Business Thoughts - "Li Yong" or "Hup Chok"?

One day, I was introduced to a businessman who is interested in anything and everything that could help him make money. He was enterprising, creative and business-minded. He might not be highly educated but he is obviously street-wise and street-smart.

We spoke about many things and throughout the conversation, he would intermittently utter some phrases in Hokkien dialect. There was a phrase that impressed me a lot especially when he talked about negotiations for business partnership.

He said that if it is a Win-Lose partnership, it is called "Li Yong" in Hokkien, which literally means one party exploiting, making use or taking advantage of the other party. On the other hand, if it is a Win-Win partnership, it is called "Hup Chok" which can be literally translated as working together, collaboration or cooperation.