西部落：CNN当家花旦为你介绍中国生意场礼仪

Hello , Peter, very nice to meet you. Thank you for giving me this lesson in Chinese business etiquette¹.

Not at all.

Now I have to ask you, am I dressed for the part?

Absolutely perfect for Chinese business meeting, conservative² color, long skirt.

All right, good to hear. Well let's start the meeting then.

Let's go, this way.

This is my business card.

Thank you.

Notice how I present it to you with the English side facing you.

Oh, OK , then I should do the same for you.

Here is my business card.

Oh, wonderful.

Should I have ... you get yourself a Chinese name . Notice how I spend a little bit of time paying attention to detail of the card as a sign of respect.

A business meeting sometimes ends with a gift exchange. Here are some CNN branded gifts. Would these be appropriate to give in China?

Er , some of them like the iPod might be too expensive, it could carry a bribery³ undertone. But the other side might feel uncomfortable, because we, he would have to reciprocate⁴ with something of equal value.

Of this , this is a photo CD. Would this be a more appropriate choice?

That is a perfect gift , that is , introduce your company, your city or your country.

Ok, well, that wraps up the session here but our etiquette lesson will continue tonight over dinner?

Ok, I'll see you then.

So Peter, tell me, how important is dinning⁵ to building a business relationship in China ?

It is a cultural way. Chinese people regard eating as one of the most important things in their lives as they say "民以食为天".

What does that mean?

That means eating is as important as the sky.

Now this is the dish that maybe some overseas businessmen or women might find a little bit unpalatable----it’s sea slug. We also have a sautéed bullfrog . If, if you are a business person you are being offered these as a guest in China, and you don't want to eat it. What'd you do?

I would just say "谢谢，这个我免了".

"谢谢" like this, and then no one's feelings are hurt , (no one's feelings...) everything is fine (right) .

And now we have the fish, I notice it's looking at me, it's pointing this direction. What does that mean?

That means er, you would have to drink a glass of white liquor because the head of the fish is pointing toward you.

Ok, then ...

That's that's a custom from the North.

If that is a custom, then I would have to drink a glass of white liquor, so please.

Ok, now these white liquors are pretty serious stuff. When being served this, can the guest be in a position to decline⁶ at all?

Yes, but the, the host would naturally prefer that you join him in drinking it.

Well, I'm going to have to join the host then to a toast?

That's right .

Ok, now I've just struggled to get lower than your glass.

That's right , and the host , try to lower his glass under yours to show his respect to you. Bottoms up!

"干杯!"

"干杯"

Kristie Lu Stout, CNN shanghai

1 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

2 conservative   

adj.保守的，守旧的；n.保守的人，保守派

参考例句：

• He is a conservative member of the church.他是一个守旧教会教友。
• The young man is very conservative.这个年轻人很守旧。

3 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

4 reciprocate   

v.往复运动；互换；回报，酬答

参考例句：

• Although she did not reciprocate his feelings, she did not discourage him.尽管她没有回应他的感情，她也没有使他丧失信心。
• Some day I will reciprocate your kindness to me.总有一天我会报答你对我的恩德。

5 dinning   

vt.喧闹（din的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• The cries of his tormentors were still dinning in his ears. 使他痛苦的人们的叫嚣仍然在他的耳际震响。 来自辞典例句
• The meals in the artistic little dinning-room were pleasant. 在雅致的小餐厅里吃饭是一种享受。 来自辞典例句

6 decline   

n.衰微，跌落，下降；vt.使降低，婉谢；vi.下降，衰落，偏斜

参考例句：

• I must decline to show favour to any of the candidates.我必须拒绝偏袒任何一位候选人。
• The birthrate is on the decline.出生率在下降。