跨文化交际 中美友谊观.docVIP

Differences between Chinese and American on pattern of friendship People from Chinese culture and American culture both need friendship in their lives, which is established in different interactions with others in offices, social activities, schools, communities and so on. However, the meaning of word “friend”, the involvement in the friendship, the maintainance of friendship and the expectations of friends are remarkably distinctive between these two cultures. Chinese has quite clear definition of friend and friendship. They establish friendships with like—minded friends whom they affectively bond to or those who share the similar personalities, otherwise, they can not be real friends but just acquaintances. However, for the America, the meaning of “friend” is board, including everyone from causal acquaintance to a best friend. Chinese involve deeply and affectively in friendship. For one thing, Chinese like enclosing a lot of things to their friends range from age to the conflict with a person, therefore, Chinese share plentiful aspects of their good friends’ lives and they are quite familiar with each other. To Chinese people, the more secrets they know about each other, the closer their relationship is. A Chinese may angry with her good friend if she notes that her good friend conceals something from her because she will think she dose not play an important role in her friend’s life. For another thing, the process of establishing friendship is quite the opposite of that of Americans. Chinese are inclined to be reserved and shy when they meet strangers and the relation begins with less intimacy, however, their inner line of defense gradually decrease and they become much closer after they get alone with each other for a period of time. That is not only because they do not take privacy seriously but also because most Chinese prefer to be with others rather than stay alone , which helps their relationship to go deeper. When they want to do something or go some