Chapter 2 Business Reception
Part A Dialogues
Dialogue 1
Zhao: Excuse me, are you Ms. Lisa White from Blue Mountain?
White: Yes. You are...
Zhao: I’m Zhao Dong from Yulin Company. It’s nice to see you, Ms. White. This is Manager Qin.
Qin: How are you? Pleased to meet you, Ms. White.
White: How are you doing, Mr. Qin and Mr. Zhao? Glad to meet you. This is my assistant Ms. Smith. (Handshake)
Qin: It’s nice to finally meet you. Did you have a good flight?
White: Yes, except some turbulence.
Qin: Is this your first visit to Shanghai?
White: Yes. I hope it won’t be my last.
Qin: No, it won’t. I believe we can be good business partners, so you can come to Shanghai over and over again.
White: I hope so, too.
Zhao: Was everything OK with your Immigration and Customs inspection?
White: Yes, it was fine.
Zhao: Well, you must be very tired after the flight. Shall we take you directly to the hotel?
White: Yes, that would be nice.
Zhao: Is this all your luggage? Let me help you with it.
White: I can handle it myself. Thank you anyway!
Qin: Ms. White, I have a meeting at 16 o’clock at my company. So please excuse me and Mr. Zhao will take you to your hotel and help you with your check-in.
White: Thank you again for taking time to meet us, Mr. Qin.
Qin: My pleasure. Well, if there is nothing else, I’ll see you all tomorrow.
White: See you then. (Turn to Zhao.) Mr. Zhao, is there a currency exchange counter nearby? I’d like to have some CNY in my pocket before I leave the airport. Just in case.
Zhao: There is a currency exchange counter of ICBC over there.
(After a while, Ms. White comes back.)
White: I’m done. Let’s go! (They are walking toward the parking lot.) Is the hotel far from here?
Zhao: Not really. It’s about half an hour’s drive if we take the viaduct.
White: That’s good!
New Words and Phrases
turbulence 涡流；波动；颠簸
luggage 行李
viaduct 高架桥
business partner 商业伙伴
parking lot 停车场
Immigration and Customs 移民与海关处
check-in 登记入住；登机手续；托运
currency exchange counter 货币兑换柜台
Notes
1. Excuse me, are you Ms. Lisa White from Blue Mountain？
不好意思，打扰一下，请问您是来自蓝山（公司）的丽莎·怀特女士吗？
在口语中，excuse me表示请原谅、对不起，而在商务英语中常用于开始与陌生人搭话、打断别人说话、不同意某人观点、表示异议、从别人身旁挤过等场合时用的客套话。
Excuse me, does this bus go to the railway station?
请问这辆公交车去火车站吗？
Excuse me, telegram has just arrived.
对不起，电报刚到。
Excuse me, could I get past?
劳驾，让我过去好吗？
2. Pleased to meet you, Ms. White.
Glad to meet you.
两者都表示“很高兴见到你”。在口语中，同种表达还有：
Good to see you!
Nice to meet you!
Happy to meet you!
Nice seeing you!
Nice meeting you!
3. — Did you have a good flight?旅途愉快吗？
— Yes, except some turbulence.还不错，除了有些颠簸。
询问对方是否旅途愉快一般可用：
Did you have a good trip?
Did you have a good / pleasant journey?
Have you had a nice trip?
一般回答：
Yes, I enjoy it.
Very pleasant, thank you.
No, I’m afraid not.
4. You must be very tired after the flight. Shall we take you directly to the hotel?
你们一定很疲惫了，我们直接送你们到酒店吗？
shall表示征询意见，用于第一、第三人称疑问句。
Shall I get you some tea?
我给你倒点茶好吗？
Will you take the goods with you or shall we deliver them to your company?
你自己把这些货物带走还是我们给你送到公司？
Shall I mail the samples to your manager?
要我把样品寄给你公司经理吗？
The sole agent shall adequately advertise throughout the agreed territory.
独家代理应在整个协议地区进行充分的广告宣传。
The contract should be awarded in accordance with the standards and basic requirements listed in the tender documentation.
