UNDERSTANDING

THE LOCAL CULTURE

OF
CHINA
 OBJECTIVES
•TO PROVIDE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
AND,
•TO LEARN THE INTERESTING PART OF
CHINA’S CULTURE
 COMMUNICATION STYLE

< CHINESE COMMUNICATION SPEAKS VOLUMES

< SINCE THE CHINESE STRIVE FOR HARMONY, AND ARE GROUP DEPENDENT THEY RELY ON <THE FACIAL EXPRESSION,

TONE OF VOICE AND POISTURE TO CONVEY MEANING OR INTENTION.

< FROWNING WHILE SOMEONE IS SPEAKING IS INTERPRETED AS A SIGN OF DISAGREEMENT.

< IT IS CONSIDERED DISRESPECTFUL TO STARE IN TO ANOTHER PERSON’S EYES.

• PERSONAL SPACE
• CHINESE PEOPLE ARE PRECIOUS OF THEIR PERSONAL SPACE AND DO NOT LIKE OVER-FAMILIARITY.

• TOUCHING IS ONLY ACCEPTABLE BETWEEN FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS

• PROLONGED EYE CONTACT COULD BE SEEN AS CONFRONTATIONAL AND AVOIDING EYE CONTACT CAN BE
SEEN AS REVERENTIAL RATHER THAN RUDE.
• GIFT GIVING

• THE CHINESE LIKE FOOD AND NICE FOOD BASKET WILL MAKE A GREAT GIFT
• ALWAYS PRESENT GIFTS WITH TWO HANDS
• GIFTS MAY BE REFUSED THREE TIMES BEFORE THEY ARE ACCEPTED.
• LANGUAGE IN CHINA IS MANDARIN, OFTEN KNOWN AS THE ‘HAN LANGUAGE’ WHICH IS SPOKEN IN

THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND TAIWAN. IT IS THE LANGUAGE FAVOURED BY THE GOVERNMENT,

EDUCATION, AND MEDIA.

• MEETINGS AND GREETINGS:

• GREETINGS ARE FORMAL AND THE OLDEST PERSON IS ALWAYS GREETED FIRST

• HANDSHAKES ARE THE MOST COMMON FORM OF GREETING WITH FOREIGNERS.

• MANY CHINESE WILL LOOK TOWARDS THE GROUND WHEN GREETING SOMEONE.

• ADDRESS THE PERSON WITH HONORIFIC TITLE AND THEIR SURNAME.

• THE CHINESE HAVE A TERRIFIC SENSE OF HUMOUR. THEY CAN LAUGH AT THEMSELVES MOST READILY IF

THEY HAVE A COMFORTABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OTHER PERSON. BE READY TO LAUGH AT

YOURSELF GIVEN THE PROPER CIRCUMSTANCES

• DINING AND FOOD
• THE CHINESE PREFER TO ENTERTAIN IN PUBLIC PLACES THAN IN THEIR HOMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENTERTAINING
FOREIGNERS.

• IF YOU’RE INVITED TO A CHINESE HOME,CONSIDER IT AS A GREAT HONOUR. IF YOU MUST TURN DOWN SUCH AN
HONOUR,IT IS CONSIDERD POLITE TO EXPLAIN THE CONFLICT IN YOUR SCHEDULE SO THAT YOUR ACTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN
AS A SLIGHT.
• ARRIVE ON TIME
• REMOVE YOUR SHOES BEFORE ENTERING THE HOUSE

• BRING ASMALL GIFT TO THE HOSTESS

• EAT WELL TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU’RE ENOYING THE FOOD

• TABLE MANNERS
• LEARN TO USE CHOPSTICKS
• WAIT TO BE TOLD WHERE TO SIT. THE GUEST OF HONOUR WILL BE GIVEN A SEAT FACING THE DOOR.
• CHOPSTICKS SHOULD NOT BE PLACED UPWARDS IN A BOWL OF RICE AS THIS SEEN AS BAD LUCK
• BUSINESS CULTURE AND ETIQUETTE
• WHAT TO WEAR:
• BUSINESS ATTIRE IS CONSERVATIVE AND UNPRETENTIOUS.
• MEN SHOULD WEAR DARK COLOURED, CONSERVATIVE BUSINESS SUITS
• WOMEN SHOULD WEAR CONSERVATIVE BUSINESS SUITS OR DRESSES WITH A HIGH NECKLINE.
• WOMEN SHOULD WEAR FLAT SHOES
• BRIGHT COLOURS SHOULD BE AVOIDED
• TITLES:
• IN A FORMAL SITUATION WITH THE CHINESE, PEOPLE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THEIR TITLE
FOLLOWED BY THEIR LAST NAME.
• WHEN MEETING IN A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, PROFFESIONAL TITLES CAN BE USED.
• GENDER ROLES:

• HISTORICALLY, WOMEN HELD A SUBORDINATE ROLE TO THAT OF MEN ALTHOUGH HAD

SOME POWER OF AUTHORITY WITHIN THE HOME.
• CONFUCIANISM PLAYED A ROLE IN SUBJUGATION OF WOMEN WHO WERE SEEN AS THE
POSSESSIONS OF MEN, FIRST BY THEIR FATHER AND THEN BY THEIR HUSBAND.
• THE TRADITIONAL OF FOOT BINDING WAS ANOTHER SYMBOL OF THE POWER MEN HAD
OVER WOMEN WHO WERE VIRTUALLY CRIPPLED FROM AN EARLY STAGE OF THEIR LIVES BY
THE PRACTICE.IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY THAT THIS PRACTICE WAS
BANNED.
• THE ROLE OF WOMEN BEGAN TO CHANGE DURING THE 20TH CENTURY, PARTICULARLY
FOLLOWING THE FOUNDATION OF THE PEOPLE REPUBLIC, WHEN THE EQUALITY OF THE
SEXES WAS ENCOURAGED. HOWEVER, THE STRONG IDEOLOGY OF CONFUCIANISM WHICH
IDENTIFIES WOMEN AS WEAK STILL PREVAILS IN SOME COMMUNITIES.
• THE IMPORTANCE OF “FACE” :
• FACE IS AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT IN CHINESE SOCIETY. IT TRANSLATES AS ‘HONOUR’ ‘GOOD REPUTATION’ OR
‘RESPECT’.
• THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF ‘FACE’ :
• DUI-MIAN-ZI : THIS IS WHEN ONES ACTIONS OR DEEDS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO PEOPLE.
• GEI- MIAN – ZI : INVOLVES THE GIVING OF FACE TO OTHERS THROUGH SHOWING RESPECT
• LIU-MIAN-ZI : THIS IS DEVELOPED BY AVOIDING MISTAKES AND SHOWING WISDOM IN ACTION.
• JIANG- MIAN- ZI : IS WHEN FACE IS INCREASED THROUGH OTHERS, SOMEONE COMPLEMENTING YOU TO AN
ASSOCIATE.
 SOURCES
< Commisceoglobalconsultingltd.China-language,
Culture,customsandettiquette.www.Commisceo-
global.Com1jan.2019https://Commisceo-global.Com/Resources/Country-
guides/China-guide
< Interesting trditions of China by Sashula
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