Chinese etiquette
Discussion
I'm off to China on business next week for a couple of weeks and it's a first for me. I'm meeting potential clients and potential business associates and will buy gifts and whiskey for various people. However, I don't want to drop too many clangers in relation to etiquette so was interested in any hints that people might have. I've learned a few Chinese greetings but I'm sure there's more to it than making an effort with language and giving a few gifts. As such, any tips welcome from those with more experience than me.
For whisky they prefer blendeds to single malts!!
Johnny Walker / Chivas (but not the cheep ones, Johnny Black etc - i know it sounds criminal)
If they serve up something that looks downright revolting, try politely but don't be afraid to say that its not for you (its obvious but the amount of people i know who have been there and forced themselves to eat revolting stuff .... you won't offend)
Chop Sticks. (a very complex culture)
Business Cards.
Johnny Walker / Chivas (but not the cheep ones, Johnny Black etc - i know it sounds criminal)
If they serve up something that looks downright revolting, try politely but don't be afraid to say that its not for you (its obvious but the amount of people i know who have been there and forced themselves to eat revolting stuff .... you won't offend)
Chop Sticks. (a very complex culture)
- Don't point with the sticks
- If you are pausing mid meal to tell a story, put the sticks down (on the "rester" or on edge of bowl)
- Bring food to mouth, not mouth to food (lift bowl if necessary, this is better than "snout in"
- No "crane" (elbow on table and "craning food out the bowl" if that makes sense)
Business Cards.
- Recieve and give with 2 hands.
- Take time to read the card
- don't stuff it straight in your wallet (disrespectful - see read card)
- if in meeting keep them on table infront of you (i also tend to lay them out in order of where they sit to remember names)
XJSJohn said:
For whisky they prefer blendeds to single malts!!
Johnny Walker / Chivas (but not the cheep ones, Johnny Black etc - i know it sounds criminal)
If they serve up something that looks downright revolting, try politely but don't be afraid to say that its not for you (its obvious but the amount of people i know who have been there and forced themselves to eat revolting stuff .... you won't offend)
Chop Sticks. (a very complex culture)
Business Cards.
^^That's good advice Johnny Walker / Chivas (but not the cheep ones, Johnny Black etc - i know it sounds criminal)
If they serve up something that looks downright revolting, try politely but don't be afraid to say that its not for you (its obvious but the amount of people i know who have been there and forced themselves to eat revolting stuff .... you won't offend)
Chop Sticks. (a very complex culture)
- Don't point with the sticks
- If you are pausing mid meal to tell a story, put the sticks down (on the "rester" or on edge of bowl)
- Bring food to mouth, not mouth to food (lift bowl if necessary, this is better than "snout in"
- No "crane" (elbow on table and "craning food out the bowl" if that makes sense)
Business Cards.
- Recieve and give with 2 hands.
- Take time to read the card
- don't stuff it straight in your wallet (disrespectful - see read card)
- if in meeting keep them on table infront of you (i also tend to lay them out in order of where they sit to remember names)
Also:
- The further away from town, the warmer the beer.
- Spitting is fine indoors - think nothing of it
- If you are a non smoker and going on business you will die
- Don't touch your nose while eating and sneezing is regarded as totally disgusting especially when eating (common sense but they are sensitive to this).
"If you turn it over, it's printed in English on the other side!" 
Also on that trip and after the conclusion of a successful business deal, we both stood and and I shook hands.. with the translator first, then the president after. Yep, another huge
moment 
My very own Mr. Bean does China - damn
SS HSV said:
[On this particular meeting with the President of Baoshan Steel, I studied and read the card thouroughly taking time to show the president that I had respect for him.. after about ten seconds, he said in perfect English, "If you turn it over, it's printed in English on the other side!"
"If you turn it over, it's printed in English on the other side!" 
i may or may not have done similar in the past
There are a few basic 'respect' things to follow....
If you are passed something with two hands... such as money change or a business card etc.. this means they are giving you respect... accept this by receiving it with two hands to accept their respect gesture.
The common respectful way to say 'hello' is 'Nin hao' as opposed to the usual teachings of 'ni hao' ... the 'nin' part gives respect if you are meeting for the first time.
You may find that when in shops or whatever then the people may not smile at you .... this is just common way to treat strangers.... the chinese tend not to smile at people they do not know... so don't be offended.
If they are acustomed to working with westerners then usually they will smile as part of their training... but it is usually chinese culture to only smile once you know that person.
One of the downsides to chinese culture is......
Spitting is very common.... so if you have a huge 'greeny' you want cleared from the bottom of your lungs then feel free to fire it all over the pavement in public. (but look out for the 'no spitting' signs
Ignore all the silly comments about easy girls ets. But do check on what food you are eating... if you are bothered about that type of thing. The chinese have dishes for every part of the animal... and the list of animals in the human food chain is vast.
