chinese body language(中国人的身体语言)

Body Language in China 中国人的肢体语言(2010-04-13 18:39:56)

标签：chinese teacher in shanghai body language learning分类：Learning.Chinese

Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication and it is connected with culture. In order to make successful exchange in multi-cultural communication, we should know the body language from different cultures. Sometimes the same body language has different meanings in different cultures and has different social functions.

Americans often touch their temples to express somebody’s cleverness. But this action means there is something wrong with one’s mind or one is stupid to Chinese. Chinese are often surprised to see Americans lay their hands on their necks when they are full. Because it is an suicide action to Chinese, who used to express fullness by patting their stomachs.

People from English-speaking countries turn around their rings constantly to show nervousness or uneasiness. Now people from Taiwan and Hong Kong also have this gesture. But if people in the mainland of China act like this, they will be regarded they are showing off richness.

According to Chinese tradition, people who are sitting have right to take charge of others: Monarch sits and officer stands; father sits and son stands; leader sits and employee stands and so on. So the younger give the old a seat to show respect. But in America and Britain, people who are in charge of others have tendency to stand. They will make use of the height of space to indicate the high status.

American’s informalness is famous. Teachers can sit on the platform or desk when they are teaching. And the students needn’t to sit straight. But in China, people are required to have a good manner.

In China, people greet with each other with head nodding, smile, hand shaking and so on. Even good friends just hold hands for a short time or hammer softly on the other friend’s shoulder. Nowadays, hand shaking has become a custom to show hospitality and friendliness in many countries. But the way of hand shaking is a little different.

In English speaking countries, people used to hug or kiss each other in public between males and females, which is unacceptable and only exists between lovers and couples in private in China. In America, common friends and acquaintances will avoid body touch. Even in the elevator, body touch is not allowed. Touching the other people slightly or unconsciously, people will say “Sorry”, “Very Sorry”, “Excuse me” in a hurry to express apology. Or they will be abused. In western countries, people particularly mind their private space, which often represents people’s privacy and intimacy. But Chinese pay less attention to their private space. It is crowded in China because of a large population. So Chinese have got used to it and they often show their understanding and tolerance.

It is common to see youth of the same sex hold hands and hug in China. But in English speaking countries, it will be regarded homosexuality.

In China, people will give chrysanthemum to the patient. But French people never do this. Because