An essential part of learning to communicate in a new language is learning about the culture of those that speak it. This is particularly true if you plan to do business in your new language. Chinese is no exception. On the contrary, Chinese society is largely run on guānxì (connections), a set of personal relationships based on trust and mutual benefits, and tapping into these connections requires a strong understanding of Chinese customs and culture. Here are some basics to get you started.
Names: It is considered respectful to address a Chinese person with the person’s last name followed by his or her title. For example, if you want to address Mr. Wang, you need to say Wáng xiānsheng. Keep in mind that full names in Chinese are also placed in a different order than in English: the last name is put before the first name.
Titles of Address: Other titles you might hear are xiǎojiě (Miss) and tàitai/fūren (Mrs.). In the business world, you might also hear chǎngzhǎng (director), zhǔxí (chairman), zǒngcái (president), fùzǒngcái (vice president) and jīnglǐ (manager). Again, put the title after the family name, so for example, Director Liu would be Liú Chǎngzhǎng.
Small Talk: Our concept of “small talk” is different from that of Chinese people. Specifically, Chinese people will not fill empty silences by discussing “light” topics such as the weather as American often do. On the other hand, they might ask you some personal questions, to show interest and get to know you. Don’t be surprised if you are asked your age and marital status shortly after meeting someone.
At a restaurant: If you are a visitor in China, it is very likely that your hosts will take you out for a meal at a Chinese restaurant. Often, you will eat “family style,” that is, the host will order several dishes for the table, and each person will take a bit of food from these shared plates onto their own bowl/dish.
An essential skill to make a good impression is using chopsticks. Get down the basics on using chopsticks elegantly by reading this excellent blog post on the topic by our Japanese e-Tutor, Sakura. In addition to her tips, remember to rest your chopsticks next to your bowl after you are finished and to never stick the chopsticks upright into your food.
Tea is almost always served with meals in China. Allow the host to serve you your tea. A traditional way to say thank you after someone has poured you tea is to tap lightly on the table with your index and middle finger. (You can learn the backstory to this tradition in our Advanced Chinese course.)
Finally, if you are invited to someone’s home to eat, show up on time, or even a few minutes early! In America, showing up early may not be appreciated, but in China it is a sign of respect. Showing up “fashionably late” will not be appreciated.
Want to learn more? In 2016, we’ll be releasing a new course, Chinese for Business, which will further prepare those wanting to communicate in Chinese in a business context. Stay tuned for more information on our website!
