Why and How Chinese Mandarin for Business Is The Best

Chinese Mandarin for business, also known as Business Mandarin, is a great way to get yourself into the Chinese business world. 

To help you pursue your business dreams, here are 4 reasons why the Chinese business language is the best to learn and 4 steps to better study. 

What is Chinese Mandarin for business? 

While general Mandarin Chinese is associated with the use of Mandarin in daily life and general interests, Chinese Mandarin for business includes more academic topics appropriate for those who intend to study in higher education or seek professional registration in Mandarin-speaking countries. 

Additionally, Chinese Mandarin for business is all about specialized vocabulary acquisition. All you need to do when learning Business Mandarin is accumulate your vocabulary in one specific business field. 

Why should you study Chinese Mandarin for business? 

1. Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language

There are many benefits to learning Mandarin, compared to other Chinese languages such as Cantonese or Shanghainese. 

With the growing number of Mandarin speakers, there are 1.3 billion Mandarin speakers worldwide, Mandarin Chinese has become more and more commercially essential. If you can master this language at the business level, imagine how many opportunities that can open up.

Not only can you explore all interesting Chinese cultures, but you can also develop your career by connecting with more people deeply via their first language.

2. China has been economically growing very fast

For the time being, China stands as the world’s second-largest economy, behind the US. However, with a growth rate almost three times that of the US, China will likely overtake the US as the biggest consumer market soon. 

Those who can master Mandarin Chinese, especially in business settings, can thrive professionally in one of the world’s most prosperous regions. 

3. Mandarin Chinese enables foreign businesses to operate more smoothly in China

It is extremely difficult for foreign business sectors when they enter the Chinese market due to different mindsets. It is important to remember that in Chinese business, “Guanxi” is everything. “Guanxi” is often translated as “personal connections” or “relationships. 

It means that before conducting any business practices, having prior personal trust and a strong relationship with your employees or partners is the most important, rather than prioritizing their capabilities.

One of the common ways to build “guanxi” with Chinese people is through the language. The more fluently you can express yourself in both personal and professional contexts in Mandarin, the more credible you become in their eyes. You can cultivate a deep bond with them afterward. In short, studying Mandarin Chinese at the business level is a must if you are operating a business in China. 

4. Companies regard Chinese Mandarin for business as ‘useful’

Along with the rapid growth of the Chinese economy and ongoing globalization, many companies have started cultivating strategic partnerships with Chinese firms, which sparks a need to study Chinese Mandarin for business even if you live outside China.

Just under 40% of the companies in the UK regard Mandarin Chinese as a “useful” language tool for their organizations. 

How to study Chinese Mandarin for business?

Step 1: Build a firm foundation of general Mandarin Chinese

You should get familiar with the language and become able to convey your thoughts in informal conversational settings before studying more advanced Business Mandarin. It is also better to reach an upper-intermediate level, which is at least HSK 4 beforehand. 

Many people are so eager that they jump into Business Chinese courses even when their Chinese is not proficient enough for everyday conversations. As a result, they cannot understand the majority of what the tutors are saying. This is because the tutors assume that all learners can understand General Mandarin Chinese well, so they will speed up their speaking and not explain the basic things. 

As a self-learner, it is even harder for you to design a learning curriculum for yourself if you can still not understand Mandarin Chinese at a proficient level. 

Step 2: Choose the field you want to study Business Mandarin Chinese for

When you are ready to level up your Mandarin Chinese, now is the time to narrow down the industry you want to work in. You may wonder why you cannot simultaneously study all themes for business such as food and beverage, real estate, job interviews, etc. The answer is that each theme is so broad that it takes up too much time to master. You should concentrate on one or two fields. Otherwise, you end up being incompetent in them all.

So how should I start? First, determine clearly what kind of business you want to use Mandarin for. Is it because you want to prepare for higher education, go job hunting in China, or negotiate with a Chinese partner? Which industry would you like to be involved in? Which career path would you like to pursue in the future? Only after you truly know your purposes can you select the right type of “business” Mandarin Chinese for you. 

For example, suppose you are a product developer of a female fashion company in China. In that case, you may want to use Mandarin to communicate with your team members and grow new products based on customers’ needs. You can break down business Mandarin Chinese into smaller themes to learn, such as female clothing or customer behaviors. 

Step 3: Know usiness Chinese culture and etiquette. 

Chinese business culture operates differently than business in the West. Therefore, you need to know about Chinese business etiquette, so you know how to act accordingly in a business setting. That includes handing out business cards, business seating orders, and just general business operations

Additionally, knowing business Chinese phrases will greatly help you sound like a native speaker.

Step 4: After defining the themes, you should start by growing your vocabulary

The main difference between general Chinese and Mandarin for business is the specific vocabulary that is used. Well, Pandanese can assist you in acquiring business vocabulary more easily and effectively via the effective Chinese mnemonics and spaced repetition system. 

You should also expose yourself to the Chinese Business world by reading news or books and watching TV shows related to your industry.

In closing

Learning Mandarin for business is a great stepping stone to open new work opportunities and business connections in Chinese-speaking countries.

So what are you waiting for? Start learning Chinese today.