How the Chinese language can boost your business in a globalised world
We have always heard that “Chinese is the language of the future”. It’s no longer the language of the future; it dominates the present and especially global business. With a population of more than 1.4 billion, China is already the second world power and aspires to become the first.
It is no wonder then that Chinese companies and investments have an ever-stronger influence in the business world. Now, what is the main challenge when dealing with a Chinese company or investor? That’s right: the language.
While it holds true that English is a universal language, it is no less certain that if you deal with a Chinese investor in his or her native tongue, you’re in for success. Chinese businesspeople have a high regard for foreigners speaking to them in their mother tongue, which is considered one of the most difficult languages to learn.
The Asian market and its relevance for business expansion
If you want to do something big, you have to think big. And what’s bigger than China? Foreign trade is a fundamental factor when it comes to expanding a company, and China is a strong market to start or continue your international growth.
As aforementioned, China is on the cusp of global domination, meaning that those who manage to consolidate their place in its market are in for a fruitful future. Moreover, we’re in a fortunate position since Chinese companies value Western companies highly. Therefore, there are many ingredients to make this recipe a success.
Business culture in China: what you need to know to prosper
Chinese culture is very unique, and even more so when it comes to the business world. They place great value on honour, respect and trust. If you want your business relationship to thrive, you must take this into account.
One difference between Chinese people and Spaniards is the ease with which they talk about money. It’s not uncommon that shortly after meeting a Chinese person, he or she will ask you how much you earn. They have a much more direct approach to financial matters, so you should not hesitate to talk about figures.
As you can see, transparency must be absolute. Naturally, no one likes to feel deceived, but in the case of the Chinese it goes well beyond that. That is another reason why they value so strongly doing business in their own language.
Strategies for business internationalisation in Asia
If you are already sure that you want to expand your company into the Asian market, the next thing to figure out is how. The wisest thing to do is to have a team that specialises in foreign trade and, of course, knows the target market.
Next, you need to network with the market players that interest you. That’s when working with a translator or an interpreter becomes particularly convenient as he or she will ensure effective understanding between parties. You must also choose an appropriate communication channel to achieve the desired aim.
Once you’re familiar with the market and contact is established, you must move on to marketing. In other words, you must get noticed and make yourself known to the new target clientele. In this case, again, it’s not only important to have a strong marketing team, but also expert translators to make your campaign a success.
The importance of the Chinese language in intercultural communication
As we have already mentioned, Chinese businesspeople highly appreciate being able to do business in their mother tongue. It’s no coincidence that ever more Spanish companies are offering Chinese language classes to their employees.
It will be rather difficult, if not impossible, to get Chinese businesspeople to sign a contract in English, even if they understand and speak this language perfectly. They will usually want to sign the Chinese version as well, and require this version to prevail. Therefore, you cannot risk a poorly drafted document, so you will need an expert in legal translation.
In this field, the role of translators and interpreters gains particular importance. Enlisting the help of a qualified translator will make the negotiations smoother. The same applies to interpreters. It’s always beneficial to have a linguistic and cultural liaison at meetings, which won’t only boost your prestige, but will also allow you to immediately gain the Chinese businessperson’s trust.
Companies that have thrived thanks to the Chinese language
Leading Spanish companies such as Telefónica, Repsol and Alsa have successfully established themselves in the Chinese market. We would especially like to highlight the case of Spain’s leading hotel chains, Meliá. Aside from opening five properties in China, Meliá’s strong partnership with Ctrip—the largest online travel agency—has allowed it to secure a foothold in the Asian market. Do you think that would have been possible with Google Translate? Of course not.
Another noteworthy example is El Corte Inglés, which signed an agreement with the Alibaba group to sell its products on the Chinese platform Tmall (a national version of AliExpress). Yet, the company’s business strategy doesn’t only revolve around a presence in China; it wants to be a go-to brand for Chinese tourists visiting Spain, hence its commitment to hiring Chinese-speaking staff in its centres and rendering all information into Chinese.
Why you should learn Chinese to thrive in international business
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela couldn’t have been more right. Learning languages is important in itself and learning Chinese gives you an immeasurable advantage in the business world.
But if I don’t have time to enrol in a course and I’m terrible at languages, does this mean I won’t be able to conquer the Asian market? Of course not! That’s why you have us.
At Overseas Translations we work with a team of highly qualified Chinese translators. All of our collaborators have years of experience and we assign projects according to the specialisation required. We will help you bridge the language barrier so you can focus on one thing only: success.
Choosing the right partner for your Chinese translations
If you’re offering a good product or service and you want to expand into the Asian market, do not hesitate to contact us. We will help you localise your website content into Chinese, translate your catalogue, presentations, training courses, software or assist you in all kinds of meetings that require a Chinese interpreter.
We will support you in business meetings, corporate events and multilingual conferences with our consecutive and simultaneous interpreting services in the main cities of China or, should you prefer, our interpreter will assist you from Spain. As you can see, with Overseas Translations, conquering the Asian giant could not be easier.
We would like to conclude with a Chinese proverb: “The longer the string, the higher the kite will fly”. We have the string ready; just bring your kite and we’ll help you fly high and conquer a new market.
