In the open and modern society，the differences among different counties is more and more important and also becomes a attractive distinguishing feature in the modern communication . However, the culture differences could be seen everywhere in the social intercourse . The culture elements of the language condition have been attached importance universally . The followings are ten common differences between English countries and China .
1. Answering questions
In the sentence which resist against the interrogative sentence of justice, Chinese always answer in definite words or in negative words directly using “right”or “wrong” . For example, “In my opinion ,your age is under 20, is that true?” Our Chinese would answer like this :“Oh , yes ,I’m not reach 20 years old”. Or “No, I have 30 years old” . However , in English, they always answer according to the real result of the facts. For example ,“You are not a student, are you?” They always would answer like this “Yes, I am ”or “No, I’m not ”
2. Relatives appellation .
The English appellation always focus on the family . One generation have one plate of the appellation and distinguish the male and female . While ignore the appellation differences of the spouse sex . But this shows the equality of the male and the female . For example , in
English, they just use “grandfather” to stand for both the mother’s and the father’s father . while in China ,we have two different appellations to our mother’s and our father’s father . “grandmother” is the same as “grandfather”. Take another example , the same generation of our parents , in English , they just use “uncle” to stand for both our mother’s and father’s younger brothers or elder brothers. But in China ,we still have two different appellations to our mother’s and father’s brothers . besides , from our Chinese appellations we can also know who is elder of them two . The appellation of “aunt” in English and in China is also the same like the situation of “uncle” . Besides , in English ,as to the future generation , they just use “nephew” to call both mother’s and father’s brothers’ or sisters’ sons, and use “niece” to call both mother’s and father’s brothers’ or sisters’ daughters . However , the “cousin” could be used to call all the future generations no matter what sex they are or they are closely to our mother or father .
3. The Principle Part of Considering Questions
Our Chinese always like focusing on the opposite side and considering the feelings of the opposite side . For example : “What books do you want to buy?” or “What kinds of books would you like to borrow?” However , in English , they always start from their own state, for example , “Can I help you?” or “What can I do for you?”
4. Regards to Language
Chinese people generally say hello to each other’s position or movement to the starting point for thinking . For example : “Where would you like to go?” or “Do you go to work or go back home?” . While western people usually think that these are all their personal affairs, and the others shouldn’t ask casually . So they always just say “Hi/Hello , Good morning/afternoon/evening/night! How are you? Or it’s a lovely day , isn’t it?” and so on when they meet each other .
5. Facing Flatter
Modest and cautions are our Chinese traditions . Therefore Chinese always decline when the others flatter them or praise them even though they really did very well ! For example ,if A says “You speak so wonderful English!” While the Chinese B will always say “Oh , no ,no, it’s so bad, I know you are just joking!” However , if the person B is a western person , he or she would always say “Thank you” or “I’m very glad to hear that. ” So we students should pay attention to this . In the western countries or in the western people’s eyes , it is impolite even hypocritical if the others praised you while you answer with negative words .
6. Phone Language
There is nearly no differences between the words used at ordinary times and the words used in phone language . A Chinese will always say
like this when he or she has a phone “hello , I want to trouble you to let Wang Wei answer the phone . ” or “I’m Zhang Ying , who are you please?”
While in English , the words used at ordinary times are much different from the words used in phone language . For example , when they answer the phone they usually say like this “Hello , this is John speaking , could I speak to Tom please? ” or “Is that Mary speaking ?” The western people usually say their own phone number or the name of their work units first . For example : “Hello , 52164768 , this is Jim . ”At the beginning of learning English , Chinese students always make faults like this , they usually say like this “Hello , who are you please?”
7. Accepting Gifts
When the Chinese received the gifts , they always set the gifts aside . They will too impatient to open the gifts after making sure that all the guests have left . Besides , when the Chinese accept the gifts they will usually say “Oh , why do you send me a gift?” , “Not to be repeated!” , or “I’m really sorry for letting you spend money!” . While the western people ,when they received gifts , they will always open the gift at once and say “Very beautiful!” , “Wow , what a wonderful gift it is !” or “Thank you for your present!” .
8. Called Language
The Chinese always ask the opposite side’s age ,income and family
and so on when they meet the others . While the western are disgusted with these questions , they think these are their private affairs . The western call all the men who don’t have blood relationship with them “Mr” , call the women who don’t have blood relationship with them and don’t marry “Miss” and the women has married “Mrs” . The Chinese attached much importance to family , family that flesh and blood . To show courtesy to strangers want to call relatives , for example “uncle , aunt , big brother and sister and so on . ”
9. Considerate of Others
In the western countries , the way they offer help , concern and sympathy to the others will always according to the opposite side’s feelings . While when the Chinese always offer help warmly and in every possible way . For example , a student studying abroad saw an old professor was walking haltingly on the busy road . To show sympathy for him ,the student went towards him fastly , support him and wanted to convey him safely . But the old professor stared at him . Please read the dialoge below .
Chinese Student: Mr White ,you are so pale , are you sick ? English Teacher: Well , yes , I have got a bad cold for several days . Chinese Student: Well , you should go to see a doctor as soon as possible .
English Teacher: Er , what do you mean ?
In China ,when a person advice you to see a doctor when you catch a cold ,it shows that the person is concerning about you sincerely . While in America ,they don’t think so ,they think that do my sickness so seriously that I have to see a doctor ? So , facing these situation , you just say “I’m sorry to hear that!” is enough .
10. Dinners
The Chinese always prepare for many dishes when they give a dinner for friends and always persuade the guests to eat more during the meal . At the same time ,they will always say “The dishes are so few , just a ordinary meal ,please forgive ! ” Besides ,they will always clip for the guests . While the western people will be puzzled . There are so many dishes , why do they say few? This is not the true reaction . So when they give a dinner for friends,they don’t prepare much dishes but delicious . During the meal they just say “Help yourself to some vegetables, please!” The above just ten small differences between Chinese culture and English culture. But these are very common and small, but important!! Different countries have different customs. So we must know about them before we go there. Then we could behave ourselves well in the foreign countries.
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