǒmen bǎ xià cì huìyì de rìqī dìng xiàlái ba. 在离开之前, 我们把下次会议的日期定下来吧. (在離開之前, 我們把下次會議的日期定下來吧.) (dzye lee-kye jir-chyan, waw-mun bah shyah tsuh hway-ee duh er-chee deeng shyah-lye bah.) (Before we leave, let’s confirm a date for the next meeting.)

Talkin’ the Talk

Cynthia and Pete have introduced themselves to their Chinese counterparts at the ABC Company in Shenzhen. They plan to give a presentation on their new software product a little later on. (Track 15)

Cynthia:

Dàjiā hǎo. Zhè cì huìyì de mùdì shì gěi nǐmen jièshào ABC gōngsī de xīn chǎnpǐn, yīzhǒng bào biǎo de ruǎnjiàn.

dah-jyah how. jay tsuh hway-ee duh moo-dee shir gay nee-men jyeh-shaow ABC goong-suh duh sheen chahn-peen, ee-joong baow byaow duh rwahn-jyan.

Hello everyone. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce you all to ABC Company’s new product, a type of spreadsheet software.

Pete:

Měi gè rén dōu yǒu huìyì yìchéng ma?

may guh run doe yo hway-ee ee-chung mah?

Does everyone have a copy of the agenda?

Cynthia:

Xièxiè, Pete. Duì le. Dàjiā dōu yǐjīng nádào zīliào le ma?

shyeh-shyeh, Pete. dway luh. dah-jyah doe ee-jeeng nah-daow dzuh-lyaow luh mah?

Thank you, Pete. Yes, has everyone already received the materials?

Discussing Business and Industry

Because China has opened up to the world so quickly since the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 (the United States established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic in 1979), U.S. businesses in many areas have set up shop in many parts of the country. Whether your company has an office in mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, or Hong Kong, you’re sure to find one or more of the industries listed in Table 12-3 represented in those places.

Table 12-3 Industries

Chinese	Pronunciation	English
bǎoxiǎn 保险 (保險)	baow-shyan	insurance
cǎikuǎng yú shíyóu 采矿与石油 (採礦與石油)	tsye-kwahng yew shir-yo	mining and petroleum
chūbǎn 出版	choo-bahn	publishing
diànnǎo 电脑 (電腦)	dyan-now	computers
fángdìchǎn 房地产 (房地產)	fahng-dee-chahn	real estate
gōngchéng 工程	goong-chung	engineering
gōngguān 公关 (公關)	goong-gwan	public relations
guǎnggào 广告 (廣告)	gwahng-gaow	advertising
guǎnlǐ zīxún 管理咨询 (管理咨詢)	gwahn-lee dzuh-shwun	management consulting
jiànzào 建造 (建造)	jyan-dzaow	construction
qìchē 汽车 (汽車)	chee-chuh	automotive
shízhuāng 时装 (時裝)	shir-jwahng	fashion
xīnwén 新闻 (新聞)	sheen-one	journalism
yínháng yǔ cáiwù 银行与财务 (銀行與財物)	yeen-hahng yew tsye-woo	banking and finance
yúlè 娱乐 (娛樂)	yew-luh	entertainment
yùn shū 运输 (運輸)	yewn shoo	shipping
zhìyào 制药 (製藥)	jir-yaow	pharmaceuticals

Regardless of what industry you’re in, here are some things you can do to help you decide how to advertise your company and its products or services or to determine how it’s going:

diàntái yú diànshì guǎnggào 电台与电视广告 (電台與電視廣告) (dyan-tie yew dyan-shir gwahng-gaow) (radio and television ads)

dīngdāng 叮当 (叮噹) (deeng-dahng) (jingle)

guǎnggào xuānchuán 广告宣传 (廣告宣傳) (gwahng-gaow shwan-chwan) (ad campaign)

pǐnpái tuīguǎng 品牌推广 (品牌推广) (peen-pye tway-gwahng) (brand-name promotion)

shìchǎng yánjiū 市场研究 (市場研究) (shir-chahng yan-jyo) (market research)

xiāofèizhě yánjiū 消费者研究 (消費者研究) (shyaow-fay-juh yan-jyo) ­(consumer research)

xìnxī guǎnggào 信息广告 (信息廣告) (sheen-she gwahng-gaow) ­(infomercial)

zhíxiāo yùndòng 直销运动 (直銷運動) (jir-shyaow yoon-doong) (direct marketing campaign)

And here are some things you should have on hand in meetings or at that màoyì zhǎnxiāohuì 贸易展销会 (貿易展銷會) (maow-ee jahn-shyaow-hway) (trade show):

chǎnpǐn mùlù 产品目录 (產品目錄) (chahn-peen moo-loo) (catalogue)

túbiāo 图标 (圖標) (too-byaow) (logo)

xiǎocèzǐ 小册子 (小冊子) (shyaow-tsuh-dzuh) (brochure)

Of course, if your product is so good it virtually sells itself, your greatest source of business is undoubtedly going to come from good ol’ kǒuchuán guǎnggào 口传广告 (口傳廣告) (ko-chwan gwahng-gaow) (word-of-mouth advertising).

Talkin’ the Talk

William and Douglas, two salesmen, visit Guangdong to see whether the Flying Peacock Company wants to buy their product. They’re in a meeting with the Flying Peacock Company president, where they’ve already gone through the preliminary introductions and small talk.

William:

Zhè shì yǒu guān wǒmen chǎnpǐn de xiǎocèzǐ.

jay shir yo gwan waw-mun chahn-peen duh shyaow-tsuh-dzuh.

Here’s a brochure on our product.

Douglas:

Wǒmen de chǎnpǐn shì yóu wǒmen zìjǐ de zhuānjiā shèjì de ěrqiě zhèngmíng shì mǎn chénggōng de.

waw-men duh chahn-peen shir yo waw-men dzuh-jee duh jwan-jyah shuh-jee duh are-chyeh jung-meeng shir mahn chung-goong duh.

Our product was designed by our own experts and has proven to be quite successful.

William:

Duì le, kěshì wǒmen yě kéyǐ gēnjù nǐde guīgé lái shèjì chǎnpǐn.

dway luh, kuh-shir waw-men yeah kuh-yee gun-jyew nee-duh gway-guh lye shuh-jee chahn-peen.

That’s correct, but we can also tailor the product to meet your specifications.

Douglas:

Wǒmen de jiàgé yě hěn yǒu jìngzhēnglì.

waw-mun duh jyah-guh yeah hun yo jeeng-juhng-lee.

Our prices are also quite competitive.

 Fun & Games

Match each of the Chinese phrases to the correct English phrase. Turn to Appendix D for the answers.

1. I’m freezing.	a. Wǒ lěng. 我冷.
2. Let’s begin.	b. Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu bǐ? 你有没有笔? (你有沒有筆?)
3. Do you have a pen?	c. Wǒ lěng de yào mìng. 我冷得要命.
4. Who still has any questions?	d. Shéi hái yǒu shénme yìjiàn huòzhě wèntí? 谁还有什么意见或者问题? (誰還有甚麼意見或者問題?)
5. I’m cold.	e. Zánmen kāishǐ ba. 咱们开始吧. (咱們開始吧.)