Office Titles in China
The Oriental people (by Oriental I refer to the narrower definition – people of Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese ethnicity) tend to be more “title-conscious” than westerners. We live in highly regulated and patriachal societies, and respect is something very important to us. This “respect” also tends to be reflected in the “titles” and positions occupied in society.
When my Chinese acquaintances (those I do not know well) speak to me, for example, they always refer to me as 曾老师 (“Chan-Teacher”) or 曾总 ("Chan-General Manager"). It is a mark for respect for me as an educator and someone to learn from, or a senior company staff. Those who know me well calls me…Michael. Only laoda would call me by my Chinese name…and it sounds really weird. Not even my parents use my Chinese name!
I was chatting with Dr Pan once (on my favourite topic, of course – aspects of business in Shanghai…we also chatted on the viability of an English-medium boarding school here) when I asked her a question on something that has always intrigued me – how are the different titles in China related to each other?
Well, technically speaking, the various titles are here in order of increasing importance – 组长 (“Team Head” or Supervisor)、科长 (“Theme Head” or Department Head)、局长 (“Station Head”) and 处长 (Director)。The English translations are the best equivalents I could think of. Simple, right?
Unfortunately, the prestige factor is also modified by the size of the organisation the person is in! So a Department Head at the national government’s body is actually more “respectable” than a Station Head of a city administration!
So herein lies the trap that ensnares many foreigners, unaware of the correct protocol and treatment to be given to the various persons they encounter. Unless you know the reach of his organisation, you cannot simply dismiss him as unimportant just because he’s only a Department Head!
When my Chinese acquaintances (those I do not know well) speak to me, for example, they always refer to me as 曾老师 (“Chan-Teacher”) or 曾总 ("Chan-General Manager"). It is a mark for respect for me as an educator and someone to learn from, or a senior company staff. Those who know me well calls me…Michael. Only laoda would call me by my Chinese name…and it sounds really weird. Not even my parents use my Chinese name!
I was chatting with Dr Pan once (on my favourite topic, of course – aspects of business in Shanghai…we also chatted on the viability of an English-medium boarding school here) when I asked her a question on something that has always intrigued me – how are the different titles in China related to each other?
Well, technically speaking, the various titles are here in order of increasing importance – 组长 (“Team Head” or Supervisor)、科长 (“Theme Head” or Department Head)、局长 (“Station Head”) and 处长 (Director)。The English translations are the best equivalents I could think of. Simple, right?
Unfortunately, the prestige factor is also modified by the size of the organisation the person is in! So a Department Head at the national government’s body is actually more “respectable” than a Station Head of a city administration!
So herein lies the trap that ensnares many foreigners, unaware of the correct protocol and treatment to be given to the various persons they encounter. Unless you know the reach of his organisation, you cannot simply dismiss him as unimportant just because he’s only a Department Head!
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