Chinese for Formal Occasions — Hosts, Ceremonies and Etiquette

Formal occasions vary by family, organization and region. You do not need to memorize every rule; being observant and asking with humility is usually enough.

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
很荣幸见到您。	Hěn róngxìng jiàndào nín.	It is an honor to meet you.
谢谢您的邀请。	Xièxie nín de yāoqǐng.	Thank you for the invitation.
我应该怎么做？	Wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?	What should I do?
请您多指教。	Qǐng nín duō zhǐjiào.	I would appreciate your guidance.

Conversation: arriving as a guest

Guest: 谢谢您的邀请，很荣幸见到您。
(Xièxie nín de yāoqǐng, hěn róngxìng jiàndào nín.)
Host: 欢迎，请坐。
(Huānyíng, qǐng zuò.)
Guest: 谢谢。请问我应该怎么做？
(Xièxie. Qǐngwèn wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)

This question is useful when you are unsure about seating, gifts, a toast, or when to begin eating. Watch what the host does too.

Conversation: receive a compliment modestly

A: 您今天的发言非常精彩。
(Nín jīntiān de fāyán fēicháng jīngcǎi.)
B: 谢谢您，您太客气了。
(Xièxie nín, nín tài kèqi le.)

您太客气了 (Nín tài kèqi le) is a warm, modest response. It does not mean the compliment was false; it means “That is very kind of you.”

One good rule

When in doubt, arrive on time, dress appropriately for the invitation, and let the host lead the first few moments.

Related: invitations and visits for arriving as a guest, and polite nuance for softening what you say there.

By the end of this chapter, you can say

我应该怎么做？ (Wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)

Practical note for this chapter

Optional chapters for living, working and studying long-term. Confirm important rules with official sources. In this chapter, practice giving a short response and then checking what matters.

Use it in context

A: 第一次参加这个场合，需要注意什么？ (Dì yī cì cānjiā zhège chǎnghé, xūyào zhùyì shénme?)

B: 我应该怎么做？ (Wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)

▶ Listen to the dialogue▶ Listen slowlyStop● Record my voiceStop

Phrase map for this chapter

Question or situation

第一次参加这个场合，需要注意什么？ (Dì yī cì cānjiā zhège chǎnghé, xūyào zhùyì shénme?)

Central response

我应该怎么做？ (Wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)

Another natural way to say it

谢谢您的邀请，请问我应该怎么做？ (Xièxie nín de yāoqǐng, qǐngwèn wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

How to use it

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

Turn the model into three conversation turns

1. 1. Open the situation第一次参加这个场合，需要注意什么？ (Dì yī cì cānjiā zhège chǎnghé, xūyào zhùyì shénme?)
2. 2. Say the central response我应该怎么做？ (Wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)
3. 3. Add an alternative谢谢您的邀请，请问我应该怎么做？ (Xièxie nín de yāoqǐng, qǐngwèn wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)

Before acting, check the point most likely to cause a misunderstanding. This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

A useful variation

Keep the same purpose, then change the person, time or place to make it your own.

谢谢您的邀请，请问我应该怎么做？ (Xièxie nín de yāoqǐng, qǐngwèn wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

A common trap

For important details, do not decide from what you think you heard; check written information when needed.

不熟悉礼节时先礼貌询问，不要假定规则。 (Bù shúxī lǐjié shí xiān lǐmào xúnwèn, bù yào jiǎdìng guīzé.)

This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

Three-step practice

1. Open the situation in one short phrase
2. Say the central response
3. Add one detail of your own