OneDotDot Chinese · Vocabulary
20 Essential Chinese Words for Business
职场中文词汇
A working vocabulary for the Chinese-speaking office: the basics of clocking in and out, running meetings, giving reports, office titles, and taking leave. Where Taiwan and mainland China genuinely use different words — not just different characters — both versions are given. Tap the speaker icon next to any word or sentence to hear it read aloud.
工作
VERB — To work; operate
I need to work every day.
NOUN — Work; job
Why my work is never finished.
上班
VERB + OBJECT — Go to work; start work; work
I start work at 9 every morning.
How many hours do you work?
下班
VERB + OBJECT — Get off work
What do you like to do after work?
加班
VERB + OBJECT — Work overtime; work an extra shift
We have got to work overtime tonight.
I worked 5 hours of overtime over the weekend.
开会
VERB + OBJECT — Hold or attend a meeting
I had a five-hour meeting today.
会议
NOUN — Meeting; conference
The ideas you presented in the meeting were great.
I have two meetings today.
报告
VERB — To report; to inform
This must be reported to Mr. Lee.
NOUN — Report; speech
Please give a brief report (or lecture).
出差
VERB + OBJECT — Go on a business trip
I’m going to Japan tomorrow for business.
老板
NOUN — Boss; shopkeeper
The boss asks you to enter her office.
Titles matter a great deal in Chinese culture and are used far more often than in most Western workplaces. In a tech company or similar setting, people don’t usually call their boss 老板 lǎobǎn directly — they use the boss’s title plus surname instead. That said, 老板 lǎobǎn is completely natural when chatting with a colleague about the boss.
同事
NOUN — Colleague
Do you get along with your colleagues?
公司
NOUN — Company
I work for a cosmetics company.
客户
NOUN — Customer; client
She is a big client of our company.
电邮
NOUN — E-mail
Please send an email to notify everyone of the afternoon meeting.
(Taiwan spoken usage) Please send an email to notify everyone of the afternoon meeting.
In Taiwan, people usually say jì email (寄email, literally “send an email”) in speech rather than fā diànyóu — 电邮 diànyóu is understood but reads a little more formal or mainland-style.
资料
NOUN — Data; information; material
Have you all read the information just given?
打印
VERB — To print out (with a printer)
Print out the report that Mr. Lee needs and give it to me. (Taiwan: 列印 lièyìn / China: 打印 dǎyìn)
复印
VERB — To photocopy
Please photocopy this document in triplicate. (Taiwan: 影印 yǐngyìn / China: 复印 fùyìn)
组长
NOUN — Team leader; group leader
Did your group leader agree with you to do this?
经理
NOUN — Manager; director
Manager Wang is really annoying!
As mentioned for 老板Lǐ lǎobǎn, titles carry a lot of weight in Chinese culture. Superiors are almost never addressed by first name — instead, use their job title plus surname, e.g. 王经理 Wáng jīnglǐ, 李老师 Lǐ lǎoshī.
薪水
NOUN — Salary
What is your company’s typical payday?
请假
VERB + OBJECT — To request leave of absence
I don’t feel well, I need to take a half day off.
sick leave
leave of absence for public / official affairs
leave of absence for private affairs; compassionate leave
menstrual leave (in Taiwan, every woman may take one day a month, no documentation required)
wedding leave
maternity leave
funeral leave
A few more useful terms
Not in the original 20, but worth knowing: job hunting, contracts, and everyday office exchanges.
简历
NOUN — Resume; CV
Please send us your resume.
面试
NOUN / VERB — Interview; to interview
Your interview is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
合同
NOUN — Contract
Please sign the contract. (Taiwan: 合約 héyuē / China: 合同 hétong)
项目
NOUN — Project
This project wraps up next month. (Taiwan: 專案 zhuān’àn / China: 项目 xiàngmù)
离职
VERB + OBJECT — To resign; to leave a job
She is leaving the company next month.
名片
NOUN — Business card
May I have your business card?
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