CHINESE THAT GETS WORK DONE
Chinese for
Business.
Clear phrases for suppliers, factories, orders, samples, quality problems, and shipping. Each guide shows what to say, when to use it, and where a direct translation can cause confusion.
50 practical phrases
Short enough for chat, clear enough for workCan we change the quantity?
数量能改吗？shù liàng néng gǎi ma
Quantity changes are possible but time-sensitive. Before material procurement, usually yes. After production starts, usually no — or yes with a cost. Ask early.
WORK PHRASECan we get a discount?
能给点折扣吗néng gěi diǎn zhékòu ma
The most natural, everyday way to ask for a discount in Chinese. Casual enough for WeChat, polite enough to not offend. The 点 (diǎn — a bit) softens the request perfectly.
WORK PHRASECan you add our logo?
能加我们的logo吗？néng jiā wǒ men de logo ma
Logo customization is standard in Chinese manufacturing. The answer is almost always yes — the real questions are how, at what cost, and at what minimum quantity.
WORK PHRASECan you do express shipping?
能发快递吗néng fā kuàidì ma
The exact phrase every Chinese person uses to ask about courier shipping. 快递 (kuàidì) is the universal term for express delivery services in China.
WORK PHRASECan you do the packaging design?
你们能做包装设计吗？nǐ men néng zuò bāo zhuāng shè jì ma
Asking about design capability early prevents the moment when the factory sends a blank box and says 'send us the design file' when you thought design was included.
WORK PHRASECan you lower the price?
价格能低一点吗？jià gé néng dī yī diǎn ma
价格能低一点吗 is the safe, professional price negotiation phrase. It's direct without being confrontational, and it opens the negotiation rather than closing it.
WORK PHRASECan you make a sample first?
能先打个样吗？néng xiān dǎ gè yàng ma
打样 is the verb that identifies you as someone who has worked with Chinese factories before. 做样品 is grammatically correct and marks you as a first-timer.
WORK PHRASECan you share the latest price?
能发一下最新价格吗？néng fā yī xià zuì xīn jià gé ma
发 (send) not 分享 (share) — 分享 is for social media, not pricing. This distinction alone marks the difference between someone who speaks business Chinese and someone who translates word by word.
WORK PHRASEIs there any progress?
有进展吗？yǒu jìn zhǎn ma
有进展吗 is the everyday progress check. It's light, expects a brief answer, and doesn't demand a formal status report. Perfect for WeChat follow-ups.
WORK PHRASEIs this in stock?
这个有现货吗zhège yǒu xiànhuò ma
The standard, natural phrase every Chinese buyer uses to check stock availability. 现货 (xiànhuò) is the exact industry term for 'goods on hand ready to ship.'
WORK PHRASELet's confirm everything in writing
我们书面确认一下wǒmen shūmiàn quèrèn yīxià
A natural, professional phrase that Chinese businesspeople use when they want to move from verbal discussion to documented agreement. Neither defensive nor aggressive.
WORK PHRASELet's schedule a call.
我们约个电话吧。wǒ men yuē gè diàn huà ba
约个电话 is the standard, natural way to propose a call. In Chinese supplier communication, calls are less frequent than in Western business — WeChat messages do most of the work.
WORK PHRASEPlease arrange production.
请安排生产。qǐng ān pái shēng chǎn
请安排生产 is the production start command. It should only be sent after specification confirmation, deposit payment, and lead time agreement. After this message, changes become expensive.
WORK PHRASEPlease check with your factory.
请跟工厂确认一下。qǐng gēn gōng chǎng què rèn yī xià
跟工厂确认 is the go-to phrase when you need the supplier to verify information at the production source. It's neutral, collaborative, and gets used constantly in real supplier communication.
WORK PHRASEPlease confirm receipt
请确认收到qǐng quèrèn shōudào
The standard closing phrase for any message containing important information, documents, or payment notification. Universally used and understood in Chinese business communication.
WORK PHRASEPlease confirm the final specification.
请确认最终规格。qǐng què rèn zuì zhōng guī gé
最终规格确认 is the production go/no-go moment. Getting this right prevents the most expensive kind of mistake: producing a thousand units to the wrong spec.
WORK PHRASEPlease confirm the lead time.
