Communication bans
Don’t be shy about asking thoughtless questions
In China, ideas about politeness are different from Europeans, so when communicating with locals, you should not be surprised if you are asked a question that you consider a strange one.
“If you are a man, you will most likely be asked about your financial situation immediately. If you are a woman, about your marital status. It is not customary for Russians to ask about age when meeting, but for Chinese it is a common ritual,” Elena Kazakova, director of the “China and Southeast Asia” division of the Russian Tour company, told socialbites.ca.
According to her, such questions are an opportunity to start a conversation. “You can also ask the other person about their age and marital status. This will help you get closer and move on to other topics in the conversation,” Kazakova explained.
Also, not being formally greeted should not be considered inconsiderate. As the expert said, greetings in China usually consist of questions like: “Oh, you arrived yet?”, “Oh, are you studying?”, “Oh, have you had lunch already?”
Don’t hug the Chinese
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Chinese people may consider it rude to pat them on the back or hug them.
“When communicating with Chinese people, avoid hugging, patting on the back and other touches, except for handshakes,” Kazakova said. The fact is that in China, as in Asia in general, it is not customary to hug or kiss when meeting.
Don’t call people by their names
Be careful when addressing a Chinese person: Don’t address them by their first name. “It’s common in society to address people by their last name; for example, “Mr. Zhang.” This shows respect for the other person. At work, people address each other by their titles, for example, “Teacher Van,” Kazakova said. It’s worth noting that in China, the last name is given first, followed by the person’s first name. And if someone introduces himself to you as Zhao Ping, you should call him “Mr. Zhao.”
Do not engage in public conflicts
Kazakova warned that the deepest insult for a Chinese person would be to “put him in a position where he will lose his reputation.” “It is very important for a Chinese person to preserve his reputation, so in China it is not customary to humiliate a person in front of everyone and raise your voice at him,” she explained. According to the expert, if you need to respond to criticism, it is better to do it in a private conversation.
Of course, you should not raise your voice. “The Chinese consider raising your voice and shouting to be the last thing, even when you are seriously angry. The Chinese try to prevent themselves from expressing their emotions while speaking; they express their support for the speaker with gestures and facial expressions to a minimum,” Kazakova said.
Worse still is allowing violence in all its manifestations. “Physical violence is absolutely unacceptable. If someone insults you and you punch them in the face, be prepared for a fine and deportation. The police work like clockwork.”
— Sergei, a university teacher from Moscow who has been working in China for several years, told socialbites.ca.
According to him, the note that teachers should read before traveling to China states that especially guests coming to the country should adhere to five principles in daily communication: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; mutual non-aggression; mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful coexistence.
Do not discuss political issues
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According to a university lecturer, the same notice asks university employees not to discuss sensitive political issues or express their views on them.
“In a foreigner’s speech, China should appear as the People’s Republic and in no case should it be confused with Taiwan or suggest that Taiwan is not part of China,” Kazakova added. Sensitive political issues include the issue of Tibet and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, she explained. “Therefore, it is highly discouraging for foreigners to bring up the issue of Islam and the political situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” the expert said.
It is also not worth criticizing the decisions of the PRC government – and in general, trying to find out in a conversation with a Chinese person his attitude to political issues is pointless.
“When communicating with foreigners, a Chinese person understands that he is a ‘representative’ of China and will never criticize the domestic or foreign policy of his country. He will speak positively about everything. You will never know his real opinion. And if you, as a foreigner, speak negatively about his country, then the Chinese are unlikely to want to be friends with you,” Kazakova warned.
Don’t comment on traditions
Any statement about Chinese traditions can be perceived negatively. “It is important to see the difference between an exchange of views and categorical statements,” Kazakova said.
At the same time, the university teacher Sergei noted that the Chinese are “very peace-loving.” “They show special politeness and respect when communicating with foreigners. If you accidentally break a rule or tradition, the Chinese usually understand that this is a foreigner and he does not need to know everything. They will correct it themselves, tell you what is not accepted,” Kazakova confirmed.
Things not to do in daily life
Do not stick wooden sticks into rice
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When eating, wooden chopsticks should be placed over a bowl or plate, not stuck into food or placed vertically in a glass. “This is how they remember someone who has passed away,” Kazakova said.
You should also leave some food on your plate when eating at a restaurant – this way you show that you are well-nourished.
“If you finish the meal, it may mean that you are disrespectful to the cook, that the food is not filling enough, or that the portion is too small for you,” the expert added.
But, according to him, leaving a tip is not recommended; And there is no need to insist on giving the waiter money: in some establishments they are officially prohibited from accepting payment, so there is a danger that the person will be fired.
Do not attempt to pay with any currency other than RMB
You should not use foreign currency in China; money should be exchanged upon arrival in the country. “It is preferable to take dollars with you when you go to China. After arrival, you should exchange them for Chinese yuan at exchange offices or city branches of the People’s Bank of China,” explained Elena Kazakova.
By the way, when paying, it is better to hold the money with both hands, just like a business card when meeting someone.
Don’t be afraid to bargain at the market
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You can and should bargain – but only in the markets. “You can’t buy a product on the Chinese market at the price that the Chinese offer you. Definitely half, or even three times lower. Don’t be afraid to bargain; if you don’t bargain, in the eyes of the Chinese you don’t know how to buy,” Kazakova warned. But there is a caveat here, she says: you can lower the price only if you are definitely determined to buy the product; you shouldn’t do it out of pure passion.
Don’t touch Buddhist monks
When visiting a Buddhist monastery, you should remember that touching monks is strictly forbidden. The fact is that they spend a lot of time in meditation, and the touch of a stranger can spoil their mood. “Touching the opposite sex is considered a special sin for a Buddhist. If you want to convey something to a Buddhist, you need to give it to a man who will convey it to the monk. If there is no man nearby, you can put the thing you conveyed on the floor,” Kazakova advised.
Also, according to him, smoking is not allowed on the monastery grounds – it would be a sign of disrespect.
Don’t point the finger
The Chinese do not make many hand gestures; they usually do not wave their arms. So it is worth watching your own gestures in public places. For example, if you address a person with your index finger, point at him with the same finger, or even worse, point with your little finger, that person may be very offended.
If you want to stroke a child’s head in China, you should avoid it here too. “The Chinese believe that Buddha sits on a child’s head and protects him from everything bad. It’s a so-called amulet. If you stroke a child, you may accidentally push the Buddha away and the protection is compromised,” Kazakova explained.
Don’t be careless when crossing the road
Where the Chinese can’t control themselves is on the roads: traffic here is very chaotic. “In China, local drivers, especially motorcyclists, practically don’t follow traffic rules, so tourists have to be very careful when crossing the road. “On one side of the road you can see scooters or cars going the wrong way or driving at night without safety lights,” Kazakova said.
So even when turning onto a green light, you have to look both ways several times. And it is best to cross the road with other Chinese people.
Do not take photos of military installations
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“Foreigners in China are not allowed to take photos of military and defense facilities. Police stations, monasteries and churches are also prohibited if there are prohibitive signs,” said Elena Kazakova.
To avoid problems with the law, it is also worth remembering that narcotic substances (this also applies to medicines), erotic and pornographic materials, and products of animal origin cannot be imported into China. You should also not touch suspicious things or hand over something to foreigners at their request.
What are you thinking?
Source: Gazeta
Calvin Turley is an author at “Social Bites”. He is a trendsetter who writes about the latest fashion and entertainment news. With a keen eye for style and a deep understanding of the entertainment industry, Calvin provides engaging and informative articles that keep his readers up-to-date on the latest fashion trends and entertainment happenings.