Time is Valueless…

Lack of recognition of the value of time will almost inevitably be a factor in holding up your negotiations, communications, projects, etc., and you should be prepared with a contingency plan in case it does.

Your Chinese counterparts can also be skilled at shifting the expected or promised timeframes outside what is acceptable to you (or at least making it appear as if they have), thereby ensuring that any disadvantage incurred as a result of unmet schedules is yours.

Protest is Pointless

Stressing that you do not have time to wait or have important business elsewhere will usually be met with the polite and/or indifferent response “Mei you banfa” (literally “There is no way”), meaning that there is nothing you or anyone else can do about the delay.

What’s the Hold-Up?

You may also spend a lot of time trying to find out what the ‘real’ problem is, only to discover that nobody thought to simply pick up the phone and find a way to resolve a relatively minor issue. The clear solution to these situations – i.e., do something or find someone who can – may be obvious to you but not necessarily to your Chinese counterparts.

Empty Promises

Beware of expressions promising speed such as “Mashang lai” (“It is/I am coming right now”), “Yi hui (jiu) dao le.” (“It/they will be here in a moment”), etc. The English translation and the Chinese intention of these expressions do not necessarily match. ‘In a moment’ can mean anything from a moment to several days or longer.

Among the Chinese, these expressions are understood not in their literal sense, but as a sign of goodwill, a way to calm an agitated customer, etc. The bottom line is to not necessarily expect consistency, and certainly no guarantees, where time is concerned.