Problem: No systematic research has been conducted about loss of face in Chinese business culture. General research questions: What causes Chinese businesspeople to lose face when conducting business intraculturally and interculturally? Setting: People's Republic of China. Participants: 34 Chinese businesspeople from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Methods: Structured open-ended interviews. Main findings: In intracultural business the major causes of loss of face were public criticism and rejection, with mild responses to loss of face except when subordinates caused superiors to lose face and sometimes when a peer caused another peer to lose face. In intercultural business the major causes of loss of face were foreigners' arrogance, politics and international events, and foreigners' criticism, with most responses to loss of face being minor. Recommendations: Recommendations are provided for businesspeople operating in the Chinese environment and for researchers conducting investigations about face in Chinese business culture.