Business Negotiations
Vocabulary
- 谈判negotiation
- 让步concession
- 底线bottom line / red line
- 共识consensus / common ground
- 僵局deadlock / impasse
- 折中compromise
- 条款terms / clause
- 诚意goodwill / sincerity
Business Negotiation in Chinese
Successful negotiation in Chinese requires mastering tone, strategy, and face-saving language.
Key phases of a negotiation:
1. Opening — establish rapport: 非常感谢贵方的到来，期待我们能达成共识 (Thank you very much for coming, we hope to reach consensus) 2. Presenting your position: 我方的立场是…… 这是我们的基本条件 (Our position is... these are our basic terms) 3. Making concessions: 考虑到贵方的情况，我们可以在……方面做出适当让步 (Considering your situation, we can make appropriate concessions on...) 4. Holding the line: 这一点是我们的底线，恐怕难以妥协 (This is our bottom line, I am afraid we cannot compromise on this) 5. Breaking a deadlock: 为了打破僵局，我们可以考虑一个折中方案 (To break the deadlock, we can consider a compromise) 6. Closing: 我们认为双方已经具备了达成协议的基础 (We believe both sides now have the basis for an agreement)
Cultural note — face (面子) in negotiation: Direct rejection is rare in Chinese business culture. Use softened refusals: 这个方面我们需要进一步研究 (We need to study this aspect further) instead of a flat 不行 (no).
Expressions
- 考虑到贵方的情况，我们可以做出让步Considering your situation,
- 这是我们的底线，恐怕难以妥协This is our bottom line — firm but polite refusal
- 为了打破僵局，我们建议……To break the deadlock, we propose...
- 双方能否找到一个折中方案Can both sides find a compromise?
- 我方需要进一步内部研究此条款We need to study this clause further internally
- 期待双方能在互利共赢的基础上达成协议We hope both sides can reach ag
Quick quiz
Question 1 of 3
How do you say “terms / clause” in Chinese?
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