Western Parting
£ The guest should indulge in small talks before parting. Eg.
“It’s been nice to see you again. I do enjoy our talk and the lovely dinner, but I must be going soon. Thank you for asking me over. ”
“Thank you for a lovely evening. I must not hold you any longer.”
£ The host should see the guest to the door and say “Thank you for coming.” “good luck”
Chinese Parting
£ Visitors make an abrupt goodbye.
£ 打擾您這么長時間。你也挺忙的,我就不坐了
£ Chinese host will see him/her to the building gate or even bus station and see the guest out of sight.
£ Chinese host/hostess: Stay longer; Go slowly; Watch your step; Take care.
接著通過一個有趣的案例,大家可以感受到中西方不同的待客方式以及不同的告別方式。
An American university student Tom is active in a foreign student club at his university and has several good friends from Chinese. One of them tells Tom his parents and sister will be visiting, and he asks Tom if he would like to meet them. Tom invites all of them to visit his home one afternoon. They arrive and present him with a nicely wrapped gift. Tom tells them they shouldn’t have brought anything, but thanks them and proceeds to open the gift, which turns out to be a very pretty vase from their country. He thanks them again. He senses some awkwardness and realizes that he has not offered them anything to drink. “Would you like coffee or tea or a soft drink?” he asks. They all refuse. Things seem more awkward now. But he talks a little of their country, about studies at the university, about the cost of living, and eventually the father whispers something to his son. “I think we must be leaving to return to the hotel,” he says. Everybody stands up, shake hands and they start to leave. “Please come and visit again.” Tom says as he stands and watches the family walk to the door, open it, and disappear down the hall.
Two days later, in a very indirect way, Tom learns from another friend that the visitors thought he was a rude host.
基礎(chǔ)部 王蕾 |