Agendas and votes, offers and concessions, and the moment both sides sign.
Formal meetings run on two-syllable words that share a syllable: 议, “to debate”, in 议程 and 议题; 签, “to sign”, in 签署 and 签约. Next to them sit lively words borrowed from cards and games: 摊牌 is to lay your cards on the table, 筹码 a gambling chip, 拍板 the clap of the board that ends a sale.
The words
View
Verb (22)
让步to give way; to make a concession; concessionVerb5
为了早点儿签合同，我们在价格上做了一些让步。To get the contract signed sooner, we made some concessions on price.
表决to vote (on a motion); voteVerb5
这个方案要在下次会上表决。This plan will be put to the vote at the next meeting.
A body votes on a motion; a voter casting a ballot is 投票.
否决to reject; to vetoVerb5
董事会否决了收购计划。The board rejected the takeover plan.
弃权to abstain; to forfeitVerb5
表决时有两个人弃权。Two people abstained in the vote.
达成to reach (an agreement)Verb5
双方在价格问题上达成了一致。The two sides reached agreement on the question of price.
With abstract objects only: an agreement, a deal, a consensus.
磋商to consult; to hold talksVerb5
两家公司还在就合作细节进行磋商。The two companies are still in talks about the details of their cooperation.
Formal and written; in conversation 商量.
协商to discuss and agree; to negotiateVerb5
房租的问题我们可以再协商。We can talk the rent over again.
签署to sign (an official document)Verb5
两国领导人签署了合作文件。The leaders of the two countries signed the cooperation documents.
Formal; signing your name on a form is 签字.
签约to sign a contractVerb5
这位歌手上个月和一家唱片公司签约了。Last month this singer signed with a record company.
出席to attend (a meeting or event)Verb5
今天的会议一共有二十人出席。Twenty people in all attended today's meeting.
缺席to be absent; to miss (a meeting)Verb4
他因为生病缺席了上午的会议。He missed the morning meeting because he was ill.
与会to take part in a conferenceVerb5
与会代表都收到了一份资料。Every delegate attending received a set of papers.
The first syllable is yù, “to take part”, not yǔ, “and”.
妥协to compromise; compromiseVerb5
如果大家都不肯妥协，这件事就谈不成。If nobody is willing to compromise, there will be no agreement on this.
还价to make a counter-offer; to haggleVerb5
对方开价太高，我们得还价。The other side's asking price is too high, so we will have to make a counter-offer.
The first syllable is huán, to give back, not hái, still.
生效to take effect; to come into forceVerb5
新合同从下个月一号起生效。The new contract takes effect from the first of next month.
违约to break a contract; breach of contractVerb5
如果对方违约，我们有权要求赔偿。If the other party breaks the contract, we are entitled to claim compensation.
休会to adjourn; adjournmentVerb5
主席宣布休会十五分钟。The chair announced a fifteen-minute adjournment.
拍板to make the final decisionVerb5
这件事最后还得老板拍板。In the end the boss will have to make the final call on this.
Literally “to strike the board”, as an auctioneer does.
摊牌to show one's hand; to have it outVerb5
谈了一个星期，对方终于摊牌了。After a week of talks the other side finally showed its hand.
搁置to shelve; to put asideVerb5
这个计划因为资金不足暂时被搁置了。The plan has been shelved for now for lack of funds.
敲定to settle; to finaliseVerb5
见面的时间和地点还没敲定。The time and place of the meeting have not been settled yet.
斡旋to mediate; mediationVerb5
在第三方的斡旋下，双方重新回到了谈判桌前。Through the mediation of a third party, both sides came back to the negotiating table.
This list belongs to Work and careers — seven lists and 279 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.