从电影《喜福会》中看中美文化的差异

江西师范大学学士论文１CulturalDifferencesBetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatesfromaStudyofTheJoyLuckClub从电影《喜福会》中看中美文化的差异CulturalDifferencesBetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatesfromaStudyofTheJoyLuckClubAbstract:TheJoyLuckClubisadramafilmthatwasadaptedfromthefamousAmerican-ChinesewriterAmyTan'srepresentativemasterpieceTheJoyLuckClub,directedbyWayneWangintheUnitedStatesin1993.ThefilmwascreatedinthecontextofAmyTan'sownfamilyexperience.ThefilmpresentsthestoryoffourmotherswhoemigratedfrommainlandChinatotheUnitedStatesbeforeliberationandtheirbornandbreddaughters'psychologicalbarriers,emotionalconflicts,andgrievances.BasedonthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanculturesinthefilmTheJoyLuckClub,thispaperanalyzesthedifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatesinmanyaspectsofculture,mainlyfromthefollowingaspects:thedifferenceoneducation,thedifferenceonmarriage,thedifferenceonvalues,theviewofreputationandlanguageexpressions,etc.Throughtheportrayalofdifferentcharacters,lifestylesandpersonaldestiniesinTheJoyLuckClub,theculturaldifferencesandblendsbetweenChineseandAmericanculturesaredescribedinalife-orientedmanner,andalsoprofoundlyandmeticulouslyexpressestheinspirationandthinkingofthedifferencesandblendstopeople.Keywords:culturaldifferences;viewstowardsloveandmarriage;values;educationaldifferences;viewofreputation从电影《喜福会》中看中美文化的差异摘要：《喜福会》是改编自美国著名的华裔女作家谭恩美的同名代表作《喜福会》的由王颖导演于1993年在美上映的剧情类电影。该片是以谭恩美自己的家庭经历为背景而创作的。电影呈现给读者的是四位解放前中国大陆移居美国的母亲与她们在美国土生土长的女儿之间的心里隔膜，感情冲突以及恩恩怨怨的故事。本文以电影《喜福会》中中美文化的差异为切入点，分析了中国和美国在文化诸多方面的差异，主要从以下几方面进行了讨论：教育差异，婚姻差异，价值差异，面子观和语言表达等。通过对《喜福会》中不同人物性格、生活方式及个人命运的刻画，生活化地描写了中西方文化差异与交融，也深刻细致地表达出这种差异和交融对人们的启发和思考。关键词：文化差异；爱情婚姻观；价值观；教育差异；面子观ContentsTOC\o"1-1"\h\u1075581675Abstract. １1931354926摘要 ２1066916877Introduction ４1834992891LiteratureReview ５2860331312CulturalDifferencesinTheJoyLuckClubareMainlyReflectedintheFollowingAspects ７12904307312.1TheDifferenceonEducation ７8319448642.2TheDifferencesonMarriage ９2313036312.3TheDifferenceonValuesAftertheChineseEmigratedtotheUnitedStates １０5747251472.3.1TheViewofFamily １０241014232.3.2TheViewofReputation １１13456907252.4LanguageExpressionDifference １３18737285182.4.1languageDifferences １３10550024182.4.2DifferentLanguageExpressionHabits １４18006496943MyOpinionsontheCulturalDifferencesBetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates １４11798535343.1UnderstandingandRespectingForeignCulture １５20818331873.2SeekingCommonGroundwhileReservingDifferences １６4193133383.3ComplementEachOther'sStrengths １７1505425959Conclusion １７41763959Bibliography １９1847189991Acknowledgements ２０IntroductionThepurposeofthestudyistotheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatesinthemovieTheJoyLuckClub.Thisthesisisdividedintothreeparts:briefintroduction,thedifferencesbetweenSino-UScultureinthemovie,themethodofChineseandAmericanculture.Specifically,researchmeansexploringthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanculturesfromtheJoyLuckClubandtofindwaystoliveinharmony.AmyTan（Chinese:谭恩美）,aChinese-Americanwriter,wasbornin1952inOakland,California.In1989,shebecamefamousforherdebutwork,TheJoyLuckClub.Thebookwaspublishedinthe1989NewYorkTimesbestsellerlistfornineconsecutivemonthsandwastranslatedinto25languages.In1993,directedbyWayneWang,thefilmTheJoyLuckClubwasreleased.Thefilmisbasedontheeponymous1989novelbyAmyTanwhoco-wrotethescreenplaywithRonaldBass.Fourolderwomen,allChineseimmigrantslivinginSanFranciscointhe1950s,meetregularlytoplaymahjong,eat,andtellstories.EachofthesewomenhasanadultChinese-Americandaughter.ThefilmrevealsthehiddenpastsoftheolderwomenandtheirdaughtersandhowtheirlivesareshapedbytheclashofChineseandAmericanculturesastheystrivetounderstandtheirfamilybondsandoneanother.ThisthesismainlydiscussestheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatesinthemovieTheJoyLuckClub,undertheglobaltrend,communicationbetweendifferentcultureshasbecomeincreasinglyfrequent.Weliveinaneraofcoexistenceofmulti-cultures.Communicationbetweendifferentculturalmodelsisthebasicdrivingforceforhumandevelopmentandprogress.Inthisthesis,takesTheJoyLuckClubasastartingpoint,leadstothedifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatesinvalues,education,marriage,reputation,languageexpressionetc.ThroughthecomparativeanalysisofthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanculturesinthemovies,lookingforvariousreasonsforculturaldifferences.Finally,itisclarifiedthattheanalysis,understandingandlearningofculturaldifferencescanhelptocultivatesensitivitytoculturaldifferencesandformamulti-angleandinclusivewayofobservationandevaluation.1LiteratureReviewSincethe1970s,agroupofChinese-AmericanwritersfromtheEasthavenotonlybecomeamongthemainstreamstudentmovementoftheUnitedStatesbutalsomadeChinesepeoplelivingintheUnitedStatesandthelong-standingChineseculturaltraditionbehindthemprominentwiththeiringenuityandexcellentworksgradually.Therefore,therelationshipbetweenChinaandAmericaculturehasbecomeoneofthehotissuesofconcerntoChineseandAmericanliteratusandcritics.WhereasTheJoyLuckClubisamodeltoreflectthisproblem.Afteryearsofresearch,AnAmericananthropologistandfounderofSpatialRelations,EdwardHallfoundthattheworldcultureiscomplexandchangeable,butitalsoisregular.Heproposedtheconceptthatculturescanbedividedintohigh-contextcultureandlow-contextculture.AnalysisofCultureConflictsinTheJoyLuckClubfromtheHigh-contextCultureandtheLow-contextCulturePerspectivewrittenbyKONGJiao(2016)wasbasedonthisperspective.CrossCultureDilemma:fromWomenViewofMarriageintheMovieofTheJoyLuckClubwrittenbyLINXin(2017)analyzedthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanculturefromtheperspectiveofmarriage.CHENLihuaandXIONGMan(2015)providedanewperspectiveforliteraturecriticismandresearchonTheJoyLuckClubfromtheiressayAnalysistheGenderConflictsofTheJoyLuckClub.ALIUJing(2015)studyAStudyofMulticulturalFeaturesinTheJoyLuckClubstudiedthemethodsoftheharmoniouscoexistenceofChineseandAmericanculturefromTheJoyLuckClub.E.D.Huntley(1998)madeaconstructivecomparisontothismovieinACriticalComparison.K.P.Kumaran(2015)focusedmainlyontherelationshipbetweenanimmigrantChinesemotherandherAmericandaughterwhichalsoformsthebasisItalsodepictsontheculturalbackgroundoftheimportantcharactersinCulturalConflictsinAmyTan’sTheJoyLuckClub.Bytheeraofglobalization,ChineseandAmericanexchangesarebecomingmorefrequent,sowecanrealizethatChinaitselfcontainspartofAmericanculture,andAmericanculturecontainspartofChinesecultureaswell.Thisreflectsanimportantpoint:thecommonalityofworldcultureandthepersonalityofnationalculture.Therefore,DuetothedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericancultures,ofcourse,eachcountryhasitsowndifferentcultures.ThroughthestudyofthelifestylesandculturalbackgroundsofdifferentcharactersinTheJoyLuckClub,wewillhaveadeepunderstandingofthis.ThedifferencesandculturalrootsbetweenAmericanculturesareabletoenhancemutualunderstandingandcommunicationbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates.Atthesametime,throughtheresearchofthistopic,wecanunderstandmoredeeplythereasonsfortheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates.TheJoyLuckClubisbasedonAmyTan’sownfamilyexperience.Inthemovie,thefourmothersdescribetheirexperiencesinoldChinaandtheconfusionofAmericanculturerepresentedbytheUnitedStatesafterimmigration.ThefourdaughterstelltheirfeelingsinthegapbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates,andthedifferencesbetweenthemotherandthesetbackssufferedintheirbusinessesandfamilies.MothersworkedhardtoinstillChineseculturefortheirdaughtersbornintheUnitedStates,whiledaughterswhowereinfluencedbyAmericancultureshowednounderstandingoftheirmothers.Frommisunderstandingandconflicttocommunicationandunderstanding,thetwogenerationsofmotheranddaughternotonlyreflectthehistoryofthecollision,communicationandintegrationofChineseandAmericancultures,butalsotheattitudesthatdifferentcountries,nations,andculturesshouldcoexistintheeraofglobalization,thatis,understanding,communicationandtrust.Theworksnotonlyshowtheoppositionoftwogenerations,twocultures,andtwonationalities,butalsoreflectthehopeofthedescendantsoftheChinese:acrossthegapbetweendifferentnationalities,culturesandcountries,getoutoftheshadowofculturalconfrontation,andbuildabetterworldofpluralisticcoexistenceandharmony.2CulturalDifferencesinTheJoyLuckClubareMainlyReflectedintheFollowingAspects2.1TheDifferenceonEducationOneofthecoreelementsofChinesetraditionalcultureisthepatriarchalsystem.Themainpowerofthefamilyisconcentratedinthehandsofoneparent,thepowerisnotdivided,andtheothermembersaresubjecttotheparents.Inthefamily,theprincipleofinformalrestrictionisadopted,thereisnoformalregulation,andmanagementandrestrictionsaremaintainedbyhabitsandcustoms.Therefore,theauthorityofChineseparentsisunquestionable.Fromeatingtodressing,education,marriage,andevenfuturecareers,parentsmustplanfortheirchildren,andchildrenmustbeobedient.Incontrast,parentsintheUnitedStateshavemuchfewerrestrictionsontheirchildren,andtheyfullyrespecttheirchildren'schoices.Americanchildrenchoosecoursesandmajorsbasedontheirowninterests.Inaddition,inChinesefamilies,personalsuccessisnotonlyforthemselves,butalsoforthethresholdofglory.Soparentswillbeproudoftheirchildrenwhentheysucceed.Afterthetalentshowfiasco,Jing-Meifiguredsheneverhadtoplaypianoagain.Butshecouldn'tbelievehermotherstillinsistedthatshepracticethepiano.Jing-Meisaid,"Iamnotgoingtoplayanymore,whyshouldI?...I'mnotyourslave,thisisn'tChina,youcan'tmakeme...Iwillneverbethekindofdaughterthatyouwantmetobe."Buthermothertoldher:"theretwokindsofdaughter:obedientorfollowownmind,onlyonekindofdaughtercouldliveinthishouse,obedientkind.”Jing-Meiwishesherselfwasn'tSuyuan-Woo'sdaughterandSuyuanweren'therMother,butit'stoolatetochangethis,hermothersaid.Suyuan-Woohasalwaysturnedthe"deficit"ofthetwotwindaughterswhosewhereaboutsareunknownonthemainlandintohopesonherdaughterJing-Mei.Shehashighhopesforherdaughter.ShebelievesthattheUnitedStateshasbetteropportunitiesforone’sdevelopmentandcanmakeonebesomethingthatheorshewantstobe.Suyuan-WoobelievesthataslongasJing-Meiworkshard,shewillcertainlybecomeasupernaturalpower.Suyuan-Woohopestodigoutthepotentialtalentsofhisdaughter,butJing-Meialwaysdisappointshismother.Themother’sbeliefinpersistenceisvictory,andintheeyesofherdaughter,thosearefutile.BecauseoftheinfluenceofAmericaneducation,thedaughterthinkssheisherself,freeandshouldnotbeboundbyothers,sohermother'sstrictdemandsonherarelikeslaverytoher.ThisdifferenceisreflectedinWaverlyandhermotheraswell.Waverly,afriendwhogrewupwithJing-Mei,hasthetalenttoplaychesssincechildhood.However,herownself-sufficientmother,Lindo,thinksthatsheisstandingnexttoherwhensheispracticingchess.andshecanactasprotectionduringthegame.Therefore,ifWaverlywinsthegame,shenaturallyhashermother’scredit.However,WaverlycouldnotunderstandLindo'sprideinherandLindo’seagernesstolookforwardtoher.Shetooktheachievementsshemadeinchessasherown.Shewaspartofherownpersonality.Shehatedhermother'sworkandfeltthathermother'sobjectwasignorantandnotqualifiedtoshowoff,Ifeelthatthemotherregardsherdaughter'spersonaladvantageasherownglory.WaverlydoesnotunderstandthatintraditionalChinesefamilies,childrenhavenorighttospeak,onlyobey.Shealsogaveupplayingchessfinally.2.2TheDifferenceonMarriageYing-Ying'sdaughterLenaandherhusbandhavealwaysmaintainedthehabitof“sharingtheaccountsequally"beforemarriage.Everythingexceptthepersonalitemsbearstheaverage.Inthelongrun,theconflictbetweenthetwopeopleisintensified.Thehusband'sicecreamrequireshiswifetobearhalfofthecost.Thecathegavehiswifeaskshertobearthecat'sfoodandthemoneyforgettingridofthefleas,thisisaveryridiculousthingforChinesepeople.InChina,itistheresponsibilityofthemaletobeartheresponsibilityofthefamilyandtheobligationtoearnmoneytosupportthefamily.Mostwomenareinchargeoffinance.Thisisnaturalandreasonable.Ifyouwanttorelyonyourwife,that'saveryshamefulthingtoothers,intheUnitedStates,manycouplesareAA,thisisAveryordinarything,Lena,whowasdeeplyaffectedbyhermother,couldnolongeraffordit.Afterhermothergaveherstrength,shefinallydecidedtodivorce.An-Mei'sdaughterRoseandthewealthyAmericanTedfellinlove.RosehasalwaysbeenlikeatraditionalChinesewoman,takingcareofherhusband'severything.Forherhusband'swork,shegaveuphercareerandtohelpherhusbanddealwithallthetrivialthingsathome,becauseshelovesherhusband,sheevenpersuadedherselfthatthisisnotacowardlyact,butherAmericanhusbandthoughRoseIncreasinglylostherpersonality,hehopedhiswifehasThoughts,opinions,andmorediscussionswiththehusband,notblindconcessions,sothehusbandI、wasgettingmoreandmorebored,andproposedadivorce.Rose'smotherAn-MeisaidthatRosewastooweak,andtoldRosethestoryofhermother,andgaveRoseastrongsoul.Whenherhusbandcametonegotiatetoselltheirhouse,Rosefinallyshowedhisclosedsideandsavedthesoon-to-be-brokenmarriage."Makematchbyparents'orderandmatch-maker'sword."ThisisthemainstreamoftheoldsocietyinChina.Waverly'smother,Lindo,wassoldtotheHuangforchildbirthbyhermotherwhowasforcedbyherlivelihood.ItwasnotuntilIwas14thatIsawmyhusband’sfacefortheveryfirsttime.ForAmericans,itmustbehardtounderstand.Americansbelieveinfreedomofmarriage.Marriageisapersonalmatteroftheindividualandiscompletelydominatedbyoneself.EveninmodernandcontemporaryChina,childrenarestillveryconcernedabouttheirparents'attitudesandexpecttobeallowedandsupportedbytheirparents.Eventhenativedaughtersinthefilmaredeeplyinfluencedbytheirmothers.Waverlymadeitclearthatherfirstmarriagefailed,inordertopleasehermotherandthenshechosetomarryaChinese.Whenshestartedhersecondrelationship,despiteherpreviousconflictswithhermother,sheofficiallyintroducedherboyfriendtohermother,eagertogetapprovalfromhermother.Asaresultofthemother'sanswer,agreedtoattendhiswedding,Waverlyfinallyburstintotears.2.3TheDifferenceonValuesAftertheChineseEmigratedtotheUnitedStates2.3.1TheViewofFamilyInthecontextofChineseandEnglish,thephrasefamilyhasdifferentmeanings.IntraditionalChineseculture,thefamilymeansthatparentshaveabsoluterightsanddependenciesontheirchildren.Childrenareconsideredpartoftheirparentsandtheymustobeythearrangementsoftheirparents.However,inAmericanculture,itemphasizesself-fulfillmentandindependence,stimulatingfreedomandindividualism.TheconflictspresentedbyTheJoyLuckClubreflectedsomeextentthedifferentvaluesofChineseandAmericanculture.InChina,childrenobeytheirparents'arrangementisconsideredtobeamatterofcourse,butintheUnitedStates,itisnotthesame.LetusrecallthemovieofTheJoyLuckyClub,wherethedaughtersstruggledwiththeirmothersinordertogainindependenceandchoosetheirfuturerights.LindoandWaverlyaretypicalrepresentatives.Thedaughterwasproficientinchessduringherteenageyears.Whensheplayedagainstothers,shecouldletthepeoplearoundherfeelherconfidence.Therefore,shewonthegameinmanycompetitions.Hermotherisveryproudofthis.Shewalkedonthestreetandpraisedherdaughter'sintelligence.Shehopedthatherdaughterwouldcontinuetoworkhardonthisbasisandstriveforbetterresultsnexttime.Thiskindofcomparisonmentalityfinallycausedherdaughter'sresentment.Likeachainreaction,Waverlygraduallylostinterestinplayingchess.Especiallyafterquarrelingwithhermother,herinnatetalentinchessseemedtosuddenlydisappear.Waverlyfinallycouldn'tstandtherebellionwithhermother,shesaid,Idon'tlistentoyouanymore,Iamnotyourslave,thisisnotChina.AndAmericanfamiliesemphasizethechild'spersonalityandindependence,thisItisverydifferentfromChina.Americansfocusoncultivatingchildren'sabilitytodothemselvesandoperateindependently.Thegoalistodevelopthechild'spracticalabilitytoadapttosocialdevelopment.Americanfamiliesaremoredemocraticandfreetoeducatetheirchildren.Moreistohopethatchildrencanthinkindependentlyaboutsolvingproblemsontheirown,insteadofrequiringparentstosuperviseandtakecareoftheirchildren.So,Chineseparentsattachgreatimportancetoit,buttheideaofhavingahighhoptotheirchildrenistoostrongandoftencounterproductive.2.3.2TheViewofReputationReputationinChinesepeople'smindsoftenrepresentsakindofprestigeandstatus,whichisacquiredthroughsuccessandostentation.ReputationisanimportantandtypicalpsychosocialphenomenoninChina.Insocialcommunity,Chinesepeopletendtopayattentionto"appreciatingface"(domeafavor),trytoavoid"losingface".ThereisaChineseproverb:"Faceisgivenbyothers."Reputationconceptcanbesaidtobeaninvisible"face"and"face"is"reputation".InAmericanculture,peopleemphasizeindividualrightsandself-actionrights,dislikeinterferenceinotherpeople'saffairs,andrespectpersonalprivacy.InChina,personalgainandlossaresmall,butalossoffaceoffamilyisbig.Forthesakeofface,motherscanusetheirdaughtersaschipstoshowoffandcomparewitheachother.WhenWaverly