Essential Business Vocabulary In Chinese (職場

職場（zhíchǎng）means the workplace or professional environment. In Taiwan, people use it a lot when talking about office life, coworkers, meetings, and all the cheerful chaos that comes with being employed by other humans.

For the broader learning path, visit our parent guide.

This guide teaches practical business Chinese you can actually use in real life: at the office, in meetings, in emails, and when you need to sound politely competent instead of accidentally mysterious. You will learn key vocabulary, useful phrases, and example sentences in Traditional Chinese, with pinyin and simple English meaning.

If you want to check your level after this, you can also try a Traditional Chinese placement test for TOCFL or a Traditional Chinese vocabulary test. Very fun, in the same way spreadsheets are fun.

Yak wisdom: In business Chinese, polite language is not decoration. It is the air-conditioning. Without it, the room gets uncomfortable fast.

Table of Contents

Core Business Vocabulary

Here are the most useful words first. These are the kind of terms that show up in offices, interviews, emails, and meetings. No glitter, just survival.

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
職場	zhíchǎng	workplace; professional environment	職場文化有時候很複雜。	Zhíchǎng wénhuà yǒu shíhòu hěn fùzá.	Workplace culture is sometimes complicated.
公司	gōngsī	company	我在一家科技公司上班。	Wǒ zài yì jiā kējì gōngsī shàngbān.	I work at a tech company.
同事	tóngshì	coworker	我的同事都很友善。	Wǒ de tóngshì dōu hěn yǒushàn.	My coworkers are all friendly.
主管	zhǔguǎn	supervisor; manager	我先問主管的意見。	Wǒ xiān wèn zhǔguǎn de yìjiàn.	I will ask the manager first.
老闆	lǎobǎn	boss; owner	老闆今天不在辦公室。	Lǎobǎn jīntiān bù zài bàngōngshì.	The boss is not in the office today.
辦公室	bàngōngshì	office	我們的辦公室在三樓。	Wǒmen de bàngōngshì zài sān lóu.	Our office is on the third floor.
會議	huìyì	meeting	下午有一個重要會議。	Xiàwǔ yǒu yí gè zhòngyào huìyì.	There is an important meeting this afternoon.
簡報	jiǎnbào	presentation; briefing	明天我要做簡報。	Míngtiān wǒ yào zuò jiǎnbào.	I need to give a presentation tomorrow.
報告	bàogào	report; to report	請先看這份報告。	Qǐng xiān kàn zhè fèn bàogào.	Please look at this report first.
專案	zhuān’àn	project	這個專案很忙，但很有挑戰性。	Zhège zhuān’àn hěn máng, dàn hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn xìng.	This project is busy, but very challenging.
薪水	xīnshuǐ	salary; pay	這份工作的薪水不錯。	Zhè fèn gōngzuò de xīnshuǐ búcuò.	The salary for this job is pretty good.
加班	jiābān	overtime	我今晚可能要加班。	Wǒ jīnwǎn kěnéng yào jiābān.	I may need to work overtime tonight.

Useful Business Phrases

These are the phrases that make you sound ready for work instead of like you got lost on the way to a meeting.

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
請問	qǐngwèn	may I ask; excuse me	請問，這個會議在哪裡開？	Qǐngwèn, zhège huìyì zài nǎlǐ kāi?	Excuse me, where is this meeting held?
麻煩你	máfan nǐ	please trouble you; could you please	麻煩你幫我確認一下。	Máfan nǐ bāng wǒ quèrèn yíxià.	Could you please help me confirm this?
我先確認一下	wǒ xiān quèrèn yíxià	let me check first	我先確認一下再回覆你。	Wǒ xiān quèrèn yíxià zài huífù nǐ.	Let me check first and then reply to you.
沒問題	méi wèntí	no problem	沒問題，我可以今天完成。	Méi wèntí, wǒ kěyǐ jīntiān wánchéng.	No problem, I can finish it today.
我會再跟你說	wǒ huì zài gēn nǐ shuō	I will tell you later	我會再跟你說最新進度。	Wǒ huì zài gēn nǐ shuō zuìxīn jìndù.	I will tell you the latest progress later.
可以請你…嗎？	kěyǐ qǐng nǐ … ma?	could you please…?	可以請你寄給我嗎？	Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ jì gěi wǒ ma?	Could you please send it to me?
方便嗎？	fāngbiàn ma?	is it convenient?	你現在方便嗎？	Nǐ xiànzài fāngbiàn ma?	Are you available now?
我附上…	wǒ fùshàng …	I attach…	我附上檔案給你。	Wǒ fùshàng dǎng’àn gěi nǐ.	I’m attaching the file for you.
收到請回覆	shōudào qǐng huífù	please reply after receiving	收到請回覆，謝謝。	Shōudào qǐng huífù, xièxie.	Please reply once you receive this, thanks.
如有需要	rú yǒu xūyào	if needed	如有需要，請再聯絡我。	Rú yǒu xūyào, qǐng zài liánluò wǒ.	If needed, please contact me again.
辛苦了	xīnkǔ le	thanks for your hard work	大家今天都辛苦了。	Dàjiā jīntiān dōu xīnkǔ le.	Everyone worked hard today.
請多指教	qǐng duō zhǐjiào	please guide me; please be kind to me	以後請多指教。	Yǐhòu qǐng duō zhǐjiào.	Please take care of me from now on.