If you are passed something with two hands... such as money change or a business card etc.. this means they are giving you respect... accept this by receiving it with two hands to accept their respect gesture.
The common respectful way to say 'hello' is 'Nin hao' as opposed to the usual teachings of 'ni hao' ... the 'nin' part gives respect if you are meeting for the first time.
You may find that when in shops or whatever then the people may not smile at you .... this is just common way to treat strangers.... the chinese tend not to smile at people they do not know... so don't be offended.
If they are acustomed to working with westerners then usually they will smile as part of their training... but it is usually chinese culture to only smile once you know that person.
One of the downsides to chinese culture is......
Spitting is very common.... so if you have a huge 'greeny' you want cleared from the bottom of your lungs then feel free to fire it all over the pavement in public. (but look out for the 'no spitting' signs
Ignore all the silly comments about easy girls ets. But do check on what food you are eating... if you are bothered about that type of thing. The chinese have dishes for every part of the animal... and the list of animals in the human food chain is vast.
It depends on who you are dealing with. If the Chinese are used to dealing with westerners then you should not really have any problems. A few simple things to remember;
Do not raise your voice or lose your temper (even if you feel you are being ripped off) this is a sign of weakness.
Do not tap or touch their shoulders or head.
Do not clear your plate (it will be filled again)
If you are offered chinese rice wine (Moutai) it is polite to drink at least 3 small glasses.
If you get in a round of "gambei" (bottoms up)try to make the whole table drink with you, especially the senior Chinese. This way it will stop early. If you let them, each individual will do it and you will end up on the floor!
Don't let them line you up with the ladies of the night, they will use it later.
Enjoy!!!
Do not raise your voice or lose your temper (even if you feel you are being ripped off) this is a sign of weakness.
Do not tap or touch their shoulders or head.
Do not clear your plate (it will be filled again)
If you are offered chinese rice wine (Moutai) it is polite to drink at least 3 small glasses.
If you get in a round of "gambei" (bottoms up)try to make the whole table drink with you, especially the senior Chinese. This way it will stop early. If you let them, each individual will do it and you will end up on the floor!
Don't let them line you up with the ladies of the night, they will use it later.
Enjoy!!!
KGB1 said:
It depends on who you are dealing with. If the Chinese are used to dealing with westerners then you should not really have any problems. A few simple things to remember;
Do not raise your voice or lose your temper (even if you feel you are being ripped off) this is a sign of weakness.
Do not tap or touch their shoulders or head.
Do not clear your plate (it will be filled again)
If you are offered chinese rice wine (Moutai) it is polite to drink at least 3 small glasses.
If you get in a round of "gambei" (bottoms up)try to make the whole table drink with you, especially the senior Chinese. This way it will stop early. If you let them, each individual will do it and you will end up on the floor!
Don't let them line you up with the ladies of the night, they will use it later.
Enjoy!!!
carrying on from KGB's tips - if someone does something wrong or makes a mistake - don't point it out or single them out, this is seen as very degrading.Do not raise your voice or lose your temper (even if you feel you are being ripped off) this is a sign of weakness.
Do not tap or touch their shoulders or head.
Do not clear your plate (it will be filled again)
If you are offered chinese rice wine (Moutai) it is polite to drink at least 3 small glasses.
If you get in a round of "gambei" (bottoms up)try to make the whole table drink with you, especially the senior Chinese. This way it will stop early. If you let them, each individual will do it and you will end up on the floor!
Don't let them line you up with the ladies of the night, they will use it later.
Enjoy!!!
Refer to them as Mr. Yang (or whatever), not their first name, and if you can manage it, use their Chinese name not their adopted english name (if they have one)
when eating with chopsticks, don't hold in the middle - you should hold as far away from the food end as possible.
You are likely to be taken out for a "bush tucker trial" - try the weird food, you never know, you might like it! Duck's tongues, pickled chicken's feet, turtle soup, fried bugs - all delicious!
Try to learn a bit of chinese. Where in China are you going? If it is a mandarin speaking part, pm me, I have an MP3 somewhere I can send you with some basic words and phrases in.
If while there you get hassled by street traders ("You wan hanbag, dvd?") play with them - it can be fun - don't just get upset by them or wound up as a lot of people do. Ask them for a yellow dvd
Be prepared to have your personal space invaded in public places - they think nothing of reading your paper/book etc over your shoulder while you are reading it, and not in a subtle way.
filski666 said:
Be prepared to have your personal space invaded in public places - they think nothing of reading your paper/book etc over your shoulder while you are reading it, and not in a subtle way.
That is very true, and buggs me even now even after 8 years ... Hence why i drive everywhere in a country with fantastic public transport!!!Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff