Chinese and Western cultural differences(英语论文).docVIP

Chinese and Western cultural differences What is the culture?As people said, it is the same custom, habits, minds and the way of thinking people would have in the same environment. So, culture is not the character of one person, but the product of many persons who have the same society experience, and the same education. Different cultural factors may result in cultural differences, and consequently. With China entry the WTO and will hold the Olympic Games in 2008, the relationship between China and Western in politics, economy, culture will become more and more close.In the following, we will look at some cultural different between China and western. It is undoubtedly that the etiquette will play an important role in this question. To the definition of etiquette, China and Western have a different understanding. As Chinese thinks that the etiquette is the common behavior standards that all the members must obey, and its purpose is to keep the normal living order of the society. We start with the language. There are fixed sayings to express thanks and sorry in both Chinese and English. Cultural differences exist between Chinese and western in how to express thanks and responses. “Thank you” is widely used in English to show gratitude in such cases as being invited, helped, given a gift,and so on. In fact, “Thank you” is uttered in English for more than acknowledging favor or gratitude, and it is often a means to show politeness.On many occasions, the English use this utterance while the Chinese may do not say a word at all but just smile or nod. We use thank you occasion for less than the Westerners, in particular, are very close friends and family members rarely say thank you. So in Chinese, “Thank you” not only shows politeness but also carries a person’s grateful feeling for those who offer help. In the other hand, English speakers may respond to “Thank you ” by saying : You are welcome or it’s my pleasure/ Not at all/ Don’t mention it/That’s a