Given how important it is to speak Mandarin as a professional in Singapore, it is highly advised to understand common phrases that are used during work settings. Whether you are communicating with coworkers, attending meetings, or interacting with clients, mastering Mandarin can help build rapport and show cultural respect. Here are some common phrases to start with when you are trying to enhance your Mandarin for business occasions.

As a professional in Singapore, it is common to encounter industry specific phrases that can help you communicate effectively with your Mandarin speaking business partner. Mastering these phrases can help you sound more competent and assist you in building rapport with clients, colleagues, and partners–making it one of the keys to success.

As a reference, here are a few common working fields in Singapore and its key Mandarin phrases!

• Finance 

Singapore has long been acknowledged for its preeminent position in the global economy, receiving foreign direct investment from different countries, including China. Given the popularity of investing in Singapore, the financial and investment sectors have shown rapid growth. Here are a few key phrases to master as a professional working in the financial and investment industry. 

Learn more about Financial Mandarin terms by viewing this article. 

• Real Estate

If you’re working in real estate and property fields, using business Mandarin phrases helps your clients feel heard and understood. Mandarin speaking investors are known to allocate around 70% of their funds to invest in real estate and property, making its industry grow significantly over the years. Although communicating in English is possible, speaking in Mandarin is highly encouraged for professionals working in the real estate sector to achieve a better understanding with clients.  Here are a few Mandarin phrases that you can start with!

Learn more about Mandarin phrases for real estate by visiting this article. 

• Medical

When interacting with Mandarin speaking patients, it is very encouraged to use their native language every time possible. This action is highly recommended as explaining medical terms can be complicated and requires high precision to avoid miscommunication. As a professional working in Singapore, here are a few medical terms to start with. 

• Hospitality

In Singapore, hospitality can be considered as one of the leading industries. With the recent increase in this sector, the ability of speaking in different languages can show both competence and accountability. As Singapore’s main tourists comes from Mandarin speaking countries, here’s how you can enhance your competence as a professional working in the hospitality industry. 

Learn more about how to communicate in Mandarin within the hospitality industry by visiting this article. 

• Technology

With the recent growth in technology, China has been one of the leading countries in technology development. This significant growth opens a bigger opportunity for China to connect with other countries, including Singapore. Given this condition, mastering Mandarin as a tech professional is highly recommended to ensure better communication. Here are a few Mandarin key phrases to get started with. 

As a professional in Singapore, the ability to speak in Mandarin is not the only thing to consider while learning business Chinese. Aside from communicating in Mandarin, professionals in Singapore need to pay attention to Chinese business etiquette. This act will not only impress Chinese businessmen, but also show respect toward their cultural nuances. Here’s a few practical business etiquette and terms that can help you build a better relationship with Mandarin speaking people. 

1. Business Cards
   Having a proper business card is one of the earliest ways to build a relationship with Mandarin speaking businessmen. Business cards serve as an identity for working professionals that can be an indication for further collaboration. Here are a few phrases to help you in giving and receiving business cards.
   • 请收下我的名片
     (qǐng shōuxià wǒ de míngpiàn)
     “Please accept my business card.”
   • 请允许我自我介绍一下
     (qǐng yǔnxǔ wǒ zìwǒ jièshào yīxià.)
     “Please allow me to introduce myself.”
   • 初次见面，请多关照
     (chūcì jiànmiàn, qǐng duō guānzhào.)
     “Nice to meet you, please guide me.”
2. Gift-Giving
   Gift giving is another popular Chinese custom that can be found during business occasions. This action doesn’t only show respect, but also cultivating relationships through appreciation. To ensure a smoother gift giving with Mandarin speaking business partners, here are a few practical phrases to master as a professional in Singapore.
   • 这是我送给您的小礼物。
     (zhè shì wǒ sòng gěi nín de xiǎo lǐwù)
     “This is a small gift for you.”
   • 收下吧，这只是个小礼物。
     (shōuxià ba, zhè zhǐ shì gè xiǎo lǐwù.)
     “Please accept this, it’s just a small gift.”
   • 希望我们能有更多合作机会
     (xīwàng wǒmen néng yǒu gèng duō hézuò jīhuì.)
     “Hope we can collaborate more in the future.”
3. Dining
   In business Chinese, meetings are often carried to other occasions, such as dining. This dining etiquette serves as an excellent purpose to leave positive impressions and develop strong relationships with one another. Here are a few phrases to help you during dinner with Mandarin speaking businessmen.

• • 吃饭我们再谈
    (chīfàn wǒmen zài tán)
    “Let’s talk over the meal.”
  • 请慢用
    (qǐng màn yòng)
    “Please enjoy your meal.”
  • 我敬您一杯
    (wǒ jìng nín yì bēi)
    “I toast to you.”