During the last century, contact between China and other countries was relatively limited, and both people knew little about the other. Now we have more opportunities than ever for exchange. With that, however, comes a need for greater understanding of cultural differences. Today, we are going to take a look at 10 cultural shocks in China that you may have heard of or will see if you are on your way to visit.
No.1
Squat toilets
If you havent heard about it, one of the first things that foreigners notices as they come to China are the toilets, where you squat (dn) instead of sitting on the seat. It is a strange concept for most foreigners to see a hole in the floor and do their business squatting since western toilets have seats. It is an adjustment for people visiting since they are not use to squatting but is quick to become use to given the amount of practice you will have while visiting China.
No.2
Personal space
Personal space( rn kn jin) and privacyyn s seem to not exist in China due the large population within the country. So when you are traveling to popular places, you will encounter crowd sizes that you would never expect. You will encounter moments where your personal space doesnt exist because space is a luxury. You may find yourself standing on the subway right up and personal with person next to you.
No.3
Umbrella in Sunshine
You may notice people with umbrellas sn on a beautiful sunny day, and you may ask why. In order to answer your question, we need to understand Chinese standard of beauty where having whiter skins is desired instead of the western idea of tan is generally accepted. So girls will go out of their way to ensure that they avoid the sun with umbrellas.
No.4
Cross the road
The Chinese style of crossing the road u m l is a Chinese expression that refers to the behavior of Chinese pedestrians crossing an intersection, not based on the traffic signals, but by whether there are a sufficient number of pedestrians who feel its safe to cross. Such behavior often poses a danger to both drivers and pedestrians themselves. Although such behavior isnt unique to China, traffic conditions and intersection designs in China have made the behavior more rampant here than in many other countries around the world.
No.5
Restaurant norms
Restaurant norms cn tn u fn in China are much different from American and European cultures. Typically, you would expect to eat with a plate with fork and knife in a western restaurant, however in a Chinese restaurant, you will have to chopsticks and spoon instead. If you inexperience with Chinese or most Asian cultures, you will notice that everyone will eat their meals with chopstickskui zi and spoontn ch. It might be hard to get use to, but give it your best effort. Also in most restaurants in the west, the environment is more or less quiet; however China can be noisy and busy where people are drinking and order food when they feel like it. It may feel rude to a foreigner, however it is part of the hustle and bustle of the lifestyle.
No.6
Babies in split pants
When you arrive in China, you may find the babies really adorable but you will be notice a small difference where the infants will wear pants with a split (ki dn k). Basically a hole in their pants and it is open for the public their cute bottoms. You may not know, but diapers are rather expensive in China and so Chinese natives will dress their children in these pants in order allow them to use the restroom when they need to. In some places, you may even witness children with a shirt but no bottoms because it may be easier to clean up after their kids do their business.
No.7
Relationships
In western culture, you may notice that relationships and connections are simple and small. In Chinese culture, you may hear the word gun xi a lot because in China relationships are complex and interconnected. It is the way you gain friendships, family and business opportunities. It doesnt matter if you are a related by family or friends, relationships can develop into great friendships and or partnership. Relationships will help you learn Chinese culture but can potentially help you with business opportunities.
No.8
Time management
In the west, we are used to being on time zhn sh and calculating the amount of time we have in order to optimize efficiency. In China, sometimes time isnt the focus. It is quiet common to have a meeting or outing that may last about one to two hours longer than needed. It is common because Chinese natives are more relaxed and like to enjoy time with people whether they are a familiar face or a new relationship.
No.9
Partying with numbers
In the western parties, people tend to stick to their groups of two to five people, where the Chinese make it a big huge partypi du. Chinese natives have a collective mindset to have a great time with all the people they know. Foreigners are used to having their individual desires and priorities but Chinese think about what is important for the group of people they are with. Whether it is KTV, clubbing or a dinner, Chinese natives love to party in large numbers. Foreigners may encounter this when visiting and living with Chinese friends.
No.10
Family Connections
If it isnt already known, Chinese natives have very strong family bondsji tn ni di. There is such a big connection that you will see grandparents taking care of their grandchildren. Grandparents in China love to enjoy their lives by helping raise and teach the next generation of children about the history of their family roots and culture. In western countries, you will see this, however you will see more grandparents retired taking care of their pets or having their hobbies. It is a very loving and family oriented environment in China.
Looking over these 10 cultural shocks that foreigners will encounter, you can see how we can have an eye opening experience coming to China. These cultural shocks do not necessarily reflect China as a whole, however it will give you insight into the culture. We hope you learned something new and entertaining. Make the trip to China and see it for yourself. Until then, keep learning and see you next time.
Contents are provided by YouPanda.
Supervisor: Crystal Huang
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