| • |
Virtues of kindness, intelligence
and faithfulness are key. |
| • |
Face is important! |
| • |
Bring your own photocopies. |
| • |
Black and white – Be careful of
color. |
| • |
Use Gold on business cards. |
| • |
Humility is a virtue – do not exaggerate. |
| • |
BE PATIENT – do not talk about your
deadlines. |
| • |
Highest ranking person in business meeting
should lead the group. |
| • |
Subordinates should never interrupt. |
| • |
Learn their history. |
| • |
Leave before the Chinese at end of meeting. |
| • |
Never surpass your host in the degree
of banquet lavishness. |
| • |
Never empty your rice bowl. It can be
an insult to your host. |
| • |
Use chopsticks. Do not place parallel
on the top of the bowl. (Bad luck) Do not stand chopsticks
upright in a bowl of rice since it will resemble joss
sticks used in religious ceremonies. |
| • |
Do not drop chopsticks. (Bad luck) |
| • |
Never take last bit of food. |
| • |
Formal titles should be used. |
| • |
Avoid exaggerated gestures or dramatic
facial expressions. |
| • |
Do not touch the Chinese; this is especially
true for children. Under no circumstances should you ever
touch anyone on the head. |
| • |
It is okay for people of the same sex
to hold hands, but people of the opposite sex should never
do so in public. |
| • |
Use an open hand rather than one finger
to point. |
| • |
Avoid giving anything of value in front
of others as it could cause embarrassment. |
| • |
If you give a gift, wrap it in red (lucky
color) or pink and yellow (happy and prosperous colors).
Do not use white, as that is used in funerals. |
| • |
Gifts should never be given before business
negotiations are concluded. |
| • |
Chinese New Year – It is customary
to give a gift of money in a red envelope to children.
This is called a hongbao. Give only gifts in even numbers
as odd numbers are considered bad luck. |
| • |
Avoid bringing gifts of food to a dinner
party unless it is agreed upon before hand as it may imply
that your host is unable to provide enough food for the
guests. |
| • |
When giving a gift, it is customary for
the recipient to refuse the gift three times. This is
to not appear to be greedy and expectant. Also know that
rarely will your gift be opened in your presence; once
again, the receiver does not want to appear greedy. |