'smothercomplained,"Alldaylongsheplayschess,andIdustoffallhertrophies."Jing-Mei'smotheralsosaidwithoutanyweakness,"Myproblemisworsethanyours.IfItellJunetimetowashdishes,shehearsnothingbutmusic."Speechesshowthepassionoftheheart,andtheyareproudoftheirdaughters.Whentheelegantpianoperformanceisuselessandthetuneiswrong,thedaughterjustfeelsthatherself-esteemhasbeenhit,andsheisnolongerwillingtoplaythepiano.However,themotherfeltthatherfacewaslostinfrontofherrelativesandfriends,soJing-Meisawhermadfaceinthecrowd.Intermsoffamilyatmosphere,Chinaadvocatesharmony,childrenshouldlistentotheirparentsasmuchaspossibletoavoiddirectconflictsinthefamily.Onthetalentshow,whenJing-MeirebelledagainstLinda,Lindacouldnotbearit.Shethoughtherdaughterwastoorebellious.Soshesaidthatonlyobedientdaughtercouldliveinherhouse,andthosewhodidnotobeyshouldgoout.Andthedaughterthoughtit'sjustawayofhonestlyexpressingherself.WhenWaverlybroughtherboyfriendtothehouseandservedthelastdish,Lindomodestlysaid,"Thisdishtastesratherlight."Whoknowsiftheotherpartydoesnotunderstandtheamorousfeelings,unobtrusivelyexpressesthatthetasteisreallytoolight,butalsoconvenientlygrabsthejambottleonthetableandpoursitintothedishes,sayingthatthiswillbemuchbetter.ThisperformanceofhumiliatingtheChineseownermadeLindostartledatonce,andhecouldonlyswallowhisdispleasureandmelancholysecretly.2.4LanguageExpressionDifference2.4.1languageDifferencesLanguageisthecarrierofculture.Differentlanguagesconveydifferentculturalinformationandhavedifferentculturalidentities.InthefilmTheJoyLuckClub,eachgenerationisconnectedbyfamilytiesandalienatedbecauseofageandculture.Languageisaninsurmountablebarrierbetweentwogenerations,whichpreventsmothersanddaughtersfromunderstandingeachother.InTheJoyLuckClub,ThemotherseitherspeakbrokenEnglish,Chinese-EnglishorEnglish-Chinesesuperimposedlanguage.AlthoughtheirdaughtersspeaksomeChinese,theygrewupintheUnitedStatesandwereeducatedintheUnitedStates.TheyspeakfluentAmericanEnglish,whichleadstoconflictsbetweenmotheranddaughter.AfterlivingintheUnitedStatesformanyyears,mothersstilluseChinesetoexpresstheirimportantemotions.Jing-Meipointedoutmorethanoncethatsheandhermothercouldnotcommunicateinthesamelanguage.Jing-MeispokeinEnglishwithhermother,whilehermotheransweredinChinese.Languageisthemostimportantwaytoexpressemotions.Differentlanguagesexpressdifferentcultures.Becausetheycannothavethesamecultural,motheranddaughterarelockedoutofthedoorofsmoothculturalcommunication.LivingintheUnitedStatesmakesmothersfeelsurroundedbytheinvisiblepoweroftheEnglishlanguage,andevendifficulttocommunicatewiththeirfamilies.TheyknewthatwhentheyspokeinChinese,theirdaughtersbecameimpatient;whentheyspokeinafragmentedlanguage,theythoughttheywerestupid.Theycan'ttelltheirdaughtersabouttheirpastinChinese.Inthiscase,mothersanddaughtersentertwodifferentworlds.Enteringdifferentworldsandcultures,contradictionswillinevitablycomeagain.2.4.2DifferentLanguageExpressionHabitsTheChinesepeoplepaygreatattentiontomodesty,andthecommunicationbetweenpeoplewillalsoshowaverymodestattitude.Thishasmanysimilaritieswiththeintrinsictemperamentofournation.Thecharacterandtemperamentofournationaremoreintrovertedandconcealed.Intheprocessofpeople-to-peopleinteraction,itisveryadvocatingtobestableandsubtle.ThisistheChinese-stylecommunicationmethod,andtheUnitedStateshasaskyrocketingdifference.IntheUnitedStates,peoplepaymoreattentiontostraightforwardcommunicationmethods.Bothmothersandchildrenandtheoutsideworldpaygreatattentiontostraightforwardcommunication.Thisisdirectlyrelatedtopeople'sownlivinghabits.ThemovieTheJoyLuckClubhighlightstheChinese-AmericanandAmerican-stylecommunicationmethods.Itcanbeseenthatdifferentpeopleoftenhavegreaterdifferencesincommunication.Forexample,inthesecondhalfofthemovie,An-Meiwasmodestaboutherowngoodfood,andsheknewthatthedishwasverydelicious,butshedeliberatelysaid:"Thisdishnotsaltyenough.Noflavor,itistoobadtoeat.Butplease."Infact,shewantedtobepraisedbyotherpeople.shehopedeveryonecantastethedishesshemade.However,Rickthenputthesoysaucedirectlyontheoldlady’swords.Thismadethedeliciousdishesalltheworse,hesaid.Peoplearealsostunned.ThisisactuallythedifferencebetweenChinese-styleself-improvementandAmerican-stylestraightforwardness.Peoplefromdifferentcountrieswilloftenrevealtheirownnationallivinghabits.Thisisthedifferenceinlanguageexpressionhabit.3MyOpinionsontheCulturalDifferencesBetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates3.1UnderstandingandRespectingForeignCultureUndertheinfluenceofeconomicglobalization,Chineseandforeignexchangesarebecomingmorefrequent.Weshouldstrivetounderstandothercountriesandtheirculturalbackgroundsandtrytorespectdifferentcultures.Firstofall.Inrecentyears,moreandmoreChinesepeoplehaveleftthemselvesinthenewAmericanenvironmentwhileleavingtheirhomeland,separatedfromthehistoricalandculturalbackgroundoftheirpastlife.Withthegradualchangesinthelivingenvironment,thethinkingoftheseChineseimmigrantshasalsochanged,inotherwords.Theyfeelthattheirhistoryisgraduallydisappearing,especiallytheirdescendants,losingcontactwiththeirnativeculture.Tofacethisphenomenon,weshouldneitherbenegativenorarrogant.Thecorrectattitudeshouldbeobjectiveandpeaceful.Comparedwithothercultures,weshouldfurtherimproveourownculture.Whilelearningaforeignexcellentculture,ChinesepeoplemusthaveconfidenceinChinesecultureandspreadourownculturetoothers,sothattherewillbenodifficultiesintheprocessofcommunication.AlthoughtheChinesearedeeplyinfluencedbyWesternculture,especiallyAmericanculture,intheprocessofglobalization,moreandmorepeoplerealizethatChineseculturehasitsownvalueandcannotbeeliminated.Chineseculturecanabsorbtheessenceofothercultures,andalthoughithasabackwardside,itcanalsokeeppacewiththedevelopmentoftheworld.Second,formanyyears,WesternershaveregardedChinaasaclosedcountry,withconservativepeopleandlackofcreativity.Therefore,weshouldmaintainthecorrectculturalattitude.Today,inamulticulturalcontext,WesternersneedtoknowmoreaboutChinaandtheConfucianculturethatplaysanimportantroleinChina.Finally,themostimportantthingisrespect.Respectnotonlyforforeignculturesbutalsoourownculture.Torespecteachother,youmusthaveself-esteem.weshouldnotdespiseourmother'sculture.Welearnfromforeignculturesandrespectthem,butthisistotallydifferentfromworshippingforeigners.Inshort,weshoulddoourbesttounderstandothersandtheirculturalbackground.Respectdifferentcultures.Thenwecanworktogethertobuildamoreprosperousfuture.3.2SeekingCommonGroundwhileReservingDifferencesCulturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStateshaveatremendousimpactonbusinesscontact.Itwillsetobstaclesinthenegotiationprocess,soitisnecessarytoseekc