请确认一下交期。qǐng què rèn yī xià jiāo qī
交期 is the industry shorthand. Every Chinese factory manager uses this word daily. Saying 交货时间 instead is like saying 'the time at which delivery shall occur' instead of 'lead time.'
WORK PHRASEPlease give me an update.
给我一个更新。gěi wǒ yī gè gēng xīn
给我一个更新 is clear but a bit direct. In practice, Chinese suppliers respond better to a specific update request tied to a known milestone than a general 'how's it going.'
WORK PHRASEPlease send me the quotation.
麻烦发一份报价单。má fan fā yī fèn bào jià dān
The standard way to request a quotation in Chinese business WeChat and email. 麻烦 (má fan) replaces 'please' in a way that sounds collaborative rather than demanding.
WORK PHRASEPlease send photos and videos
请发照片和视频qǐng fā zhàopiàn hé shìpín
Straightforward and natural. The go-to phrase when you need visual evidence from a supplier, whether for a new product or a quality problem.
WORK PHRASEPlease send the invoice.
请把发票发给我。qǐng bǎ fā piào fā gěi wǒ
发票 specifically means a Chinese government-issued tax receipt (fapiao). If you need a commercial invoice for customs or a simple payment request, you may need a different document.
WORK PHRASEPlease send the packing list
请发装箱单qǐng fā zhuāngxiāng dān
The standard, correct term that every Chinese exporter and freight forwarder uses. Direct and professional — exactly what you need for logistics communication.
WORK PHRASEPlease send the technical drawing.
请发技术图纸。qǐng fā jì shù tú zhǐ
技术图纸 is the correct formal term. In practice, factories also use 图纸 (tú zhǐ) for the drawing file and 工程图 (gōng chéng tú) for engineering drawings specifically.
WORK PHRASEPlease share the tracking number
请发一下追踪号qǐng fā yīxià zhuīzōng hào
Exactly what a native Chinese speaker would type on WeChat. Polite without being stiff, direct without being rude.
WORK PHRASEPlease use our label.
请用我们的标签。qǐng yòng wǒ men de biāo qiān
标签 (biāo qiān) is the standard word for product labels, hang tags, and branding tags. The instruction is simple, but the execution requires a file, placement guidance, and size confirmation.
WORK PHRASEThe last shipment was damaged.
上一批货有破损。shàng yī pī huò yǒu pò sǔn
有破损 is the standard phrase for reporting shipping damage. It's factual, not accusatory — which matters because the cause of damage (factory packing vs shipping handling) determines responsibility.
WORK PHRASEThe order is urgent
这个订单很急zhège dìngdān hěn jí
A natural, commonly used phrase that signals genuine time pressure. Chinese suppliers hear this often — the key is making them believe yours is real.
WORK PHRASEThe sample was not good
样品不行yàngpǐn bù xíng
Blunt and unmistakable. This is exactly what a Chinese buyer would say when a sample fails. Direct but not rude — it's a factual assessment, not an insult.
WORK PHRASEThere is a quality issue
有质量问题yǒu zhìliàng wèntí
The exact phrase a Chinese buyer would send on WeChat when they open the shipment and find problems. Minimal, direct, and immediately understood.
WORK PHRASEThis color is not correct.
这个颜色不对。zhè ge yán sè bù duì
颜色不对 is the clearest, most unambiguous way to flag a color problem. No softening needed — color accuracy is an objective standard in manufacturing, and direct feedback is expected.
WORK PHRASEWe have a deadline.
我们有截止日期。wǒ men yǒu jié zhǐ rì qī
Stating a deadline is necessary but not sufficient. Chinese factories hear deadlines every day. Making yours stick requires linking it to a consequence the factory cares about.
WORK PHRASEWe have not received the payment yet.
我们还没收到款。wǒ men hái méi shōu dào kuǎn
还没收到款 is the standard, non-aggressive payment reminder. It states a fact without accusation, which gives the customer room to fix the problem without losing face.
WORK PHRASEWe need a certificate
我们需要证书wǒmen xūyào zhèngshū
Clean and direct. Chinese suppliers understand this immediately. The key is specifying which certificate — the word alone is a conversation starter, not a complete request.
