Differences between Chinese and English etiquette

In the international business world, it is generally believed that British social etiquette, which has the reputation of a gentleman, is the representative of western social etiquette. The courtesy and modesty of our country with ancient Chinese civilization have always been praised by the world. So, do you know the difference between Chinese and English etiquette? Let me tell you the differences between Chinese and English manners.

First, the differences between Chinese and English etiquette

1. Don't beat around the bush in the conversation.

When talking about business or work in Britain, it's best to be direct, and beating around the bush will be considered a waste of time. The British said? No? Not to start bargaining with you, but to show that this is what they want to express. At the same time, British people have a good sense of humor, but when joking, they may look serious on the outside, interspersed with some light jokes in serious conversations.

2. Socialization begins in a bar.

China students may have a polite but cold impression of the British. Usually, British people don't like being too intimate, and think it is superficial and insincere. Too much enthusiasm and attention will make the British feel strange and uncomfortable, so it really takes some time to establish friendship with them. Privacy is very important to the British. Personal problems, such as marriage, love relationship, finance, health and other topics, unless the other party is a good friend, try to avoid them. In addition, the bar is a social center where British people like to get together with friends, and China students may be invited? Go out for a drink? (Go out for a pint) as a start to socialize with English students.

3. Eat and chat alternately.

When visiting British families, you should be punctual for appointments and prepare some small gifts. It is considered impolite to arrive early. When eating, it is polite to finish all the food on your plate. If there are leftovers, it means that guests don't like them in Britain. British people like to talk while eating, so we should pay attention to the alternation of eating and talking. It is impolite to open your mouth when eating, so it is best to put only a small amount of food in your mouth when eating. If you have to open your mouth wide, you'd better cover it with one hand. In British culture, it is considered polite to stay for social conversation after dinner, so the party may last for several hours.

4. Everything must be reserved.

Pay attention to people in British life and tell them in advance before visiting friends. Uninvited guests can be annoying. You should try to avoid calling other people's homes after 10 pm. Calling after 1 1 in the afternoon is likely to be regarded as an emergency by the British. Many services in Britain need to make an appointment in advance, such as seeing a doctor, getting a haircut, getting a facelift and getting glasses. If you need to cancel the reservation, you must inform the other party 24 hours in advance, otherwise you may have to pay for it yourself.

It is very useful to learn more proverbs.

In life in Britain, China students may encounter many unfamiliar or even incomprehensible proverbs. When you first arrive in Britain, knowing some common expressions in advance will bring great help to your life. For example,? Toilet? Refers to the toilet (WC). Tube? Refers to the subway. Tea? In some cases, it means dinner pants? Underwear. People say? Pingping? Don't say (apartment)? Apartment? . ? Tole? What does this mean? Rent it? . In informal situations, often used? Cheers? Instead? Thank you? . When people say. Is it cute? 、? Brilliant? 、? Magnificent? What do they mean? what's up .

Hint, don't bargain

Tipping is very common in British restaurants, because the service charge is not included in the bill, and it is usually paid at about 10% of the bill in restaurants. In the self-service fast food restaurants in Britain, customers should pick up the leftovers themselves, instead of putting them on the table as in China. China people are used to bargaining when shopping, but? Bargaining? It is not common in shops and markets in Britain, or even in stalls. Because the prices of things on stalls in Britain are already very cheap, stall owners generally won't agree to lower prices.

Second, the differences between Chinese and Western food culture

First of all, two different dietary concepts

Contrast attention? Smell? China diet, the west is a rational concept of diet. The key to the unique charm of China's diet lies in its taste.

In China, the pursuit of beauty in diet obviously overwhelms rationality, and this view of diet is also consistent with China's traditional philosophy. As a representative of oriental philosophy, China's philosophy is macroscopic, intuitive, fuzzy and unpredictable. The method of making Chinese food is to reconcile the tripod and finally reconcile a beautiful taste.

Second, the differences between Chinese and Western dieters

Westerners believe that dishes are designed to satisfy hunger, so they specialize in eating large pieces of meat, whole chickens, etc? Hard dish? . What dishes are there in China? Smell? Yes, so China's cooking also shows great arbitrariness in the use of materials: what many westerners regard as discarded are excellent raw materials in China, and what foreign chefs can't handle can become magic once it reaches the hands of chefs in China. It shows that China's diet has a wide range of randomness in materials.

According to the survey of western botanists, people in China eat more than 600 kinds of vegetables, six times more than those in the west. In fact, vegetarian dishes are common foods in China, and meat dishes only enter the normal diet structure during holidays or when the living standard is high.

When introducing the dietary characteristics of their own countries, westerners think that they pay more attention to the reasonable collocation of nutrition than China. There are developed food industries, such as canned food and fast food, which are time-saving and nutritious, so people in their country are generally stronger than people in China: tall, with long legs, wide shoulders and muscular; China people, on the other hand, are thin, with narrow shoulders and short legs and light yellow color. According to the obvious differences between Chinese and western food objects, some people call China a plant word, while westerners call it an animal word.

Third, different ways of eating.

There are great differences between Chinese and western food styles, and this difference also has an impact on national character. In China, any banquet, no matter for what purpose, will only have one form, that is, everyone will sit together and enjoy a seat. Banquets should use round tables to create a United, polite and interesting atmosphere in form. Food is placed in the center of a table, which is not only the object of appreciation and tasting, but also the medium of emotional communication. People toast each other, take food and exhort each other, which embodies the virtue of mutual respect and courtesy between people in the face of beautiful things. Although this way of eating has obvious shortcomings from a health point of view, it conforms to our nation? Happy reunion? Cosmic mentality reflects China's classical philosophy? And then what? The influence of this category on later generations' thoughts is convenient for collective emotional communication, so it is difficult to reform so far.

Although food and wine are very important at western-style banquets, they are actually used as foil. The core of the banquet is friendship, which is realized by talking to the guests next door. If the sociality of banquets is compared to dancing, it can be said that Chinese banquets are like group dances, while western banquets are like ballroom dancing for men and women. It can be seen that the purpose of friendship between Chinese banquet and western banquet is obvious, but Chinese banquet is more about the friendship of the whole banquet, while western banquet is more about the friendship between neighboring guests. China lacks some people to chat and have fun.

Articles on etiquette differences between Chinese and English:

1. A Comparison of Politeness Principles between Chinese and English Appellations

2. Differences in etiquette between China and the West in business negotiations

3. Invitation etiquette in English-speaking countries: How to distinguish between formal and informal?

4. Western table manners on different occasions

5. Cultural differences between China and the West in English-Chinese translation.