中西文化之时间观念差异.ppt

Chinese Culture VSWestern Culture about Time As it is,language reflects culture. But besides,the languages,time does contribute a lot to the understanding between different cultures.This silent language is telling us a lot. What is time? Is it a thing to be saved or spent or wasted, like money? Or is it something we have no control over, like the weather? Is time the same all over the world? Thats an easy question, you say. Wherever you go, a minute is 60 seconds, an hour is 60 minutes, a day is 24 hours, and so forth. Punctualty Meeting In business meeting, 5 minites late is OK in Western country.In China,if one is going to be late,no one will know how much time he or she will be late. Class In Western country,teacher could be late(at most for 20 minutes) and the students should wait for him or her.In China,students feel that the teachers bear the unshakable responsibility to arrive on time,or they will be absent in 10 minutes. Dinner Chinese visitors refer to come as early as possible to help the host to prepare the dinner.The Western country. would come a little later than the appointed time so the host could get a better preparation Punctualty Chinese people are more costumed to Polychronic-Time Chinese people used to do several things during a time Punctualty While Western country.are used to Monochronic-Time Americans prefer to do one things at a time. Waiting Chinese In China,people are willing too wait. They believe that waiting can maintain good relationship. The time they spent on waiting may not contain much massage. Western country. While in west culture,waiting is a waste of time.People have no tolerance to waiting too long.And the time spent in waiting may contain some massage such as someone is inactive. If some one want to be successful,he or she will not make others to wait. Reasons The history of China covers more than 4000 years, Chinese expectations for the length of long-term projects may be