WORK PHRASEWe need a faster update
我们需要更快的更新wǒmen xūyào gèng kuài de gēngxīn
Grammatically correct and understandable, but it sounds translated from English. In real WeChat conversations, Chinese buyers would use more colloquial alternatives listed below.
WORK PHRASEWe need a production schedule.
发一下生产排期。fā yī xià shēng chǎn pái qī
Asking for a 生产排期 is one of the highest-leverage moves in production management. It creates checkpoints and signals active oversight.
WORK PHRASEWe need this by Friday.
这个周五之前要。zhè ge zhōu wǔ zhī qián yào
Chinese business culture is deadline-forward: stating when you need something is expected and not seen as pushy. The key is being specific and realistic, not using softening language that makes the deadline sound optional.
WORK PHRASEWe need to change the design
设计需要改一下shèjì xūyào gǎi yīxià
Natural and appropriately casual for WeChat communication. The 一下 (yīxià) softens the request — it suggests a manageable change, not a complete redesign.
WORK PHRASEWe need to push the delivery.
交期需要提前。jiāo qī xū yào tí qián
交期提前 is a legitimate but difficult request. Chinese factories build production schedules around promised dates. Moving a date forward means reshuffling other orders — expect pushback or a surcharge.
WORK PHRASEWe need to revise the packaging.
包装需要改一下。bāo zhuāng xū yào gǎi yī xià
包装需要改一下 is the natural way to flag packaging issues. It's neutral, factual, and doesn't assign blame — important for maintaining a working relationship.
WORK PHRASEWe want to reorder.
我们要返单。wǒ men yào fǎn dān
返单 is an insider factory term that signals you're a repeat buyer. Saying 返单 rather than 再订一批 (order another batch) marks you as someone who speaks production Chinese.
WORK PHRASEWe will pay next week
我们下周付款wǒmen xiàzhōu fùkuǎn
The standard, natural way to communicate a payment timeline. Every Chinese supplier understands this phrase and its implications for production and shipping schedules.
WORK PHRASEWe will send the deposit tomorrow.
我们明天打定金。wǒ men míng tiān dǎ dìng jīn
打定金 is the standard way to say 'send the deposit' in Chinese business. 打 (dǎ) is the casual verb for transferring money — more natural than 转账 or 汇款 in everyday factory communication.
WORK PHRASEWhat is the MOQ?
最小起订量是多少？zuì xiǎo qǐ dìng liàng shì duō shǎo
最小起订量 is the precise term, but in real WeChat conversations, suppliers and buyers both shorten it to 起订量. Know both, use the short one in conversation.
WORK PHRASEWhat is the payment term?
付款条件是什么？fù kuǎn tiáo jiàn shì shén me
The standard opening question for payment negotiation. Chinese factories typically ask for 30% deposit, 70% balance before shipping — but every element is negotiable.
WORK PHRASEWhat is the shipping cost?
运费是多少yùnfèi shì duōshao
The standard, universal way to ask about shipping costs. Every Chinese supplier and freight forwarder uses this exact phrase daily.
WORK PHRASEWhat is the unit price?
单价是多少dānjià shì duōshao
The standard, natural way to ask for per-unit pricing. Every Chinese supplier hears this daily and responds to it automatically.
WORK PHRASEWhat material is this?
这是什么材料？zhè shì shén me cái liào
材料 is the word you use constantly in Chinese sourcing. The answer to this question — not price, not lead time — is what determines whether a supplier can actually make what you need.
WORK PHRASEWhen can you ship?
什么时候能发货？shén me shí hòu néng fā huò
发货 is the precise verb for the supplier's action of releasing goods for shipment. Not 运输 (transport), not 送达 (deliver to destination) — those are different stages.
WORK PHRASEWhen will production be finished?
生产什么时候能完成shēngchǎn shénme shíhou néng wánchéng
The standard, natural way to ask about production completion. Every Chinese factory manager hears this question regularly and knows exactly what information you need.
WORK PHRASEWhen will the sample be ready?
样品什么时候能好？yàng pǐn shén me shí hòu néng hǎo
A straightforward, expected question. Chinese factories are used to sample timing inquiries. The answer tells you about the factory's current workload as much as the sample complexity.