Missed a session of Mandarin Savvy LIVE? Watch the replays of our free weekly Zoom meetups on Chinese guanxi, face, culture and doing business in China. New replays are added after each Thursday session.
Replay #1: What Is Guānxì (关系)? The Guanxi Engine Explained
Kickoff Meetup, Thursday, October 15, 2026. Gene J. Hsu opens Mandarin Savvy LIVE by asking what guānxì really is and why it matters. Using the “Guanxi Engine”, he explains how Chinese business relationships run on goodwill (chéngyì), are lubricated by giving and saving face (miànzi), and are maintained through continuous reciprocity (yìngchóu, lǐ shàng wǎng lái). Guests Saba, an executive and author who managed operations in China in the late 1990s, and Greg, an educator who teaches cross-cultural mindsets to Western and Chinese students, share their own experiences.
What you’ll learn in this replay
- Relationships first, or deal first? In Western business, a successful contract often builds the relationship. In China, the relationship comes first and makes business success possible.
- How the Guanxi Engine works: goodwill is the fuel, face is the lubricant, and reciprocity keeps it running, like an endurance race rather than a sprint.
- Negotiating in China: align on the process and relationship rituals before rushing into deal terms.
- Shades of gray: why practices that look like conflicts of interest in the West, such as hiring relatives, can build trust and accountability in China, and why understanding national context (guóqíng) matters.
Join the Next Live Session (Free)
Replays are great, but the live sessions are where you ask your own questions. Join the free weekly Mandarin Savvy LIVE Zoom, Thursdays at 3:00 pm PT, running through February 11, 2027. Bring your real questions about guanxi, negotiating with Chinese partners, leading local teams, or Mandarin practice.
Go Deeper: The Chinese Honeymoon Period (Audiobook)
Want the thinking behind the conversation? The Chinese Honeymoon Period by Gene J. Hsu helps you understand how Chinese people think, from guanxi and face to the psychology behind business and relationships in China. Listen to the audiobook on Audible.
