Hi! Li Li, here again, to show you some comics about the differences between Western and Eastern cultures! If you read my previous blog, you already know I’ve been studying abroad for several months and I shared three cultural differences with “漫画 (mànhuà) comics” to illustrate my examples! Today I have a few more to share with you!
The source: tinyeyescomics (Instsgram)
The first example is the difference between sending gifts in the West VS. in China. Usually, in China, when we talk about “送礼物 (sòng lǐwù) giving/sending gifts,” we immediately think of “红包 (hóngbāo) red packets” which are basically packet with money inside. “红色 (hóngsè) red” in China is considered very lucky and a symbol of prosperity, so the packets are red. Nowadays we not only have physical envelopes people give, but also online versions that can be sent via “微信 (wēixìn) WeChat!” I would kind of compare it to the westerners’ gift card, but much more culturally rich and special. Every Chinese child looks forward to them.
(“微信红包 Wēixìn Hóngbāo WeChat Lucky Money Taps” into Chinese New Year Tradition)
In the West, when “节日 (jiérì) festivals” are celebrated, people usually carefully wrap presents for their loved ones and friends. If you imagine the scene of “圣诞节 (shèngdànjié) Christmas Day,” it makes you think of presents under the tree wrapped with care, right? Which would you rather have?
西方节日 (Xīfāng jiérì) West festivals:
Wǒmen huì zài shèngdànjié de shíhòu jīngxīn zhǔnbèi hěnduō lǐwù.
我们会在圣诞节的时候精心准备很多礼物。
We will carefully prepare a lot of presents on Christmas Day.
中国节日 (Zhōngguó jiérì) Chinese festivals:
Gōngxǐ fācái, hóngbāo ná lái.
恭喜发财，红包拿来。
May you have great fortune! Please give me a red packet!
“恭喜发财，红包拿来。(Gōngxǐ fācái, hóngbāo ná lái.)” is often used as a Chinese greeting during spring festival.
The source: tinyeyescomics (Instagram)
Another very interesting difference is behaviorally I’ve noticed westerners tend to be very confident. When they think of an idea or have something they would like to try, they tend to take action immediately. In China, people are more “含蓄 (hánxù) reserved and reticent.” “三思而行 (sānsīérxíng)” is a common “成语 (chéngyǔ) idiom” that describes thinking things over at least three times before you act. Have you noticed this difference in the behavior of people around you?
Xīfāng rén: Wǒ xiǎngdào yígè hǎo diǎnzi, shuō gàn jiù gàn!
西方人：我想到一个好点子，说干就干！
Westerner: I came up with a good idea, so I’ll just do it at the drop of a hat.
Zhōngguó rén: Wǒ xiǎngdào yígè hǎo diǎnzi, bùxíng, wǒ háishì zài xiǎngxiang ba.
中国人：我想到一个好点子，不行，我还是再想想吧。
Chinese: I came up with a good idea, no, I’d better think it over for a bit longer.
The source: tinyeyescomics (Instagram)
And then there’s the difference between what western and eastern students wear to school. In China every “高中学生 (gāozhōng xuéshēng) student in high school” must wear: standardized “校服 (xiàofú) school uniforms” that are very loose and comfortable so as to make the students unified and not emphasize anyone’s body or show off their fashion sense. Whereas in the west, in general, every student can decide what they would like to wear to school, whether it’s very casual or high-fashion, they get to decide for themselves.
想 (Xiǎng) miss; think of; come up with
节日 (Jiérì) festival; holiday
礼物 (Lǐwù) gifts, presents
红包 (Hóngbāo) red packets
校服 (Xiàofú) school uniform
高中生 (Gāozhōng shēng) high school students
说干就干 (Shuō gàn jiù gàn) at the drop of the hat
Jason: “Lì Li, zhōngguórén guònián de shíhou huì sòng shénme lǐwù a?”
Jason：”丽丽，中国人过年的时候会送什么礼物啊？“
Lì Li: “Wǒmen yìbān huì sòng hóngbāo.”
丽丽：“我们一般会送红包。”
A. Jason wants to send red packets to Li Li.
B. Jason wants to know how Chinese people celebrate the New Year.
C. Jason wants to know what kinds of gifts will be given during the Chinese New Year.
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