案例分析及参考答案（一） Case 1 Shi Hai is an excellent engineer in a big company in Hangzhou.Joe is his new Australian friend who came to China to leam Chinese Taiji only two months ago. They got to know each other in the English comer near the West Lake. Last month.Shi Hai was promoted as deputy director of the company.Hearing the good news one day,Joe suggested going out for a drink.But to his great surprise,Shi Hai told him that he had declined the promotion.When asked why,Shi Hai took two Chinese sayings like“人怕出名，猪怕壮”and一树大招凤”in broken English as the response which made Joe even more puzzled. Questions: 1.Would you please help Shi Hai by interpreting the two Chinese sayings he mentioned and do the suitable explanations for his declining the promotion so that Joe would understand him? Reference L.“人怕出名，猪怕壮means that people are afraid of being popular or famed ju过as the pig is afraid of being fat.As a fat pig is readily to be killed by the man.a popular person is easily to be criticized by the public."树大招风"means a big tree is easily destroyed by the wind.Just like the big tree,a famous person or a well-known person will be easily exposed to the public criticism. 2.Joe comes from Australia,which tends to be defined as a more individualist culture. In his culture,people value independence and have pride in being unique rather than similar to others.As a result,they do not fear the actions that call attention to the self, in fact they often seek the notice of others
案例分析及参考答案（一） Case 1 Shi Hai is an excellent engineer in a big company in Hangzhou. Joe is his new Australian friend who came to China to learn Chinese Taiji only two months ago. They got to know each other in the English corner near the West Lake. Last month, Shi Hai was promoted as deputy director of the company. Hearing the good news one day, Joe suggested going out for a drink. But to his great surprise, Shi Hai told him that he had declined the promotion. When asked why, Shi Hai took two Chinese sayings like “人怕出名，猪怕壮” and "“树大招风” in broken English as the response which made Joe even more puzzled. Questions: 1. Would you please help Shi Hai by interpreting the two Chinese sayings he mentioned and do the suitable explanations for his declining the promotion so that Joe would understand him? Reference 1. “人怕出名，猪怕壮”means that people are afraid of being popular or famed just as the pig is afraid of being fat. As a fat pig is readily to be killed by the man, a popular person is easily to be criticized by the public.“树大招风”means a big tree is easily destroyed by the wind. Just like the big tree, a famous person or a well-known person will be easily exposed to the public criticism. 2. Joe comes from Australia, which tends to be defined as a more individualist culture. In his culture, people value independence and have pride in being unique rather than similar to others. As a result, they do not fear the actions that call attention to the self, in fact they often seek the notice of others
While in collectivist culture,great importance is attached to a person's conformity instead of their uniqueness.Consequently,people are not likely to socialie in ways that draw attention to the self.Standing out on one's own is not favored and would even arouse criticism from the others.They are afraid of being different from the others. Since Shi Hai is a Chinese,whose culture could be regarded as collectivist-oriented, he is also afraid of being independent and unique.To be promoted to the position of deputy director means not only responsibility but also uniqueness and fame.Although he is an excellent engineer,probably he doesn't want to be more famous by being deputy director with the fear that a famous person tends to be the target of criticism and can easily be found fault with,just as the fat pig and big tree would first take the risk of losing their lives Case 2 An American tourist is traveling by train in China.Sitting opposite him is a Chinese passenger.They introduce themselves to each other. American tourist:Hello,I'm Adam O'Patrick.Glad to meet you. Chinese passenger:Hello,my name is Wang Lin.I'm glad to meet you,too.Where do you come from,Mr.Adam? American tourist:I'm from America.Please just call me Adam,Mr Lin. Chinese passenger:And you may call me Wang Lin. Reference Both of them have taken each other's given name for the sumame,since the order of the sumames of Chinese and English names are just the opposite. As in both cultures a title is properly used only with the sumame.In the United States, it's rare,but occasionally a title might be used with a given name by close friends and family members.This habit is used more frequently in the southem states An
