Chinese politeness have always been formal to follow strict rules, although sometimes Chinese people seem to be impolite according to Western standards in public places. To well understand Chinese, some concepts should not be ignored.
Mianzi
The idea of shame, usually expressed as 'face' could be loosely defined as the 'status' or 'self-respect' in Chinese and by no means alien to foreigners. It is the worst thing for a Chinese to lose face. Never insult, embarrass, shame, yell at or otherwise
demean a person. Since all these actions would risk putting a Chinese in a situation that he might lose face, neither try to prove someone wrong nor shout at him in public. In order to get a successful effect without letting a Chinese lose face, any criticism should be delivered privately, carefully, or else, just opposite to what you wish.
Guanxi
Throughout much of Chinese history, the fundamental glue that has held society together is the concept of guanxi, relationships between people. It is very important for the Chinese to have good relationships. They often regard good social relations as a symbol of personal ability and influence. Someone who has no connections would be disrespected and is only half-Chinese.
Keqi
Keqi not only means considerate, polite, and well mannered, but also represents respect and modesty. It is impolite to talk too proudly about oneself or one's inner circle. The expression is most often used in the negative, as in buyao keqi, meaning "you shouldn't be so kind and polite to me," or "you're welcome."
Besides, Chinese seldom express what they think directly and they prefer a roundabout way. Neither show their emotions and feelings in public. They rarely greet people with a handshake, though it is very popular among foreigners, and say nothing of embracing or kissing when greeting or saying good-bye. Consequently, it is better not to behave too carefree in public, even though you are well-intentioned. Also, it is advisable to be fairly cautious in political discussions. Do not particularly push yourself forward, or else you are unwelcome.
To sum up,
do in Rome as Rome does, but you need not worry about these cultural barriers since most Chinese are hospitable and friendly and will not mind your no accomplishment.
小题1:In most Chinese’s eyes, the fundamental glue holding society together is the idea of ____.
| A．relationships between people | B．influences upon others |
| C．dependence on others | D．kindness to others |
小题2:The underlined word “demean” in the first paragraph means make people _____.
| A．respectful | B．happy | C．shameful | D．weak |
小题3:Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．It is impolite to insult, embarrass, shame or shout at a person. |
| B．It is polite that you should bring gifts to others when invited to dinner. |
| C．It is necessary to show your character of being considerate, polite, and well mannered. |
| D．It is important for the Chinese to have good relationships between people. |
小题4: Which of the following proverbs has the same meaning as the underlined sentence “Do in Rome as Rome does.”?
| A．Caution is the parent of safety. | B．Many hands make light work. |
| C．There’s no smoke without fire. | D．If you are elsewhere, live as they do there. |
