Culture Shock! China - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette, 2nd Edition

232 CultureShock! China

the floor in an uncouth fashion that does little to make a

good impression

One of the first ways to create a good first impression when

meeting others is to give adequate attention to exchanging

business cards. The proper way to exchange cards in China

is to present the card with two hands, with the text in the

language of the person you are presenting the card to facing

up and toward them. For example, the right way to present

to a Chinese person would be

with the Chinese side of the

card on top and the text facing

toward the person so that they

can read it immediately upon

receiving it.

You receive a card in the same

fashion. Once cards have been

exchanged, you give proper

consideration to the other person by studying the card

intently, looking at their name, their title and the location

of their office. To demonstrate that you have given the card

proper consideration, you may make a remark on any of

these details.

Another consideration in China that has far less importance

in the West is attention to where people are seated,

particularly if meeting with local partners or government

agencies. Title and degree importance need to be properly

matched around a room when organising seating.

If invited to a government office, traditional seating is

large soft chairs arranged in a U-shape. The most important

people will be seated in the centre of the U. You will usually

be served a cup of tea as you are seated.

The cadence of speech is also important. If relying on a

translator, be sure and pause often to allow the message to

be passed accurately. If you speak too long and the translator

is not strong enough, they will miss a majority of the nuance

that you expressed and just hold onto the detail.

Chinese people do not get directly to the point. A first

meeting is to get to know you and lay the groundwork for

future discussions. Chinese-speaking style is less direct than

When you sit down to meet with
a group of people, you keep all
business cards that have been
given to you arranged on the
table in front of you. Some people
arrange them to reflect seating
order around the table so that
they can properly refer to people
when addressing them.