Gang Li Avoid Offending Others

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cp2hPe1M7c

Traditional Chinese

啊，避免冒犯是非常重要的，在中國文化裏面。中國人常常講“和為貴”，也就是說我們除非絕對必要，我們儘量避免去觸及對方的尊嚴和隱私。這樣在商業活動中，就常常意味著說，我們做很多事情的時候，我們不要去討論對方感覺到敏感的事情。我舉個例子講。中國人對自己的文化，對自己的祖先，啊，有一種很深的感情，所以，啊，但是西方人由於不瞭解這些，在有時候談論的時候，西方人常常會以一種調侃的口吻，或者是以一種批評的態度去看待中國的文化。而這樣會使，啊，中國人感覺到很受傷害。所以在這、類似於這樣的問題的時候，啊，西方人最好有一種文化的敏感的態度、或者說一種平等的態度。另外還有一個問題是說，中國人，啊，講究一種倫理，或者舉個例子說，我們常常說，啊，長幼有別，主客有別。也就是說，美國人到中國去，是作為客人。所以很多時候，啊，我們說客隨主便，所以很多時候要，啊，尊重客人，啊，尊重主人的意見。啊，另外一個是說，如果你見一個比你年長的中國人，你要表達出一種適度的尊敬，就好像在西方你對婦女要表達出一種適度的尊敬一樣。這就，啊，通過。當然還有一些很多其他的問題，一些小的問題，啊，我這裏不能夠一一的講。總而言之就是說注意到一種文化的差異，避免去觸及對方感到難堪和不太願意討論的問題。好，謝謝。

Simplified Chinese

啊，避免冒犯是非常重要的，在中国文化里面。中国人常常讲“和为贵”，也就是说我们除非绝对必要，我们尽量避免去触及对方的尊严和隐私。这样在商业活动中，就常常意味着说，我们做很多事情的时候，我们不要去讨论对方感觉到敏感的事情。我举个例子讲。中国人对自己的文化，对自己的祖先，啊，有一种很深的感情，所以，啊，但是西方人由于不了解这些，在有时候谈论的时候，西方人常常会以一种调侃的口吻，或者是以一种批评的态度去看待中国的文化。而这样会使，啊，中国人感觉到很受伤害。所以在这、类似于这样的问题的时候，啊，西方人最好有一种文化的敏感的态度、或者说一种平等的态度。另外还有一个问题是说，中国人，啊，讲究一种伦理，或者举个例子说，我们常常说，啊，长幼有别，主客有别。也就是说，美国人到中国去，是作为客人。所以很多时候，啊，我们说客随主便，所以很多时候要，啊，尊重客人，啊，尊重主人的意见。啊，另外一个是说，如果你见一个比你年长的中国人，你要表达出一种适度的尊敬，就好像在西方你对妇女要表达出一种适度的尊敬一样。这就，啊，通过。当然还有一些很多其他的问题，一些小的问题，啊，我这里不能够一一的讲。总而言之就是说注意到一种文化的差异，避免去触及对方感到难堪和不太愿意讨论的问题。好，谢谢。

