2..Addressing
• In China, the surname comes first and then the given name.
• While westerners names are written and spoken with the given name first and the family name last.
leaving. Such as,
• 1.“I am afraid I must be off, I have to …” • 2.“Well, it’s been nice to see you again. I do enjoy our talk and the lovely dinner, but I must be going soon”. • 3.“Thank you very much for asking me over. I hope we’ll be able to get together again before long…”
East&West
• Chinese use “title +surname” to address their superior or elders rather than call them surnames, while the superior or elders call the addressers their names. otherwise, the addresser may be considered as ill mannered, ill educated or rude. • In west, Although they are different in age and status, they can call the other directly, namely, their names, even first names .They demonstrate the sense of intimacy and the conception of” Everyone is created equal”
Cultural differences in politeness between western and Chinese
1.Greeting and Parting
• In China, When people meet acquaintances or friends, we always say ,“Have you eaten yet?” What are you going to do?” • In English, people often employ the following expressions to greet each other “Good morning/evening/afternoon. “Fine day, isn’t it? ”How is everything going?”,etc.
pliments and Response
• For example, if a hostess is complimented for her cooking skill ,how she will response in west and china?
EHale Waihona Puke st&West• A Chinese hostess will apologize for giving you “Nothing”. She will say“I just made some dishes casually and they are not very tasty.” • An western hostess is likely to say,” Oh, I am so glad that you liked it. I cook it especially for you.”
What we can see from it?
• The Americans are “straight forwardness”, the Chinese take pride in “modesty”. In the response to compliments. Chinese are tend to efface themselves in words or refuse it, although they do feel comfortable about the compliments.
Western and Chinese cultures have diverse ways to deal with leave-takings.
• Western people always try to make their leaving sound reluctant by finding some reasons and apologize for it to make the leaving acceptable for both parties. They often signal several times before
• In a formal setting, westerners address men as "Mister" (Mr), married women as "Misses" ("Mrs."), and unmarried women as "Miss" ( "Ms."). These days many women prefer to be addressed using the abbreviations "Ms." , pronounced "miz". • In an informal situation, westerners will introduce each other by first name, without titles, and occasional ly by just the last name.