Workplace hierarchy

Colleagues are addressed by Surname + Title rather than given name, especially upward: 王总 (Boss/President Wang), 李经理 (Manager Li), even 张老师 used loosely for a respected senior or skilled colleague outside of teaching. Using a superior's given name, even if you're similar in age, can come across as overly familiar or even disrespectful.

Rank shapes small daily behaviors: who speaks first and last in a meeting (senior figures often speak last, after hearing everyone else, or open and close the discussion), who pours tea or drinks for whom (typically the junior pours for the senior), and where people sit. Disagreement with a superior's decision is rarely voiced directly in a group setting, and is instead raised privately afterward, often introduced with 这个我们再研究一下 ('let's look into this further') as a placeholder rather than a flat no.

应酬 — after-hours socializing like team dinners, drinks, or KTV with colleagues, clients, or a boss — is treated as real relationship-building, not just leisure, and can feel semi-obligatory in more traditional companies. Saying 辛苦了 ('thanks for your hard work') to a colleague after a task, a shift, or a busy stretch is a small, frequently used courtesy that costs nothing and is genuinely appreciated. Work WeChat groups often blur work and personal time, and quick replies to a boss's message — even after hours — are still expected at many companies, though this norm is increasingly contested.