中美文化比较.docx

A Comparison Between Chinese and Western CulturesAbstract: The cross culture communication between China and the assorted nations of the West in the world is of utmost significance to not only in the process of economic operation and cultural exchange but also to the national image building, International Relations protecting, international status elevating, which, were considered widely as the essential and indispensable parts in every nations long-lasting development. In that case the fostering of talents who are of cross culture skills has been one of the critical tasks in the modern age of every country especially developing country which face both chances and challenges at the brink of the new millennium. China is not out of the list. In the pursuit of more active behaviors presented to the other nations and seizing the chances as well as meeting the challenges tactically, both our government and we citizens are supposed to make an effort .There has been an heated trend of learning foreign language especially English since the epoch-making moment when China joined into the WTO. But that did not mean that we can know the other country well so that we have no communication barriers with them. As a vital communication tool, in spite of the essential to successful cross culture communications, language ability is not equal to the cross culture communication ability. Key words: comparison; same point; Chinese and English culturesA Comparison Between Chinese and Western CulturesIntroductionIn the body part several differences between Chinese and English cultures as well as some same points will be presented to the reference to the study of cross culture communication.BodyDIFFERENCESGreetingIn English culture, people greet each other Good Morning from the time one gets up in the early morning to the afternoon. And Good Afternoon after this time then Good Evening for time after dinner.When people meet each other for the first time, How do you do? is often used, especially on formal occasion. And Hello or Hi serves the purpose on in formal occasions. When acquaintances meet each other , How are you/How is everything going/How is it going ?is of high frequency for greeting, which does not mean that the person who greets is really care something about the others health but just to express a good will. So, Fine. Thank you./Fine. is enough for response. However, whats up? is suitable between close friends.In some cases western people may hug each other, but not between people who are not close. So do not hug anyone who, you are not sure wants to hug in case that a sense of uncomfortable arises. Actually Hello/Hi is enough on any occasions.In China the most common greeting takes place at around meal time when people always asks the other Have you had your lunch/dinner. Western people must feel confused or consider it as an invitation to a meal. However, this greeting way has its historical reason: the problem of food had always haunted people because of death or living in hunger came from lack of food（1）. So people took the idea firmly that food was the first necessity in their daily life. Food topped the list of peoples concerns so greeting each other this way.The second common way of greeting is asking the other where you are going. This way of greeting shows the friendliness and familiarity between the two. In Chinese culture that does not mean an infringement of privacy but help to strengthen the tie between people.It is worthwhile to be mention that in Chinese culture the greeting of juniors to seniors is radically different from Western. Not hug but the typical traditional way Where are you going ,uncle/aunt？ That is an expressing of good will.Nowadays, when meeting colleagues, friends, acquaintances or even strangers, nihao (hello) becomes an all-time greeting for people.Way of Raising ChildrenAmerican regard it a shame to rely on or take too much from others even the closest relations and great friends, which explains why American children are born into a culture that loves independences. May be it has something to do with the countrys history of being colonizing. Being independent was the utmost pursuit to the nation more than two centuries ago. Hammering the concept of being independent in the children has deep-rooted in the history of struggling against colonizers. Therefore, act immediately! Western people do not wait the so-called Best Time for asking their children to be independent. In their culture, the parents believes that children all have the abilities of self-reflection and self-education, which are of great assistance to gain happiness and acquire assorted knowledge and skills in the duration of Do it by themselves. So giving a hand to the child who falls over will not be appreciated greatly but encouraging the child to stand up by himself. That is a sort of respect to the children in their mind. But in Chinese the situation will certainly be totally different: How could the parents leave the apple in their eyes to suffer the pain? Many families in western countries have attached great importance to the childrens abilities of rely on their own strength. Based on this idea, parents train and strengthen the childrens self-awareness and the ability to live independently from an early age. For example, to let them cherish the value of labor, to let the children do-it-yourself repair, to ask children share housework, to help to paint houses, so and forth. Western children engaged in the newspaper delivery and other work, which help to the establishment of enduring hardship. In the cold winter, the Western children have already gotten up and doing the from -door- to- door delivery when the Chinese children at the same age are still anchored to the warm and comfortable bed.It is the seemingly cruel way of education criticized by Chinese parents that bring the Western children the independent life skills. This kind of growth environment made the independent and socially responsible citizens out of little boys and girls gradually. So, Americans even children prefer to be independent and “free” of obligations to them.While in China, children are to whom parents lay high expectations. Children are supposed to study and study and study to outshine them from their peers .Study is the sole occupation in their daily life. Therefore the neglect of the abilities of being independent and social adaptation, or international relationship skills, or the psychological health is common on childrens education. Bring the family honor, such as being successful economically by landing a lucrative jobs, or gain certain amount of fame around the community, is the duty-bound responsibility and the life-long pursuit to Chinese children.Religious BeliefsIn the West, most people have strong religious belief, which, in the first place, promoted the social stability and national unity. And personally, the burden coming from all aspects of life can be removed in the assistance of religious belief. However, believers of different religions may cherish enmities towards each other. Social problems such as racial discriminations even wars among different nations occur when religious conflicts reach a breaking point. Here is an interesting paragraph in Mark Twains The Damned Human Race: Next, in another cage I confined an Irish CatholicNext a Turk; a Greek Christian; a Methodist form ArkansasFinally, a Salvation Army Colonel form WappingWhen I came back to note results, in the cage there was but a chaos of gory odds and ends of turban and plaids and bones and flesh-not a specimen left alive. These Reasoning Animals had disagreed on a theological detail and carried the matter to a Higher Court (2). Although the real aim of the author was not to describe some conflicts emerging from religious belief diversities I cite it for a better understanding of problems caused by that.While in China, religious belief did not deserve as much attentions in peoples mind as that in the West. It has ever been a laughing-stocking by Western people. Actually Chinese have Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Although in many ways the three opposite to each others relief, complement to the adherents was served all the time. And among the countless wars in Chinese history there were not wars of religion breaking out.SMME POINTSBut there are also many same points between the Western and Eastern cultures. And in this essay one of them will be presented. We all know that in China, especially in ancient time, people all appreciated to have a boy/boys rather than a girl/girls for a family, which resulted from the traditional concept that Man is superior to woman. But China is not the only one that is to say, in the West, men enjoy the status superiority. And one can find out something in the male-dominant society relate to that in many aspect, among which is language.There is sexism in language. It is a rule that in English, when the gender is unknown, He/His/Him can be used for referring to the human race; it is said that in English words do not have meanings, people have meanings for words. So the meanings given by people of so many words lose its original commendatory meanings and turn to one is totally opposite when they were related to female. For instances, Governess means mistress but not Governor; She is professional means she is a prostitute rather than an occupation of her; she is a hard woman means she is cool-hearted, which differ absolutely from what He is a hard man means. The examples are