应依照招标文件列明的标准和基本要求授予合同。
The various kinds of insurance coverage of a contractual joint venture shall be furnished by insurance institutions within the territory of China.
合资企业的各项保险应当向中国境内的保险机构投保。
5. Is this all your luggage? Let me help you with it.
这些是您的全部行李吗？我来帮您提。
help sb. with sth. 在某方面帮助某人
Please help me with my French.
请在法语方面帮助我。
He got persuaded to help with the exhibition fair again.
他再次被说服来帮忙搞展会。
The bellboy will help with your luggage.
有服务生会帮你拿行李。
The operating manual is of no help with this error.
对于这个错误，操作手册帮不了忙。
6. Thank you again for taking the time to meet us, Mr. Qin.
秦先生，再次感谢您抽出时间来接我。
thank you for 多亏；因……而感谢
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
谢谢你的理解和合作。
Right. Thanks for your help.
好的。谢谢您的帮助。
常见句子：
Thank you for sharing.多谢分享。
Thank you for your comment / commenting.谢谢发表评论/谢谢评价/谢谢指点。
Thank you for bidding.谢谢您出价/谢谢您招标/谢谢您投标。
Thank you for coming.谢谢您的光临。
Thank you for participating.感谢各位的参与。
Thank you for cooperation.谢谢合作。
常用回答：
Not at all.
Don’t mention it.
You are welcome.
7. Not really. It’s about half an hour’s drive if we take the viaduct.
不太远，如果我们走高架桥只需半个小时。
Not really 表示轻微的否定。
— Are you busy now?你现在忙吗？
— Oh, not really.不太忙。
I am not really familiar with the local laws.
实际上我对当地的法律并不熟悉。
He explained for a long time but his meaning did not really come across.
他解释了很长时间，但没有人能真正理解他的意思。
This problem did not really admit of any solutions.
这个问题没有真正的解决方法。
Exercises
I. Ask and answer the following questions in pairs.
1. Where did the dialogue take place?
2. What was Zhao Dong doing at the airport?
3. Who is Mr. Qin?
4. How did they greet each other when they first met?
5. Did Ms. White have a good flight?
6. Was this Ms. White’s first visit to Shanghai?
7. Was everything OK with their Immigration and Customs inspection?
8. Who will take Ms. White to the hotel and why?
9. Did Ms. White have anything else to do before they set off ?
10. What suggestions did Mr. Zhao give to Ms. White?
11. Was there a car waiting for them outside the airport?
12. Was the hotel very far from the airport?
II. Fill in the blanks with proper words or phrases.
1. One day I’ll want to ______ and have a family.
2. If you drive to work, park at the far end of the ______.
3. When you ______, you start a journey.
4. When are you starting for the ______ this evening?
5. It is my favorite life to have a good rest on ______.
6. This is one of his most ______ works of recent years.
7. Take a look at the ______ below and tell me if you know what it is.
8. If you go around to someone’s house, you go to ______ them at their house.
9. Now I ______ a toast to the success of the conference and the health of all the distinguished guests here.
10. We should now work to combine this experience to our ______.
picture, parking lot, mutual benefit, settle down, night club, visit, set off, impressive, propose, Sundays
III. Translate the following dialogue into English orally.
A：啊！这真是一家好饭店！
B：是的，它是西安最好的饭店之一。这家饭店的服务非常好。如果您需要帮助，可以给服务台打电话，或者给我打电话。
A：很好，谢谢你。你考虑得太周到了。
B：我们经理刘先生希望在下午五点与您会面，并在友谊宾馆设宴欢迎您。
A：你们太客气了。我很希望和他见面。顺便问一下，大厅里有国际直通电话吗？我想给我的妻子打个电话。
B：当然有了。瞧，就在这边。
A：你真帮大忙了。没有你我真不知道该怎么办呢。
B：您客气了。这是我的荣幸，也是我的工作。
Dialogue 2
(At the hotel room after the guests have checked in.)
Lin: Mr. and Mrs. Green, please call the hotel concierge if you need help, or call me directly if necessary. Here is my cell phone number.
Green: Thank you, Mr. Lin! The hotel is very nice, and I love this room.
Lin: You are welcome! Well, I wonder if you have had any plans for tonight.