Meeting And Email Language

Business Chinese often becomes polite, indirect, and just formal enough to keep everyone happy. Not too warm, not too blunt. A tiny language balancing act.

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
回覆	huífù	reply; response	我晚點再回覆你。	Wǒ wǎndiǎn zài huífù nǐ.	I will reply to you later.
附件	fùjiàn	attachment	附件請見這份文件。	Fùjiàn qǐng jiàn zhè fèn wénjiàn.	Please see this document in the attachment.
文件	wénjiàn	document; file	這份文件需要簽名。	Zhè fèn wénjiàn xūyào qiānmíng.	This document needs a signature.
簽名	qiānmíng	signature; to sign	請在右下角簽名。	Qǐng zài yòu xiàjiǎo qiānmíng.	Please sign in the bottom right corner.
截止	jiézhǐ	deadline; cut-off	這份報告的截止時間是週五。	Zhè fèn bàogào de jiézhǐ shíjiān shì zhōuwǔ.	The deadline for this report is Friday.
延期	yánqí	postpone; extend the deadline	如果需要，我們可以延期。	Rúguǒ xūyào, wǒmen kěyǐ yánqí.	If needed, we can extend the deadline.
確認	quèrèn	confirm	請先確認資料正確。	Qǐng xiān quèrèn zīliào zhèngquè.	Please confirm the information is correct first.
安排	ānpái	arrange; schedule	我來安排會議時間。	Wǒ lái ānpái huìyì shíjiān.	I will arrange the meeting time.
通知	tōngzhī	notify; notice	如果有變動，請通知我。	Rúguǒ yǒu biàndòng, qǐng tōngzhī wǒ.	If there are changes, please notify me.
說明	shuōmíng	explain; explanation	可以再說明一次嗎？	Kěyǐ zài shuōmíng yí cì ma?	Could you explain it once more?

Taiwan Usage Notes

Some business words are especially common in Taiwan. A few are more office-friendly than their direct English-looking translations, because Mandarin enjoys making things politely indirect.

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
上班	shàngbān	go to work; be at work	我今天要上班到很晚。	Wǒ jīntiān yào shàngbān dào hěn wǎn.	I have to work late today.
下班	xiàbān	get off work	你幾點下班？	Nǐ jǐ diǎn xiàbān?	What time do you get off work?
請假	qǐngjià	request leave	我明天要請假看醫生。	Wǒ míngtiān yào qǐngjià kàn yīshēng.	I need to take leave tomorrow to see a doctor.
出差	chūchāi	business trip	他這週去台中出差。	Tā zhè zhōu qù Táizhōng chūchāi.	He is on a business trip to Taichung this week.
提案	tí’àn	proposal; pitch	我們下週要提案。	Wǒmen xià zhōu yào tí’àn.	We need to make a proposal next week.
進度	jìndù	progress	這個專案目前進度正常。	Zhège zhuān’àn mùqián jìndù zhèngcháng.	This project is on schedule.
效率	xiàolǜ	efficiency	提高效率很重要。	Tígāo xiàolǜ hěn zhòngyào.	Improving efficiency is important.
加薪	jiāxīn	raise; salary increase	大家都希望加薪。	Dàjiā dōu xīwàng jiāxīn.	Everyone hopes for a raise.
升職	shēngzhí	promotion	他今年升職了。	Tā jīnnián shēngzhí le.	He got promoted this year.
履歷	lǚlì	resume; CV	請把你的履歷寄給我。	Qǐng bǎ nǐ de lǚlì jì gěi wǒ.	Please send me your resume.

Common Polite Email Patterns

These phrases are small but useful. They help you sound professional without sounding stiff enough to scare people away.

敬請（jìngqǐng）— respectfully ask; kindly request
煩請（fánqǐng）— please help with; kindly request
再麻煩你（zài máfan nǐ）— sorry to trouble you again; one more small favor
若有任何問題（ruò yǒu rènhé wèntí）— if there are any questions
敬祝順心（jìng zhù shùnxīn）— best wishes; may everything go smoothly
感謝您的協助（gǎnxiè nín de xiézhù）— thank you for your help
期待您的回覆（qīdài nín de huífù）— looking forward to your reply

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
感謝您的協助	gǎnxiè nín de xiézhù	thank you for your help	感謝您的協助，我們會盡快處理。	Gǎnxiè nín de xiézhù, wǒmen huì jǐnkuài chǔlǐ.	Thank you for your help. We will handle it as soon as possible.
期待您的回覆	qīdài nín de huífù	looking forward to your reply	期待您的回覆，謝謝。	Qīdài nín de huífù, xièxie.	Looking forward to your reply, thank you.
若有任何問題	ruò yǒu rènhé wèntí	if there are any questions	若有任何問題，請隨時聯絡我。	Ruò yǒu rènhé wèntí, qǐng suíshí liánluò wǒ.	If there are any questions, please contact me anytime.
煩請確認	fánqǐng quèrèn	please kindly confirm	煩請確認收件資訊。	Fánqǐng quèrèn shōujiàn zīxùn.	Please kindly confirm the recipient information.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Business Chinese is full of tiny choices that matter. Here are a few traps that trip up learners more often than they should. Language is rude like that.

