China the Beautiful

mredhawk · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: USA

What are some chinese customs and manners for Chinese people. Ancient times and today. Like what they do at the dinner table, how they greet elders, how to talk to elders. I try searching on the internet but all they gave me is customs foreigners should know. I really need the information. Thanks

chinapage · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject:

mredhawk:

It's easy to ask but hard to answer. Just think if I were to ask you
the same question: "How do American behave...?"

Can you provide a concise response?

One need to live in the country for a while and socialize with the
local residents until one can learn to 'speak like a native'.

You can often spot a foreigner in a party, right? Why is that so?

The plain fact is that one can not fake it with a few pat phrases!

Get out to a few parties in New York with Chinese friends, and
you will see what I mean.

mredhawk · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: USA

It could be quite simple to tell Americans behave and the customs we perform and manners we are taught. And i am not old enough to go to a club. And I need this information for a huge class report and the internet is not helpful what so ever.

chinapage · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject:

Ah, what didn't you say so.

Beware of everyone's age. Respect your seniors, and don't
interrupt them. If you don't agree or like what they say,
don't pick a fight and start an argument. There's no need to
say 'yes sir'. Just stay mum and change the subject.

You may not like what I tell you. Just remember you asked
me for the info.

mredhawk · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: USA

I was never disrespectful. I did ask you for information. I was just stating that it is quite simple to explain the customs and manners of Americans.

mredhawk · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: USA

OH I miss read your statment. I need to know specifics such as what they do at the dinner table, like who sits where. Who takes food first. How a child greets and elder. How to show respect to an elder. I need examples and as much detail as possible

chinapage · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:03 pm Post subject:

Let's see you write a description of American customs. Itemized.

We can easily add notations to each item; same. different, etc.

mredhawk · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: USA

Okay. Well lets see. Well meeting some one for the first time Americans usually shake hands. Or a waving gesture. When people know each other they sometimes hug each other in greetings. When addressing people Americans usually use the first name. Depending on the child they may call an adult by there first name or if they are polite they either Mr/mrs whatever the last name is. When they address a teacher some just say the last name, Others say Mr/Mrs. whoever. It is rude to talk back to an elder. It is polite to let adults talk first. When at the dinner table there may sometimes be a place where everyone sits. And sometimes there is no particular order where people sit. At the dinner table we kinda get served. The mom or the father puts food on the plate than gives it to the person. Sometimes the kids dish them selfs up. Depending on what grade a child is in tells how many classes they have. It differs from state to state though. Usually elementary school children usually have one classroom they stay in all day where they learn math science social studies and english. Usually in middle school they can have up to 6 classes. Depending on the schedules tells what room they go to. In highschool it is kinda like the middle school but a highschool school day could have 4 to 6 classes depending on the school. Americans are somewhat lazy when it comes to eating. When manners counted and to some families it does children and adult have to sit up straight elbows off the table, have either a spoon in one hand and knife in the other or a fork in one hand a spoon in the other , or fork in one hand and the knife in the other. This is because if you are eating vegatables then you can yuse the other utensil to scrap the vegatbles on to the utensil your eating with. When entering the house some families have you remove your shoes. Others don't really care. And at school you always wear the same shoes through out the day unless some one has gym or something that requires a different pair of shoes. I am at school so I have to tell the rest when I get home cause the class period is almost over.