Green: Not yet at the moment.
Lin: We’d like to invite you to dinner. Actually, we reserved a table at Southern Garden Restaurant for this evening. We’ll treat you to authentic Chinese food.
Green: That’s very kind of you. We’d be delighted to come.
Lin: You’ll meet our General Manager, Mr. Sun, and other senior officers of the company at the dinner. Mrs. Sun will be there too. She is a professor in a university, and she hopes to get to know your wife.
Green: That’s fine. We’ll be glad to meet them.
Lin: Then have a good rest, Mr. and Mrs. Green. The dinner begins at 6:30 pm. I’ll pick you up at the hotel lobby at 6 o’clock. We’ll drive to the restaurant.
Green: OK, see you then.
(At the restaurant. People greet each other and exchange business cards during the formal introduction.)
Lin: Mr. Green, may I present to you Mr. Sun Shubin, our General Manager?
Sun: How are you, Mr. and Mrs. Green? It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to Nanjing. Good to learn that you had a pleasant flight and your hotel check-in was nice and fast.
Green: Yes, they were good. Thank you! Nice to meet you, Mr. Sun!
Sun: Have a seat, please. Mr. Green, have you been to Nanjing before?
Green: No. I’ve been to Beijing and Shanghai before. This is my first time to be there.
Sun: I’m glad to have the chance to treat you to Nanjing food. What would you like to drink? We have Chinese liquor and wine.
Green: Either will be fine with me. Up to you.
Sun: Then let’s have Maotai, one of the best sorts of liquor in China. I guess you’ve tried it before.
Green: Yes. Maotai is excellent. I like it.
Sun: Here are the main dishes. Allow me to introduce to you that this is Nanjing Salty Duck, one of the most famous foods in Nanjing. It has a production history in Nanjing for over 1,000 years.
Green: Oh, really? It’s very impressive! Mum... It’s so tasty.
Sun: There are many specialty foods and great tourist attractions in Nanjing. Such as Confucius Temple, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and Ming Tomb. You should take a look at these sites.
Lin: We’ve arranged a one-day city tour for you, Mr. Green. We’ll show you around after our visit to the factory.
Green: Thank you very much! I hope I have a chance to take you all to see my hometown in the future.
Sun: Let me propose a toast to our honored guests, Mr. and Mrs. Green. Confucius said, “It’s a great delight to have friends coming from afar.” May I express our appreciation for your visit? I hope that our meetings and discussions over the next few days will be productive and mutually beneficial.
Green: Thank you, Mr. Sun! We are very pleased to be here. Your welcome and reception have been both cordial and generous. We look forward to our meeting over the next few days! Cheers!
New Words and Phrases
reception 接待
actually 事实上；实际上
restaurant 饭店；餐馆
treat 招待；款待
authentic 真正的；地道的
present 正式引见；介绍
liquor 烈性酒；白酒
wine 葡萄酒；果酒
impressive 令人印象深刻的
tasty 美味的；可口的
tour 旅行；观光
fruitful 富有成效的；多产的
cordial 热忱的；友好的
generous 慷慨的；大方的
cell phone 手机
be delighted to 愿意；高兴
have a good rest 好好休息一下
business card 名片
main dish 主菜
Nanjing Salty Duck 南京盐水鸭
specialty food 特色美食
tourist attraction 游览圣地
Confucius Temple 孔子庙
Ming Tomb 明朝陵墓
take a look 看一看
show sb. around 带……参观
honored guest 贵宾
mutual benefit 共同的利益
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum 中山陵
propose a toast 举杯；提议为……干杯
Notes
1. — I wonder if you have had any plans for tonight.我想知道您今晚有什么安排？
— Not yet at the moment.目前还没有。
wonder后接疑问词+不定式时，表示“想知道”。
I wonder who made this decision and how they came to their conclusion.
我想知道是谁做的这个决定，他们又是如何得出的结论。
I wonder if I could use your phone.
不知我是否能用一下你的电话。
I wonder if you would be kind enough to give us some information, please?
不知您能否给我们提供一些信息？
I wonder if you would introduce me to your manager.
