In order to make your trip to China more enjoyable and hassle-free, it is helpful to have some sort of knowledge of general Chinese etiquette. Li, the Chinese word for etiquette, used to mean “to sacrifice” because following strict guidelines and codes of conduct of the Chinese is not easy and entails a lot of patience and sacrifice.

Chinese customs would come across as very unusual to visitors, most especially to Western visitors, that sometimes the behavior of the Chinese are misunderstood as rudeness. This is why it is important to understand and learn basic Chinese etiquette so as not to offend anyone and to avoid any embarrassing situations. Plus, your efforts will be greatly appreciated if you try your best to fit in and respect Chinese customs.

Etiquette can be considered in different categories namely General Etiquette, Business Etiquette and Dining Etiquette.

GENERAL ETIQUETTE

The Chinese are known to nod or slightly bow as a form of greeting.

When you start a conversation with a Chinese person, you will usually be asked about your marital status and if you already have kids. Try to stay away from topics like politics and sensitive topics that will seem forced and awkward.

You should also remember to share. Bring gifts when you visit people in their houses. Gifts can be flowers, fruits, tea bags, cigarettes, liquor or whatever item that the person will surely enjoy. Gifts that are considered inappropriate would include clocks and pears which symbolize death and separation respectively. Use red wrappers for your gifts and avoid wrapping them in black or white. Keep in mind that when offering gifts to anyone, as well as when receiving something, it is proper to use both hands.

Another note on sharing is that cigarettes are shared and passed around whenever you decide to smoke. If you are a high ranking executive, you should avoid carrying cheap cigarettes because you would not want to be caught dead handing those around during business meetings.

One thing that you will encounter in China would be people spitting even if it is slowly becoming a thing of the past in modern Beijing and Shanghai. Spitting is not at all considered rude or a form of bad etiquette. It is just a habit that most Chinese find hard to break or purposely would like to continue doing.

The Chinese also give importance to the elderly. It is normal to see younger people give up their seats to a more senior person in public transportation. It is also proper to acknowledge the eldest person in a group first when meeting a group for the first time.

DINING ETIQUETTE

Your visit to China will not be complete without that sumptuous Chinese meal which you can enjoy in restaurants or perhaps a friend’s house. Wherever the setting is, one rule is that you should not point your chopsticks directly at anyone. Furthermore, chopsticks must not be placed on a rice bowl in a way that it looks like it is in upright position because these will resemble incense sticks that are burned during funerals.

In restaurants, you will notice that knives are not commonly seen on table tops. This is because Chinese foods are already pre-cut into bite sized pieces, as in the case of dim sum, or tender enough for chopsticks to be used to separate meat from the bones. Other than chopsticks, it is also common to see soup bowls with soup spoons. In restaurants, food items are all laid out at the center of the table and each diner would then take food and place it on their plate or in a bowl. Clean spoons are also used as get food from dish plates that are served. In restaurants, these clean spoons are placed alongside chopsticks. You can only use your own chopsticks as “serving utensils” if you are sharing a meal with your family or close friends.

Chinese meals are also characterized by overflowing food so don’t be surprised if the host of your meal orders so much food that is enough to feed an entire community. The Chinese order food generously because this is their way of showing their hospitality. Your host will also continue to serve you pieces of meat, vegetables, fish, etc during the entire meal. Again, this is their way of showing that they are taking care of their guest. When it comes to “bill out” time, it is customary for the inviter to pay for the meal. To be polite, of course, you can offer to pay for the meal but your Chinese host will strongly refuse. Not accepting their offer to pay will hurt their feelings.

After the end of the meal, expect your host to accompany you to your car or to see to it that you have a ride home. The host will even wait for you or the car that you are riding to leave before they return to their homes or before they go to their own cars.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

As with any business encounter, a formal introduction is usually followed by a handshake to show respect. Make sure that your handshake is firm but not too tight and it should never be prolonged. The Chinese prefer brief and firm handshakes because they have an issue with too much body contact. They are private individuals who are not used to being “touched” so do not attempt to kiss anyone on the cheek just like what is usually done by Westerners.

When you present and receive name cards, the proper way is to do so with both hands. During the meeting, the leader of the group would usually act as the spokesperson for the entire group. Conflicts will be discussed in detail either before or after the meeting unlike in the Western setting where the issues are resolved during the meeting in front of everybody else.

At the end of the meeting, you would have to accompany your guests to the elevators. You have to push the elevator button and wait until your guests are inside and until after the door closes before you return to your own office.

So, that’s a look into the basic guidelines to Chinese etiquette. But above all these guidelines, you must remember to make the most out of your trip to China and appreciate the rich culture and heritage.

Smile, relax and have loads of FUN!

Posted in China, Things to do

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at 12:01 am and is filed under China, Things to do. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.