Pinyin

Ah，bìmiǎn màofàn shì fēicháng zhòngyào de，zài zhōngguó wénhuà lǐmiàn。Zhōngguórén chángcháng jiǎng“héwéiguì”，yě jiùshìshuō wǒmén chúfēi juéduì bìyào，wǒmén jìnliàng bìmiǎn qù chùjí duìfāng de zūnyán hé yǐnsī。Zhèyàng zài shāngyè huódòng zhōng，jiù chángcháng yìwèi zhe shuō，wǒmén zuò hěnduō shìqíng de shíhòu，wǒmén búyào qù tǎolùn duìfāng gǎnjuédào mǐngǎn de shìqíng。Wǒ jǔgè lìzi jiǎng。Zhōngguórén duì zìjǐ de wénhuà，duì zìjǐ de zǔxiān，ah，yǒu yìzhǒng hěnshēn de gǎnqíng，suǒyǐ，ah，dànshì xīfāngrén yóuyú bùliǎojiě zhèxiē，zài yǒushíhòu tánlùn de shíhòu，xīfāngrén chángcháng huì yǐ yìzhǒng tiáokǎn de kǒuwěn，huòzhěshì yǐ yìzhǒng pīpíng de tàidù qù kàndài zhōngguó de wénhuà。ér zhèyàng huìshǐ，ah，zhōngguórén gǎnjué dào hěnshòu shānghài。Suǒyǐ zài zhè、lèisìyú zhèyàng de wèntí de shíhòu，ah，xīfāngrén zuìhǎo yǒu yìzhǒng wénhuà de mǐngǎn de tàidù、huòzhěshuō yìzhǒng píngděng de tàidù。Lìngwài háiyǒu yígè wèntí shìshuō，zhōngguórén，ah，jiǎngjiù yìzhǒng lúnlǐ，huòzhě jǔgè lìzi shuō，wǒmén chángcháng shuō，ah，Zhǎngyòu yǒubié，zhǔkè yǒubié。Yě jiùshì shuō，měiguórén dào zhōngguó qù，shì zuòwéi kèrén。Suǒyǐ hěnduō shíhòu，ah，wǒmén shuō kèsuízhǔbiàn，suǒyǐ hěnduō shíhòu yào，ah，zūnzhòng kèrén，ah，zūnzhòng zhǔrén de yìjiàn。Ah，lìngwài yígè shìshuō，rúguǒ nǐ jiàn yígè bǐ nǐ niánzhǎng de zhōngguórén，nǐ yào biǎodáchū yìzhǒng shìdù de zūnjìng，jiù hǎoxiàng zài xīfāng nǐ duì fùnǚ yào biǎodáchū yìzhǒng shìdù de zūnjìng yíyàng。Zhè jiù，ah，tōngguò。Dāngrán háiyǒu yìxiē hěnduō qítā de wèntí，yìxiē xiǎode wèntí，ah，wǒ zhèlǐ bù nénggòu yīyī de jiǎng。Zǒngéryánzhī jiùshìshuō zhùyìdào yìzhǒng wénhuà de chāyì，bìmiǎn qù chùjí duìfāng gǎndào nánkān hé bútài yuànyì tǎolùn de wèntí。Hǎo，xièxiè。

English

Avoiding offence is really important in Chinese culture. Chinese people often say “harmony is valuable.” What this is saying is that unless there is an absolute need, we should do our utmost not to infringe on the other guy’s dignity or privacy. Therefore, when doing business, there’s often an unstated rule that when we’re doing business, we won’t discuss things that the other guy is sensitive about. I’ll give you an example. Chinese people have very deep feelings about their culture and their ancestors. So, uh, but Westerners don’t understand this, so sometimes, when discussing things, Westerners are often derogatory in their tone or critical of Chinese culture. This makes, uh, hurts Chinese people’s feelings. So in this… when similar issues [arise], Westerners would be best to show some cultural sensitivity, or have an egalitarian attitude. Another problem is that Chinese people, uh, are fastidious about the ethical principle of… or let me give you an example. We often say, “Young and old are different; host and guest are different.” This means that when Americans go to China, they are guests. So many times… we say, “When in Rome….” So, typically… [you should] respect your guest [sic]… respect your host’s opinion. Another thing is that when you meet a Chinese person who is older than you, you should express an appropriate degree of respect, just like in the West you would show appropriate respect to a woman. This, uh, moving on…. Of course, there are still a lot of other issues, some small issues. I can’t list all of them here. In sum, I’m saying to pay attention to cultural differences and avoid touching on things that the other guy has a hard time with and doesn’t really want to talk about. OK, thank you.

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Authors: LouisPM, h.brinsko, orkelm.