Though China is modernizing quickly, there are still many differences between the ways that Chinese people interact with Western people and the rest of the world. Chinese communication relies upon maintaining relationships between individuals while at the same time, emphasizing status and role differences. These cultural customs are meant to preserve harmony within a group. In this article, I will list some of the specific nuances of Chinese styles of communication and their implications.
Geert Hofstede’s Analysis
Using Geert Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions theory, we find that mainland China’s long term orientation is the highest ranking factor. This means that China tends to focus on persistence, thrift, having a sense of shame, and ordering relationships by status.
In comparison to other Asian countries, China ranks lowest in the area of individualism. This is greatly attributed to Communist rule which prioritized collectivist culture. Chinese culture maintains an attitude of perseverance toward the challenges that they face, not strength, and will.
The low individualism ranking is since Chinese value a sense of belonging in a group, being in an extended family, or extended relationships. Chinese society enjoys stronger relationships where everyone takes responsibility for the well-being of their group, and loyalty is highly prioritized.
With a strong emphasis on harmonious integration, conflict tends to be avoided. Communication in China relies on caution not to cause others to lose face and to strengthen relationships.
Another cultural dimension considered here is called "power distance," which rates how well a society tolerates inequality. China is very tolerant of power distance, so they rank high in this area. Some say this is part of Chinese cultural heritage and not necessarily forced on them.
Nonverbal Communication
Some of the elements of nonverbal communication in China include things like eye contact, gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Some say that nonverbal expression is even more powerful than verbal communication, as these indirect methods play a vital role in our day-to-day lives.
One thing to keep in mind is that different nationalities may interpret certain gestures to have a different meaning. So, if you really want to understand a foreign culture, you should also dedicate some attention to their nonverbal expressions.
As one of the largest countries in the world, China still takes a lot of influence from ancient culture, such as the philosophical ideas of Confucius. Chinese people tend to be more reserved in their outward expression of emotion and gestures. But there are subtle ways they express themselves that are very clear to one another.
Chinese people tend to rely on posture, facial expressions, and tonal voices to determine how others are feeling. Mandarin is a tonal language, so in many cases, emotional expression has to come through context as opposed to the way specific things are said.
Generally, frowning when someone is speaking is taken as an indication of disagreement. So, Chinese people tend to try and keep a neutral expression when someone is making a speech. It is also thought of as disrespectful to gaze into another person's eyes on some occasions. This is why some Chinese shun eye contact in public places.
Gestures
Polite nods when greeting someone are common, gestures with the hands not so frequent. When Chinese want to direct attention, they use their whole hand to point instead of their index finger.
Touching
Physical contact is generally not preferred by Chinese people. With a close friendship or same gender, touching is more acceptable. You might see young women hold hands. Public displays of affection among couples are not standard, but later generations can be seen to be more affectionate in public.
Space
While touching is not preferred, in public areas, China is often crowded. Because of a lack of space, people are accustomed to moving into other people’s personal space and pressing up against them. Formal recognition of personal space is the norm when dealing with the elderly, which tend to be treated with reverence.
Communication Styles
Many Chinese feel that Westerners are too direct in their manner of speaking. Some Chinese say that Westerners are too “open.” This can occasionally cause hurt feelings when Western people openly criticize something in China they dislike.
Chinese people prefer a less direct approach, especially in sensitive matters that may cause someone some embarrassment. They would rather slowly consider a proposed idea than immediately making moves to act on it. Some other characteristics of Chinese communication styles include:
Indirect Communication
Chinese people, when criticizing something, will tend to make a few sentences or clues to allow the listener to read between the lines. Westerners will often blurt out what troubles them and tend to be unsatisfied in interactions with Chinese people when they believe that their concerns have gone disregarded. Being too direct with Chinese people can often be seen as humiliating and rude. They would prefer it if you dropped hints about potential displeasure or not elude to any kind of dissatisfaction at all. Often, the person complaining is seen as the problem as opposed to an external issue itself.
Context
No topic is off limits when building a relationship with a Chinese coworker or friend. They will tend to ask you questions that might be very personal from a Western perspective, such as your relationship status or whether or not you've had kids. Talking openly about these kinds of things is highly valued when it comes to networking, particularly in the business world. This is how one establishes "guanxi.” It’s a kind of familial orientation between associated individuals that paves the road for smooth business transactions.
Formality
Though you may be compelled to speak openly on personal matters, never forget the distance between yourself and those in this highest positions of the hierarchy. Talking to them informally in front of their peers would not be recommended, and could ruin a potential deal. Chinese businesspeople also prefer to meet face-to-face for a meal instead of talking over the telephone or exchanging emails.
Restraint
In general, Chinese people are not inclined always openly to display how they're feeling at any given time. Because of the emphasis on face culture, it also difficult for them to directly refuse a request, so that’s something to keep in mind when giving out invitations to a social event.
Other Factors
There are very intricate patterns to be found in Chinese culture. Facial expressions, body movements, even style of dress can express something and impact the way others respond to them. The perception among Westerners tends to be that the Chinese are reserved and humble, very concerned about their appearance, and will go out of their way to not look bad. Here are a few other notable variables to take into account:
The Tonal Language
Chinese phonemics and syllabic structure differs from other languages in Asia. When Chinese people attempt to speak English, they will tend to use pronunciation and tones that may sound strange to your ears.
Other Differences
China has a unique way of connecting different facts, stressing specific points, and organizing ideas. For example, the Chinese language has no singular or plural forms, so you have to determine these kinds of things from context. This is why software translation from Chinese to English tends to do such a terrible job.
Early Education
In China, children are taught to include others in their discussions and not to talk about themselves too much. Being cooperative, humble, and less egocentric is encouraged. Students are taught to do choral songs as opposed to solo recitals. This cultural orientation is expected to last through to adulthood.
When trying to adapt to Chinese society, it is critical to know how the people around you think and communicate. Language is conducive for understanding the interface through which other cultures frame the world through their eyes. For the Chinese, communication isn’t just the exchange of words, but a tool for creating a harmonious community.