How to introduce agenda and topics in Chinese meetings
In Chinese meetings, the agenda is usually introduced politely and clearly, often after a brief warm-up exchange. A natural opening names the purpose of the meeting, signals the main topics, and leaves room for flexibility rather than sounding overly rigid.
How to Introduce the Agenda
- It’s common to say something like:
“今天会议的议程包括…” (Jīntiān huìyì de yìchéng bāokuò…) meaning “Today’s meeting agenda includes…” - Another polite way to introduce is:
“为了更好地讨论，我们计划今天会议的几个议题…” (Wèile gèng hǎo de tǎolùn, wǒmen jìhuà jīntiān huìyì de jǐ gè yìtí…) meaning “To discuss better, we plan to cover several topics in today’s meeting…” - Typically, the agenda is sent before the meeting:
“我已将会议议程发送给大家，请提前查收。” (Wǒ yǐ jiāng huìyì yìchéng fāsòng gěi dàjiā, qǐng tíqián cháshōu.) — “I have sent the agenda to everyone, please check it in advance.”
In spoken Chinese, the agenda introduction is often paired with a short framing sentence that explains why the meeting is happening now. That framing matters because it makes the discussion feel organized without sounding abrupt.
A useful pattern is:
- greet participants
- give a brief purpose statement
- list the agenda points
- invite comments or additions if appropriate
For example:
- “大家好，今天我们主要讨论三个问题：项目进度、资源安排和下周计划。"
"Hello everyone, today we will mainly discuss three issues: project progress, resource allocation, and next week’s plan.” - “如果大家没有问题，我们先从第一个议题开始。"
"If everyone is okay with that, let’s start with the first topic.”
That kind of structure is especially helpful in Chinese business settings, where clarity and smooth coordination are valued. It also prevents the meeting from drifting, while still sounding considerate.
Common Phrases for Meeting Topics
- “我们将讨论以下几个议题：” (Wǒmen jiāng tǎolùn yǐxià jǐ gè yìtí:) — “We will discuss the following topics:”
- “第一个议题是…” (Dì yī gè yìtí shì…) — “The first topic is…”
- “接下来我们讨论…” (Jiē xiàlái wǒmen tǎolùn…) — “Next, we will discuss…”
Other useful expressions include:
- “首先” — “first”
- “然后” — “then”
- “最后” — “finally”
- “我们先看一下…” — “Let’s first take a look at…”
- “这个部分我们稍后再讨论” — “We’ll discuss this part a little later”
These phrases are useful because they let the speaker guide the meeting without sounding forceful. In Chinese, soft transitions often sound more natural than direct commands, especially when several people of different seniority are present.
A practical way to phrase a topic list is to use short, parallel items rather than long explanations. For instance:
- 项目进展 — project progress
- 时间安排 — timeline
- 风险与问题 — risks and issues
- 下一步行动 — next steps
That style is easy to follow both in speech and on a slide or written agenda.
Useful Opening Language in Meetings
A meeting opening in Chinese often follows a predictable sequence:
- greeting: “大家好” — “Hello everyone”
- acknowledgement: “感谢大家参加今天的会议” — “Thank you for attending today’s meeting”
- purpose: “今天我们主要讨论…” — “Today we mainly discuss…”
- agenda: “会议议程如下” — “The agenda is as follows”
- transition: “我们先从第一个议题开始” — “Let’s begin with the first topic”
A polished opening might sound like: “大家好，感谢大家参加今天的会议。今天我们主要讨论项目进度、预算调整和下月计划。会议议程如下，我们先从第一个议题开始。”
This sentence is simple, formal, and easy to adapt. In Chinese business speech, the word 主要 (“mainly”) is useful because it signals priorities without implying that nothing else can be mentioned.
Cultural Notes
- Chinese meetings often do not follow a strict agenda order; topics may be addressed in a flexible sequence to maintain harmony and avoid confrontation.
- It is polite to use formal address such as 您 (nín) for “you” to show respect, especially with senior colleagues.
- Avoid introducing completely new topics spontaneously in the meeting; the agenda is ideally confirmed beforehand.
- Small talk and a welcoming speech typically precede the agenda introduction to build rapport.
The preference for flexibility does not mean meetings are disorganized. It usually means the speaker may return to an earlier point, soften disagreement, or postpone a sensitive issue so the conversation stays smooth. In practice, this can sound like: “这个问题我们先记下来，后面再一起看” — “Let’s note this issue and come back to it later.”
Using 您 is especially common in direct address, questions, and requests:
- “请问您怎么看这个安排？” — “May I ask how you view this arrangement?”
- “如果您方便的话，我们可以继续下一项。” — “If it’s convenient for you, we can continue to the next item.”
That level of politeness is not just stylistic. It helps speakers avoid sounding too blunt when proposing an order, redirecting discussion, or asking someone to speak. In many meetings, especially those involving clients, partners, or senior staff, a respectful tone is as important as the content itself.
What to Avoid
Some expressions can sound too direct or too rigid in Chinese meeting settings:
- overly abrupt transitions such as “现在开始第一个问题” without any greeting or framing
- introducing surprises that were not shared in advance
- using a forceful tone when moving the group from one topic to another
- sounding impatient if the discussion briefly moves off agenda
A softer version is usually better:
- “如果大家同意，我们先讨论第一个议题。” — “If everyone agrees, let’s discuss the first topic first.”
- “接下来我们看一下第二个部分。” — “Next, let’s look at the second part.”
- “这个问题我们稍后再回到它。” — “We’ll return to this issue later.”
A Simple Template
A practical meeting introduction in Chinese can follow this template:
“大家好，感谢大家参加今天的会议。今天我们主要讨论三个议题：、 和 ____。我已经提前把会议议程发给大家了，如果没有问题，我们先从第一个议题开始。”
This format works because it combines greeting, purpose, agenda, and transition in a single clear flow. It is concise enough for routine meetings and formal enough for business settings.
Pronunciation and Delivery
Agenda-setting phrases are usually spoken in a calm, measured pace. Key words to pronounce clearly include:
- 议程 (yìchéng) — agenda
- 议题 (yìtí) — topic or issue
- 讨论 (tǎolùn) — discuss
- 提前 (tíqián) — in advance
- 查收 (cháshōu) — check and receive
A steady pace matters because Chinese listeners often rely on the speaker’s structure to follow the meeting flow. Clear pauses before each agenda item make the list easier to absorb, especially in online meetings where audio quality may vary.
Quick Reference
- Use a greeting before listing topics.
- State the purpose of the meeting in one sentence.
- Present the agenda in a short, ordered list.
- Keep transitions polite and flexible.
- Confirm the agenda in advance when possible.
In real workplace communication, speaking the agenda out loud clearly is often more effective than memorizing a long script. Active conversation practice helps build the timing, tone, and phrasing needed to sound natural in live meetings.
Common Phrases for Meeting Topics
- “我们将讨论以下几个议题：” (Wǒmen jiāng tǎolùn yǐxià jǐ gè yìtí:) — “We will discuss the following topics:”
- “第一个议题是…” (Dì yī gè yìtí shì…) — “The first topic is…”
- “接下来我们讨论…” (Jiē xiàlái wǒmen tǎolùn…) — “Next, we will discuss…”
References
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A guide to the Chinese business etiquette | Nimus translations
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Strategies for effectively preparing a business meeting in …
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Visiting your Suppliers in China - Top 5 Things to Prepare …