News from JMS

Welcome to our blog, where we plan to feature news, views and translation clues. Things like: did you know that English cats say ‘meow’, German moggies ‘miau’, French felines ‘miaou’, and Spanish Siamese ‘miau’. Pause for thought…

Ps and Qs of Chinese meetings

Meetings in China can be a bit of an etiquette minefield. You will have to mind your Ps and Qs. Here are some pointers that can help defuse matters. Taking it from the top, don’t arrive late. Punctuality is important and being late is considered rude. Meetings can go on for several hours so be prepared for the long haul. Patience is required since negotiations can involve both days and delays – don’t expect an immediate order. You will find that the most senior person enters the room first and will consider the first member of your team to enter to be of similar rank. Placement is important: the host sits to the left of the most important guest. It is very important to show respect to those in senior positions and the most senior ranking people should sit opposite each other. Politeness is vital. Don’t sit down until all the introductions have been made. Preparation is key. If you have a presentation, make sure it is pitch perfect and in both English and Mandarin. Be precise. Keep sentences short and to the point (this makes it easier for your interpreter) and stick to your prepared agenda. The hosts will decide when the meeting is over and you are expected to leave the room first, thanking them before parting ways with no further discussions or chitchat. Next we come face-to-face with face…

 

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