我不知道你是否愿意把我介绍给你的经理。
2. We reserved a table at Southern Garden Restaurant for this evening. We’ll treat you to authentic Chinese food.
我们今晚在南方花园餐厅预订了一个位置，想请您吃正宗的中国菜。
reserve a table 预留一个位置，在口语中常见于商务聚餐
treat sb. with sth. 以……态度对待某人；以……方式对待某人
treat sb. to sth. 用……招待某人；以……款待某人
She was always treating him to ice cream.
她总是请他吃冰激凌。
I’m glad to have the chance to treat you to Nanjing food.
我很高兴有机会请你吃南京的食物。
They know the sport inside out, and we treat them with the respect they deserve.
他们对这项体育运动了如指掌，我们也给予了他们应有的尊重。
treat with sb. 和……协商（谈判，交涉），通常用于较为正式的场合
If we are to treat with you, it must be on equal terms.
如果要我们和你谈判，双方必须处于平等地位。
They refused to treat with us on equal terms.
他们拒绝在平等的基础上与我们谈判。
3. It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to Nanjing.
很高兴欢迎你来南京。
pleasure在口语中是很客气的用语。
It’s a pleasure. 我很愿意。
My pleasure. 我很乐意/我的荣幸。
With pleasure. 我很愿意。（这三种用法相同。）
It’s a great pleasure to do... / I’m glad to do... 很高兴（很荣幸）做某事
It’s my pleasure to serve you!
能为您服务是我的荣幸。
It’s a great pleasure to do business with you.
跟您做生意我感到非常愉快。
It’s a great pleasure for me to take this interview.
我非常荣幸能来参加这场面试。
4. Either will be fine with me. Up to you.
我都可以，由你决定。
up to you用在句子里，表示“由你选择/决定，责任在你”。若单独用，根据具体语境和语气，可做如下处理：
It’s totally up to you.
请自便。
It’s up to you to handle this matter.
此事如何处理，由您裁断。
We’ll leave it up to you to analyze those data.
我们将把数据分析工作留给你完成。
I leave it up to you when to inform the manager of the error.
我让你自己决定什么时候告诉经理这个错误。
5. Allow me to introduce to you that this is Nanjing Salty Duck, one of the most famous foods in Nanjing.
请允许我介绍一下，这是南京盐水鸭，南京最著名的食物之一。
Allow me to introduce to you that... 请允许我向你介绍……
Allow me to introduce myself.
请允许我自我介绍一下。
Allow me to introduce my manager to you.
请允许我介绍我们经理给您。
6. We’ve arranged a one-day city tour for you, Mr. Green. We’ll show you around after our visit to the factory.
格林先生，我们已经为您安排了为期一天的城市观光。参观完工厂后我们会带您四处转转。
arrange sth. for sb. 为某人安排某事
Give me a ring tomorrow and we’ll arrange something for this weekend.
明天给我打个电话，我们来给这个周末安排些活动。
I could arrange for you to see the exhibition if you’d like.
如果你们想看展览，我们可以安排一下。
Would you like to arrange for a personal interview?
你是否想安排一次个人会面？
show sb. around 带某人四处转转
I’ll show you around so that you can meet everyone.
我会带你到各处看看，好让你和大家见见面。
Now let me show you around our product exhibition room.
现在让我陪你参观一下我们的产品陈列室。
He entrusted me with the task of showing you around.
他把带你参观的任务交给我了。
7. I hope I have a chance to take you all to see my hometown in the future.
我希望以后能有机会带你们去看看我的家乡。
have a chance 有机会或有希望
We all have a chance of doing that.
我们每个人都有机会做到这一点。
Now they have a chance to prove it.
现在他们有机会证明这一点。
I have been hoping I’d have a chance to cooperate with your company.
我一直希望有机会与贵公司合作。
Exercises
I. Ask and answer the following questions in pairs.
1. What could Mr. and Mrs. Green do if they need any help?
2. What plans did Mr. and Mrs. Green have for tonight?
3. Where did Mr. and Mrs. Green go this evening?
4. Who would Mr. and Mrs. Green meet at Southern Garden Restaurant?
5. How did they go to the restaurant?
6. Who is Mr. Sun?
7. What liquor did they drink?
8. What dishes did Mr. Sun introduce to Mr. Green?
9. Is Nanjing an old city with many historical places?
10. How did Mr. Sun propose a toast?
II. Fill in the blanks with proper words or phrases.
1. A good ______ is built on trust.
2. I see them longing and ______ for authentic community.
3. I hedged off if I should ______ her present.
4. This store ______ the sort of liquor you need.
5. Yes, sir. What ______ would you like, sir?
6. The ______ are a popular tourist attraction and take in city sights from land and water.
7. I like it because it’s ______.
8. He presented a bunch of flowers to the ______.
9. The hall was circumfused with a ______ and friendly atmosphere.
10. What ______ her to be so generous?
accept, relationship, main dish, cordial, prompted, handles, honored guest, vehicles, delicious, reaching out
III. Translate the following dialogue into English orally.
A：王先生，关于我们谈的那笔交易，有什么消息吗？
B：哦，我们已经和客户商量过了。总体上，他们对你们的产品质量和款式感到满意。只是起初他们认为你们的价格偏高。
A：不过我们的价格并不高呀。我们的价格与市场价格是一致的。
B：别着急，Bonnet先生。经过我们解释，他们已经接受你们的所有条款了。
A：听见这个消息，我真高兴。谢谢您的努力与合作，这笔交易才能成功。我想问问什么时候才能签订合同呢？
B：哦，我想我们今天晚上可以把合同草拟出来。明天上午9点你过来看看，怎么样？
A：但是明天上午我已经约了别人。
B：哈，不着急。那么改为下午3点如何？
A：好的，就定在下午3点。就在这个房间。
B：我等你，不见不散。再见。
Background Knowledge
接待礼仪
对现代企业而言，接待来宾是很常见的活动之一。中国人有热情待客的传统，不论是国内客户还是国外商业伙伴，作为东道主大多会在交通、住宿、餐饮、观光等方面为客人提供服务。通常来说，在招待过程中如果双方有良好的交流，并令对方感到东道主的诚意，会有力地促进双方的合作或具体问题的有效解决。
（一）商务接待准备（Preparation）
要先了解来访客人的基本情况，如客人的数量（Number）、每位客人的性别（Gender）、身份（Identification）、职务（Position）、对其合适的称谓（Title）以及客人来访的目的（Purpose）。按照上述信息准备接待工作，确定接待的级别。客人到来之前还要了解其到达的时间和乘坐的交通工具，并与客人确认是否需要接送。
此外，还要了解客人在本地停留的时间，并按来访目的做好日程安排。东道主应将日程安排发给对方，征求对方的意见。在日程安排中，除必要的商务活动，如谈判、工厂参观之类，还可以适当安排娱乐或观光活动，但不宜太多。
（二）接机（Meet the Guest at the Airport）
要明确知晓客人抵达的日期、乘坐哪一个航班、到达的机场（若本地有一个以上机场）。通过网络查询关注航班状况，及时了解是否有延误等其他情况。如果预计飞机按时到达，应提前到机场准备接人。
按照客人的身份和职位来安排相应的接机人员。接机人员应着装整齐。如果客人的级别较高或是重要人物，应着正装。其他则着正装或休闲装均可，因为客人也可能着休闲装。即使着休闲装，也必须穿戴整齐，不能过于随便。
见面打招呼可以称呼对方职位，或一般礼貌性称呼为“Mr.”“Mrs.”或“Ms.”。特别是针对女性，如果不清楚对方是否已婚，不论年长或年轻，均可称呼“Ms.”，这是比较保险的称呼。
如果与客人初次见面，需要主动进行自我介绍，可以说：“Let me introduce myself. I’m×××from××company.”或直接介绍自己：“I’m×××from××company. Nice to meet you.”
如有需要介绍他人，可以说：“Allow me to introduce Mr. Wang Lin, our Sales Manager.”
