Work Chat ： 5 Useful Chinese Phrases

Reply like a local 💬

Whenever you use work chat (WeChat, DingTalk, Feishu, etc) in China, it works best to be brief, efficient, and polite.

Learning a few common expressions will help you sound more professional - and get things done 😎

Let's look at 5 practical phrases you can use in your Chinese work chats every day 👇

5 Work Chat Essentials

              

1. 收到 (Shōudào)

To say "noted" or "got it", reply with:

收到

Shōudào

Noted / Got it

lit. ("Received")

 EXAMPLE 

A: 请今天下班前把报告发给我。

A: Qǐng jīntiān xià bān qián bǎ bàogào fā gěi wǒ.

A: Before your get off work today, send me your work report.

B: 收到 👌

B: Shōudào 👌

B: Got it!

2. 稍后回复 (Shāohòu huífù) 

Received a message but cannot answer right away?

To delay your reply politely, say:

稍后回复

Shāohòu huífù

Will reply later

 EXAMPLE 

不好意思，我现在在开会，稍后回复你。

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ xiànzài zài kāi huì, shāohòu huífù nǐ.

Sorry, I'm in a meeting right now, I'll reply to you later.

3. 请知晓 (Qǐng zhīxiǎo)

Whenever you write a message notifying a colleague or client of some news, you can finish it with a polite, formal phrase:

请知晓

Qǐng zhīxiǎo

FYI / Please be informed

It can be translated as "Please be informed" or "For your information."

💡 TIP 

It's very common in:

• Work announcements

• Group messages

• Emails

• Formal chats

 EXAMPLE 

活动时间有所调整，请知晓。

Huódòng shíjiān yǒu suǒ tiáozhěng, qǐng zhīxiǎo.

The event time has changed, please be informed.

Not that it does not require a reply — it's usually used just to notify someone.

4. 这个比较着急 (Zhè gè bǐjiào zháojí)

Whenever there is an emergency task that cannot be ignored, you can add extra urgency to it with a phrase:

这个比较着急

Zhè gè bǐjiào zháojí

This is quite urgent

It's used to signal priority politely.

 EXAMPLE 

这个比较着急，可以今天处理吗?

Zhè gè bǐjiào zháojí, kěyǐ jīntiān chǔlǐ ma?

This is rather urgent, can it be handled today?

5. 请第一时间处理 (Qǐng dì-yī shíjiān chǔlǐ)

Whenever something must be handled immediately, say:

请第一时间处理

Qǐng dì-yī shíjiān chǔlǐ

Please handle this as a priority / ASAP

 EXAMPLE 

这个客户的投诉，请第一时间处理。

Zhè gè kèhù de tóusù, qǐng dì-yī shíjiān chǔlǐ.

Please handle this customer complaint as a priority.

Not so difficult, right?

Try to use at least one (or all!) of these phrases in your future work-related conversations 📲

Practice with Teachers

              

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etiquette in China from our teachers?

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