Common Mistake	Better Choice	Why
Using 老闆 for every manager	Use 主管 or 經理 when appropriate	老闆 often means the owner or top boss, not every supervisor.
Saying only 我知道 in a formal email	Say 我了解了 or 我已確認	These sound more professional and less like “yeah, I know.”
Translating “meeting” as only meeting	Use 會議	會議 is the standard business word in Chinese.
Using 回信 when you mean reply in general	Use 回覆 in more formal business Chinese	回覆 sounds more polished for office communication.
Being too direct: 給我文件	可以請你給我文件嗎？	Politeness matters in work settings, especially in Taiwan.
Forgetting 辛苦了 after teamwork	Use 辛苦了 naturally	This phrase is very common in Taiwan workplace culture.

Grammar Notes You Will Actually Use

Business vocabulary often comes with useful particles and patterns. These little words do a lot of work. Rude, small, and surprisingly powerful. Like office printers.

Pattern	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Pinyin	English
請 + verb	please do something	請確認資料。	Qǐng quèrèn zīliào.	Please confirm the information.
可以請你 + verb + 嗎？	could you please…?	可以請你幫我看一下嗎？	Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxià ma?	Could you please take a look for me?
麻煩你 + verb	please trouble you to…	麻煩你寄給我。	Máfan nǐ jì gěi wǒ.	Please send it to me.
先…再…	first… then…	我先整理，再回覆。	Wǒ xiān zhěnglǐ, zài huífù.	I will organize it first, then reply.
如果…的話	if… then…	如果方便的話，請今天回覆。	Rúguǒ fāngbiàn de huà, qǐng jīntiān huífù.	If possible, please reply today.
已經 + 了	already	我已經寄出去了。	Wǒ yǐjīng jì chūqù le.	I already sent it out.
需要 + noun/verb	need	這份文件需要簽名。	Zhè fèn wénjiàn xūyào qiānmíng.	This document needs a signature.

Quick Note On 了

了（le）often shows a completed action or a change of state.

Example: 我已經寄出去了。（Wǒ yǐjīng jì chūqù le.）— I already sent it out.

In business Chinese, 了 helps you sound clear and efficient. A rare moment when Mandarin and office life agree on something.

Practice: Swap The Word

Try replacing the bracketed word with the correct Chinese vocabulary item. Then check the answer in the table below. No stress. Only mild office pressure.

Practice Prompt	Hint	Answer	Pinyin	English
我今天要去＿＿＿開會。	meeting	公司	Wǒ jīntiān yào qù gōngsī kāihuì.	I need to go to the company for a meeting today.
這份＿＿＿需要簽名。	document	文件	Zhè fèn wénjiàn xūyào qiānmíng.	This document needs a signature.
請先跟＿＿＿確認。	manager	主管	Qǐng xiān gēn zhǔguǎn quèrèn.	Please confirm with the manager first.
今天我可能要＿＿＿。	overtime	加班	Jīntiān wǒ kěnéng yào jiābān.	I may need to work overtime today.
我明天要＿＿＿，所以不進公司。	take leave	請假	Wǒ míngtiān yào qǐngjià, suǒyǐ bù jìn gōngsī.	I need to take leave tomorrow, so I won’t go into the office.
請你把＿＿＿寄給我。	resume	履歷	Qǐng nǐ bǎ lǚlì jì gěi wǒ.	Please send me your resume.

Related Business And Work Vocabulary

If you want to go beyond the basics, these related guides help build a stronger workplace vocabulary set.

For a more official reference on word usage, a boring-but-useful source like the Taiwan Ministry of Education dictionary-style resource is always a solid place to check meanings and example usage. Not glamorous, but neither is HR paperwork.

Quick Reference Summary

職場（zhíchǎng）= workplace
公司（gōngsī）= company
同事（tóngshì）= coworker
主管（zhǔguǎn）= manager
會議（huìyì）= meeting
簡報（jiǎnbào）= presentation
文件（wénjiàn）= document
回覆（huífù）= reply
加班（jiābān）= overtime
請假（qǐngjià）= request leave
辛苦了（xīnkǔ le）= thanks for your hard work

Business Chinese gets easier once you recognize the patterns. Start with polite requests, meeting words, and office basics, then build from there. That way, when someone says 麻煩你（máfan nǐ）, you won’t panic like a spreadsheet just got elected manager.

Yak takeaway: In the workplace, polite Chinese is your best business tool. Learn the core words, use respectful phrases, and you will sound much more natural in Taiwan office life.