How much do you know about Chinese culture?

Check these questions and the quizzes to find out.

1. Do’s and Don’ts during Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is like the western Christmas. It is a time for family reunion.

There are a lot of interesting customs to follow and special traditions to know. What should and shouldn’t you do?

Quiz time:

( ) It is Ok to finish all the food on the table.

( ) You are supposed to do any cleaning during Chinese New Year.

2. Gift-giving etiquettes. Are you bringing the “right” present?

When you bring someone a present, you are showing your good will.

However, your nice intention might cause an embarrassing moment if you get the wrong present. What are they?

Quiz time:

( ) Chinese people do not give clocks, or umbrellas as presents.

( ) You should not open the present right away when you receive it.

3. What are “guan-xi”(relationship) and “mian-zi”(face)? Why are they important to Chinese people?

When you make someone “lose face” in public, you might end the relationship at the moment. How could you avoid that?

Do you know how to read between the lines when people are trying to “save your face”?

Quiz time:

( ) Guanxi is a means of building trust in personal and business matters.

( ) It is Ok to point out the mistake of someone who is older than you in public.

4. Business dinner. What are the eating and drinking etiquettes in China?

Instead of forks and knives, Chinese people eat with chopsticks. Have you practiced how to use chopsticks?

Where should you sit at a round dining table? What does “gan-bei” mean? Is it impolite if you don’t finish your beer at a time?

Quiz time:

( ) You should always pick up your bowl instead of bending over the table, eating facing your bowl.

( ) Sticking chopsticks vertically into your food is a good sign.

Cultural awareness 1 - No “no” and no confrontation

Saying No “directly” might cause a face-losing situation or damage the relationship.

Maybe. / We’ll see. / I will get back to you. (to save the other’s face)
I understand. / Sure. (to save your face)
Pass the blame or responsibility to one’s boss or superior. (to save the relationship)
Tell a white lie. (an inevitable excuse)
Put things on hold, to claim to be busy. (a hint of no interest)

But,

Say “NO” to the things people offer. (Otherwise, you look very impolite and greedy.)

Cultural awareness 2 - Dos and Don’ts during CNY

Year monster (the color red and firecrackers)
恭喜(gōngxǐ) 發財(facái)，新年(xīnnián) 快樂(kuàilè)
When is CNY in 2015? Which animal is it this year?
Spring couplet (春(chūn)，福(fú) to put it upside down??)
Reunion dinner (fish, chicken, dumplings, oranges, noodles, turnip cake, leek, nian-gao)
Red envelope (who gets one? how much to put in a “紅(hóng)包(bāo)”?

Dos & Don’ts (Yes or No)

___ Kids can stay up late.

___ Wear white or black clothing.

___ Do not clean the house during the first three days in the new year

___ Greet people in their bedrooms

___ Visit a temple

___ Finish all the food

Cultural awareness 3 - Dining etiquette (drinking and paying)

Three glasses: a large one for beer, soda or water, a small wine glass and a shot glass. The shot glass is the one used for toasting. (Three-glass policy?)

It is not necessary to always drain your glass after a 乾(gan)杯(bēi) (bottoms up), although a host should encourage it. (Life-saving key words- 随意(suíyì)，随意(suíyì))

Do not drink until you toast others at the table. Chinese consider drinking alone to be rude. Simply raising your glass and making eye contact is sufficient.

It is not advised to refuse a drink. Sipping your drink is perfectly acceptable.

Who invites, who pays (How to return the favor?)

Arm waving and arm pulling is always good.

If they manage to pay the waiter first, grab their money out of the waiter’s hand and give it back them, then give the waiter your money instead.

Where East Meets West -

Language & Culture

Cultural awareness 1 - No “no” and no confrontation

Saying No “directly” might cause a face-losing situation or damage the relationship.

Maybe. / We’ll see. / I will get back to you. (to save the other’s face)

I understand. / Sure. (to save your face)

Pass the blame or responsibility to one’s boss or superior. (to save the relationship)

Tell a white lie. (an inevitable excuse)

Put things on hold, to claim to be busy. (a hint of no interest)

But,

Say “NO” to the things people offer. (Otherwise, you look very impolite and greedy.)

Cultural awareness 2 - Dos and Don’ts during CNY

Year monster (the color red and firecrackers)

恭喜(gōngxǐ) 發財(facái)，新年(xīnnián) 快樂(kuàilè)

When is CNY in 2015? Which animal is it this year?

Spring couplet (春(chūn)，福(fú) to put it upside down??)

Reunion dinner (fish, chicken, dumplings, oranges, noodles, turnip cake, leek, nian-gao)

Red envelope (who gets one? how much to put in a “紅(hóng)包(bāo)”?

Dos & Don’ts (Yes or No)

___ Kids can stay up late.

___ Wear white or black clothing.

___ Do not clean the house during the first three days in the new year

___ Greet people in their bedrooms

___ Visit a temple

___ Finish all the food

Cultural awareness 3 - Dining etiquette (drinking and paying)

Three glasses: a large one for beer, soda or water, a small wine glass and a shot glass. The shot glass is the one used for toasting. (Three-glass policy?)

It is not necessary to always drain your glass after a 乾(gan)杯(bēi) (bottoms up), although a host should encourage it. (Life-saving key words- 随意(suíyì)，随意(suíyì))

Do not drink until you toast others at the table. Chinese consider drinking alone to be rude. Simply raising your glass and making eye contact is sufficient.

It is not advised to refuse a drink. Sipping your drink is perfectly acceptable.

Who invites, who pays (How to return the favor?)

Arm waving and arm pulling is always good.

If they manage to pay the waiter first, grab their money out of the waiter’s hand and give it back them, then give the waiter your money instead.