4. Cultural Differences: Chinese vs. Western
The biggest mistake you can make dealing with foreigners is to think that everybody in the world is the same as you are and also that they see and understand things the same way as you do!
The Chinese name for their country is “Middle Kingdom” as in the old times they considered themselves the center of the world, and thousands of years of such thinking do not go wasted for a nation.
The Chinese Concepts of Face and Harmony. The Chinese are extremely sensitive to “saving face” or “losing face”; it has to do with dignity, self-respect and especially honor or lack of it (as a result of some social humiliation which is a big no-no!). Never ever allow your Chinese client to get into a situation that can translate for him into “loss of face” (do not disagree with him in public, do not try to show that you are right and he is wrong, do not answer him in the negative or do not point out his mistake). Things must look harmonious and pleasant, at least on the surface, and never cause “loss of face” to anybody. Always quietly and modestly blame any misunderstanding or miscommunication if it happens on yourself only. Trust. Trust. Trust. Nothing new and unusual in reaching trust with any client, right? Just developing trust is much more important with a Chinese client. Historically, the Chinese trust their family only (and some close circle of relatives and friends), but anyway do your best to win their business by being open, detailed and honest. The Chinese Name & Surname. Opposite to the Western order - a given name first, sometimes a middle name, then a family name - the Chinese always put the surname first, it’s one character, then the given name which is usually two characters. So, Deng Xiaoping will be Mr. Deng, Xi Jinping will be Mr. Xi, Zhou Yu-Hong will be Ms. Zhou. Of course, you can’t say looking at their names on your own whether a Chinese person is a male or female, you need help with that. The westernized Chinese folks may use the Western way and put their first name first, or sometimes even change their given name to an English one. The Chinese are much more formal than Westerners. It displays every way: They do not show too much friendliness - never ever would a Chinese slap backs and grab arms of anybody as an American would do even to the Queen of England without hesitation; a Chinese woman would become completely frozen if somebody tries to peck her on the cheeks; they do not even smile at a stranger or make an eye contact as this is considered impolite while in America it’s the other way around! Never on a first name basis unless specifically asked. Always address the Chinese in a …show more content…
Our mothers taught us not to ask people questions about their salaries, cost of their homes, marital status and the like. But for a Chinese such questions are not a taboo, they may ask you about anything, and this is not offensive in their mind, it is their way to be friendly and know you better. Try to get around somehow politely if you are not inclined to answer directly.
Money. The Chinese love money and talk about money. They truly believe in what the Chinese proverb says: “Money can buy a lot that is not even for sale”.
Women. In the past women were always submissive to men in China, but the Communist Party freed them and announced equal to men. Now the old fights the new all the time in this regard, and the Chinese women want to get married and start family and also to get a successful career or business and make money of their own. Women keep their original family names in marriage, while children receive their fathers’ family names.
Karaoke is a favorite pastime for the Chinese.
Smoking and Drinking. Yes, they do a lot of both. If you do not want to drink along with your Chinese client during after-hours entertainment, excuse yourself by saying something about your medication not to be mixed with alcohol - not to make any offence of refusing the favor, destroying harmony by that and creating “loss of face” for your
The biggest mistake you can make dealing with foreigners is to think that everybody in the world is the same as you are and also that they see and understand things the same way as you do!
The Chinese name for their country is “Middle Kingdom” as in the old times they considered themselves the center of the world, and thousands of years of such thinking do not go wasted for a nation.
The Chinese Concepts of Face and Harmony. The Chinese are extremely sensitive to “saving face” or “losing face”; it has to do with dignity, self-respect and especially honor or lack of it (as a result of some social humiliation which is a big no-no!). Never ever allow your Chinese client to get into a situation that can translate for him into “loss of face” (do not disagree with him in public, do not try to show that you are right and he is wrong, do not answer him in the negative or do not point out his mistake). Things must look harmonious and pleasant, at least on the surface, and never cause “loss of face” to anybody. Always quietly and modestly blame any misunderstanding or miscommunication if it happens on yourself only. Trust. Trust. Trust. Nothing new and unusual in reaching trust with any client, right? Just developing trust is much more important with a Chinese client. Historically, the Chinese trust their family only (and some close circle of relatives and friends), but anyway do your best to win their business by being open, detailed and honest. The Chinese Name & Surname. Opposite to the Western order - a given name first, sometimes a middle name, then a family name - the Chinese always put the surname first, it’s one character, then the given name which is usually two characters. So, Deng Xiaoping will be Mr. Deng, Xi Jinping will be Mr. Xi, Zhou Yu-Hong will be Ms. Zhou. Of course, you can’t say looking at their names on your own whether a Chinese person is a male or female, you need help with that. The westernized Chinese folks may use the Western way and put their first name first, or sometimes even change their given name to an English one. The Chinese are much more formal than Westerners. It displays every way: They do not show too much friendliness - never ever would a Chinese slap backs and grab arms of anybody as an American would do even to the Queen of England without hesitation; a Chinese woman would become completely frozen if somebody tries to peck her on the cheeks; they do not even smile at a stranger or make an eye contact as this is considered impolite while in America it’s the other way around! Never on a first name basis unless specifically asked. Always address the Chinese in a …show more content…
Our mothers taught us not to ask people questions about their salaries, cost of their homes, marital status and the like. But for a Chinese such questions are not a taboo, they may ask you about anything, and this is not offensive in their mind, it is their way to be friendly and know you better. Try to get around somehow politely if you are not inclined to answer directly.
Money. The Chinese love money and talk about money. They truly believe in what the Chinese proverb says: “Money can buy a lot that is not even for sale”.
Women. In the past women were always submissive to men in China, but the Communist Party freed them and announced equal to men. Now the old fights the new all the time in this regard, and the Chinese women want to get married and start family and also to get a successful career or business and make money of their own. Women keep their original family names in marriage, while children receive their fathers’ family names.
Karaoke is a favorite pastime for the Chinese.
Smoking and Drinking. Yes, they do a lot of both. If you do not want to drink along with your Chinese client during after-hours entertainment, excuse yourself by saying something about your medication not to be mixed with alcohol - not to make any offence of refusing the favor, destroying harmony by that and creating “loss of face” for your