Survival scene course
Work Chinese Phrases
Use these Mandarin work phrases for meetings, email, projects, documents, clients, and basic office communication.
These phrases are for simple professional interactions, especially short requests and workplace objects.
Start with the phrases that matter first
Start with a specific coordination need: a meeting, a time, or a document. Keep the request separate from agreement about when the other person can complete it.
In a real conversation
Listen for the response to the request before assuming an arrangement is settled. A colleague can acknowledge your words without agreeing to every detail.
qǐng bǎ wén jiàn fā gěi wǒ.
Please send me the document.
hǎo, wǒ mǎ shàng fā gěi nǐ.
Sure. I will send it right away.
xiè xie, wǒ míng tiān huí fù nǐ.
Thanks. I will reply tomorrow.
How this scene usually goes
A working day with Chinese colleagues runs on short, polite exchanges rather than long discussions. You greet people in the morning, confirm what needs doing, and handle most small requests in chat instead of email: WeChat is common for quick work messages, while some workplaces require other approved tools, and 请发邮件给我 or 请把文件发给我 covers half of daily office life. Meeting styles vary; saying 我们开始吧 is a normal way to open. When something cannot be finished today, 我明天回复你 sets the expectation clearly and is not rude. At the end of the day, a short 我先走了 (I am heading off first) is a common goodbye to colleagues who are still working. The phrases on this page are that day in miniature.
Good to know
- WeChat is often used to stay in touch after a work meeting. 请加我微信 is a short invitation, but follow your workplace's communication and confidentiality rules.
- Written Chinese in chat is shorter than spoken Chinese. Colleagues may reply with single words like 好 or 收到 (received). These are efficient, not rude.
- Lunch is a real break. Many offices go quiet for an hour or more at midday, and some people rest at their desks. Schedule around it.
- If you do not understand something in a meeting, ask 请再说一遍 (please say it again). Confirm important dates, quantities, and commitments in writing rather than nodding along.
Common mistakes
- Do not start with complex business Chinese. Learn email, meeting, document, and tomorrow first.
- Do not translate every English work sentence word by word.
- Do not skip polite words like 请 when making requests.
Quick practice
- Practice 请发邮件给我 until it feels natural.
- Save one meeting phrase and one email phrase.
- Try reading the Chinese before looking at the English.
Related scenes
Work Chinese FAQ
What work Chinese should beginners learn first?
Start with meeting, email, document, computer, today, and tomorrow.
How do I say please email me?
Say 请发邮件给我.
Is this enough for business Chinese?
It is a beginner survival set, not full professional fluency.
How do I ask a colleague to add me on WeChat?
Say 请加我微信 (qǐng jiā wǒ wēi xìn), then show your QR code. It is the standard way to stay in contact at work.
How do I say I need more time?
Say 我需要更多时间 (wǒ xū yào gèng duō shí jiān). Adding a day, such as 我明天给你， sounds cooperative rather than stuck.
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Chinese WeChat Phrases for New Contacts: Introduce yourself after adding a contact and clarify a meeting's time and entrance.
Confirm the time and the next action
Looking for a different word? Search the full practice library.