Refer China: If the Invitation Says 7 PM, What Time Are You Showing Up?

We're curious to hear what you think!

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If the Invitation Says 7 PM, What Time Are You Showing Up?

A simple question from a celebrity interview has sparked a surprisingly deep discussion online: If the invitation says 7 PM, what time are you showing up?

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In the video, the host asked several actors this question, and the answers varied wildly. Some said 7:15, a few even dared to say 7:30. Others leaned punctual—6:55, even as early as 6:30. Michael Fassbender gave a charming answer: "6:55, because I'm married to a Swedish woman, and she always, sort of, likes to be on time."

One reply, though, really stirred the pot: "I think the rudest thing that a guest can do is be early." That's right—early, not late. And that lit up the comment section.

Across the globe, viewers chimed in. In a sea of replies, one hilarious take stood out from an American commenter: "6:50, but I sit in my car until 7:05." Now that's commitment to being fashionably on-time.

Naturally, we got curious—how do people in China feel about this question? So we dug into the comment sections to see what netizens from China had to say. Spoiler: they don't all agree either.

Most folks seemed to say, if it's a meeting outside, they'll show up right on time or five minutes early. But things get interesting when you're going to someone's home or attending a party.

Some were blunt: "If someone tells me to be there at 7, and by 7:05 they haven't arrived, I'm already mad." Others were more laid-back: "In China, it's pretty normal to show up half an hour early to help out, right?"

Some pointed out the role of relationships. With casual friends, they'd arrive on time. With close friends? Maybe a little late. Then there's the shy crowd who said being early to a social event just feels awkward.

So what's the takeaway? It really depends—on the occasion, the culture, and especially the relationship. There's no universal "correct" time, but there is such a thing as being too early, too late, or just right.

Now we're curious: in different settings, what time would you arrive? And if you're hosting, what time do you hope your guests show up? Share your thoughts—we bet this question gets more interesting the more you think about it.

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