在给两个人引荐介绍时，应注意介绍的先后顺序。通常来说，应该是：
（1）先介绍职位低的，后介绍职位高的。
（2）先介绍晚辈或年轻的，后介绍长辈或年长的。
（3）先介绍男士，后介绍女士。
（4）先向客人介绍主人，后向主人介绍客人。
如果是团体会面的场合，双方相互介绍各自人员时，应按职务高低的顺序来进行介绍。
被介绍的人应主动与对方握手。在握手时应身体微微前倾，面带微笑，目视对方，握手力度适当，握手3～5秒后松开。在场如有多人握手相互致意，应依次握手，切忌和其他人形成交叉握手。在握手时一般会说：“Nice / Glad to meet you.”或“Long time no see.”
在介绍时可以交换名片。递给对方名片时，应双手奉上，并且名片的正面朝上，使对方能一眼看到自己的名字。接名片时也应双手接，表示相互尊重。如果没带名片或没有印制名片，可以说：“Sorry. I don’t have my cards with me now. Let me give you one the next time we meet.”或“I’m sorry. I have run out of mine.”“I don’t have cards right now. Let me write down my name and my phone number for you.”
（三）宴请（Entertain for Meal）
商务活动中对生意伙伴进行宴请也是双方沟通与交流最常见的形式之一。企业可以根据不同的目的以及邀请的对象来选择不同的宴请方式。通常来讲，宴请有四种形式：宴会（Banquet / Dinner）、招待会（Reception / At-home）、工作餐（Working Lunch / Business Lunch）和茶会（Tea Party）。
（1）宴会是最为正式和庄重的宴请活动，一般会安排在较高档的饭店。可在早、中、晚举行，以晚宴档次最高。在宴请时对穿着、座位排列和菜肴数目等都有讲究。宴会规模可大可小，视需要而定。
（2）招待会则是不配备正餐的宴请，如冷餐会、酒会等，多设为自助餐（Buffet）或鸡尾酒会（Cocktail Party）形式，并只配备一些糕点、小食、饮料等。会安排座位供客人使用，但不需要排座次。
（3）工作餐主要是借进餐的形式保持联系、加强沟通或洽谈生意而进行的聚餐。意在以餐会友，在愉快、和谐、轻松的氛围中交流并促进感情。一般规模较小，多在中午举行，而且可在用餐时继续商谈业务。
（4）茶会是更为简便的招待形式，一般正餐前后2小时左右进行。主要以茶水、果饮、咖啡、糕点、水果等招待。参会者可以边吃边聊，氛围也比较轻松。
企业在进行正式宴请时，应提前向客人发出邀请（请柬、电话或当面邀请），并告知宴请的时间和地点。受邀者无论能否接受都应明确回复。在赴宴时应着正装，并提前到达宴会地点。主人应提前30分钟到达候客。
座位安排要按照礼仪规范，主位应对着餐厅或包房正门，以右高左低为序将主宾安排在主位的右手边，并依次排列。宴会开始时，客人应找好自己的位置或按主人的安排就座。就座时应让年长者、职位高者和女士优先。主办方陪宴的业务人员，特别是年轻的人员要注意一定在其他人都入座后再坐下。
如果参加宴会的人员相互不熟悉，应由主人在正式开始前给大家逐一介绍，使大家相互了解，增进友好气氛。
宴会开始前或开始时，一般先由主人，即出席宴会的主办方职位最高的人进行致辞。如果是较大型的宴会，可以到布置好的讲台上致辞，并可以安排主持人引导；如果仅一两桌客人，则站在桌边致辞即可。致辞内容大致是表明设宴的目的、对客人到来表示欢迎和感谢，最后祝酒。致辞中常用的表达有：“Honorable / Respected friends.”“On behalf of×××company, I wish to extend our warm welcome to the friends...”“I propose a toast to the friendship between us two companies.”“Here’s to your health!”
作为客人也应回敬致辞和敬酒表示感谢。
宴会上敬酒时应站稳，双手举杯，目视对方。在碰杯时，杯沿比对方略低以示尊敬。年轻者向年长者敬酒、晚辈向长辈敬酒或职位低的人向职位高的人敬酒时，都应注意这一点。敬酒时应适可而止，不宜过度劝酒。
如果宴请外商，应在餐饮安排上注意照顾对方国家的风俗习惯。