While in collectivist culture, great importance is attached to a person's conformity instead of their uniqueness. Consequently, people are not likely to socialize in ways that draw attention to the self. Standing out on one’s own is not favored and would even arouse criticism from the others. They are afraid of being different from the others. Since Shi Hai is a Chinese, whose culture could be regarded as collectivist-oriented, he is also afraid of being independent and unique. To be promoted to the position of deputy director means not only responsibility but also uniqueness and fame. Although he is an excellent engineer, probably he doesn’t want to be more famous by being deputy director with the fear that a famous person tends to be the target of criticism and can easily be found fault with, just as the fat pig and big tree would first take the risk of losing their lives. Case 2 An American tourist is traveling by train in China. Sitting opposite him is a Chinese passenger. They introduce themselves to each other. American tourist: Hello, I’m Adam O’Patrick. Glad to meet you. Chinese passenger: Hello, my name is Wang Lin. I’m glad to meet you, too. Where do you come from, Mr. Adam? American tourist: I’m from America. Please just call me Adam, Mr. Lin. Chinese passenger: And you may call me Wang Lin. Reference Both of them have taken each other’s given name for the surname, since the order of the surnames of Chinese and English names are just the opposite. As in both cultures a title is properly used only with the surname. In the United States, it's rare, but occasionally a title might be used with a given name by close friends and family members. This habit is used more frequently in the southern states. An
example would be:Captain Bob.According to American custom it's quite normal for people who first meet to address each other by their given names alone.whereas here. when people first meet,they usually address each other by their full names and never by their given names alone. Case 3 Yang Yang has invited a Canadian friend,Julia,to her home for a meal.Unfortunately. the occasion gets offto a rather bumpy start. YangYang:Hi Julia,welcome!Come in.come in. Julia:Thank you for inviting me.This is a lovely room. Yang Yang My room is very small and untidy.Please sit down and have a cup of tea. You must be tired on such a hot day. Julia:Oh,your room is perfectly clean and tidy!And as for the walk,I'm very strong,you know.I usually walk for at least an hour every day.Don't you think walking is a good way to keep fit? Yang Yang:Yes,I do.Dinner is ready.Please sit at the table. Julia:Wow!So many dishes-four!They all look delicious. YangYang I'm sorry I'm not a very good cook.These are all cold dishes.Later on in the meal,just before they finish the cold dishes,four hot dishes are placed on the table. Julia:Another fourl There's only two of'us eating Yang Yang:Never mind.please try more.I am sorry I have prepared so little.if there were more people,there would be eight cold dishes and eight hot dishes,because you are my distinguished guest. Julia:No,it's not too little.It's more than enough,"Gou le,Gou le".I'm gonna explode. Questions: 1.What's wrong with their conversation?Why was Julia surprised?
example would be: Captain Bob. According to American custom it's quite normal for people who first meet to address each other by their given names alone, whereas here, when people first meet, they usually address each other by their full names and never by their given names alone. Case 3 Yang Yang has invited a Canadian friend, Julia, to her home for a meal. Unfortunately, the occasion gets off to a rather bumpy start. Yang Yang: Hi Julia, welcome! Come in, come in. Julia: Thank you for inviting me. This is a lovely room. Yang Yang: My room is very small and untidy. Please sit down and have a cup of tea. You must be tired on such a hot day. Julia: Oh, your room is perfectly clean and tidy! And as for the walk, I'm very strong, you know. I usually walk for at least an hour every day. Don't you think walking is a good way to keep fit? Yang Yang: Yes, I do. Dinner is ready. Please sit at the table. Julia: Wow! So many dishes -- four! They all look delicious. Yang Yang: I'm sorry I'm not a very good cook. These are all cold dishes. Later on in the meal, just before they finish the cold dishes, four hot dishes are placed on the table. Julia: Another four! There's only two of us eating. Yang Yang: Never mind, please try more. I am sorry I have prepared so little, if there were more people, there would be eight cold dishes and eight hot dishes, because you are my distinguished guest. Julia: No, it's not too little. It's more than enough, "Gou le, Gou le". I'm gonna explode. Questions: 1. What's wrong with their conversation? Why was Julia surprised?
2.How can Yang Yang be a better host to her Canadian guest so she can help her leam about the Chinese culture? Reference Julia was surprised by Yang Yang's remarks denigrating her flat.Yang Yang was probably just being politely modest and the flat was not really untidy-Julia certainly seems to think it odd that she should say so.In the West,compliments are accepted and appreciated.whereas in China,people often negate compliments in order to show modesty and politeness. Julia also seemed surprised by her remark about being tired from the walk.YangYang was undoubtedly just trying to be polite by showing concem for her guest.We often show our concem by saying something like:'You must be tired.Have a good rest Westemers are sometimes sensitive about such comments,they feel it implies a lack of stamina.Julia wasn't offended,she just wanted YangYang to know the walk over to the flat wasn't a problem for her. The proper conversation would be as follws: Yang Yang:Hi Julia.welcome!Come in,please. Julia:Thanks for inviting me.This is a lovely room. Yang Yang:Thank you.Please have a seat.Would you like a cup of tea? Julia:Yes,I would. Yang Yang::Was it difficult to find my place? Julia:No,your directions were very helpful Yang Yang:It's only May,but it's quite hot outside today.How long did it take you to come here? Julia:It only took 30 minutes to get here.You're right,it is hot.but I don't mind the hot sun. Yang Yang:Julia,dinner is ready Julia:Wow!So many dishes-four of them!They all look wonderful
2. How can Yang Yang be a better host to her Canadian guest so she can help her learn about the Chinese culture? Reference Julia was surprised by Yang Yang's remarks denigrating her flat. Yang Yang was probably just being politely modest and the flat was not really untidy - Julia certainly seems to think it odd that she should say so. In the West, compliments are accepted and appreciated, whereas in China, people often negate compliments in order to show modesty and politeness. Julia also seemed surprised by her remark about being tired from the walk. Yang Yang was undoubtedly just trying to be polite by showing concern for her guest. We often show our concern by saying something like: 'You must be tired. Have a good rest. Westerners are sometimes sensitive about such comments, they feel it implies a lack of stamina. Julia wasn't offended, she just wanted Yang Yang to know the walk over to the flat wasn't a problem for her. The proper conversation would be as follows: Yang Yang: Hi Julia, welcome! Come in, please. Julia : Thanks for inviting me. This is a lovely room. Yang Yang: Thank you. Please have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea? Julia: Yes, I would. Yang Yang:: Was it difficult to find my place? Julia: No, your directions were very helpful. Yang Yang: It's only May, but it's quite hot outside today. How long did it take you to come here? Julia: It only took 30 minutes to get here. You're right, it is hot, but I don't mind the hot sun. Yang Yang: Julia, dinner is ready. Julia: Wow! So many dishes -- four of them! They all look wonderful
Julia:Thank you.I prepared them myself.I hope you like them.Please help yourself Julia:They're delicious.I doenjoy Chinese food. Yang Yang:I'm glad you like them.But leave some room for another four hot dishes. Julia:Really?Another four!This is a real feast! Yang Yang:You're right.You know in China.numbers have significance,even the number of food dishes we serve a guest.We prefer even numbers but not the singular ones.The figure 'eight'is a lucky number in Chinese,and two sets of eight dishes would be prepared for distinguished guests.I am sorry I didn't prepare that mary for you -my distinguished guest,but I thought it would really be too much food.When there are only two people eating.four hot dishes plus four cold dishes is considered a feast. Julia:I feel honored indeed.How sweet you arel
Julia: Thank you. I prepared them myself. I hope you like them. Please help yourself. Julia: They're delicious. I do enjoy Chinese food. Yang Yang: I'm glad you like them. But leave some room for another four hot dishes. Julia: Really? Another four! This is a real feast! Yang Yang: You're right. You know in China, numbers have significance, even the number of food dishes we serve a guest. We prefer even numbers but not the singular ones. The figure 'eight' is a lucky number in Chinese, and two sets of eight dishes would be prepared for distinguished guests. I am sorry I didn't prepare that many for you -- my distinguished guest, but I thought it would really be too much food. When there are only two people eating, four hot dishes plus four cold dishes is considered a feast. Julia: I feel honored indeed. How sweet you are!