Every culture has its differences with other cultures—it’s the way we are brought up and the social environment we live in. It’s always helpful to be aware of some of the differences with other cultures—and even better if you know how to talk about them with others!
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) How to talk about cultural differences between people in one country and another
(ii) To mention some of the cultural differences you have observed
Dialogue:
Two people are discussing cultural differences:
(在咖啡厅)
(zài kā fēi tīng)
(at the café)
A:中国和美国的文化都有哪些不同？
Zhōng Guó hé Měi Guó de wén huà dōu yǒu nǎ xiē bù tóng?
What are some of the differences between Chinese and American cultures?
B:太多了。比如，美国人不劝酒。如果你逼着别人喝酒干杯，是很不礼貌的行为。
Tài duō le. Bǐ rú, Měi Guó rén bù quàn jiǔ. Rǔ guǒ nǐ bī zhe bié rén hē jiǔ gān bēi, shì hěn bù lǐ mào de xíng wéi.
Oh.., so many. For example, American people don’t urge others to drink. If you force other people to drink or “bottoms up”, it is considered very impolite.
A:哦，还有呢？
Òu, hái yǒu ne?
What else?
B:还有，中国人喜欢喝热水，热茶，美国人一般都喝冰水。哎，中美文化差异很大啦，一句两句说不完的！
Hái yǒu, Zhōng Guó rén xǐ huān hē rè shuǐ, rè chá, Měi Guó rén yī bān dōu hē bīng shuǐ. Āi, zhōng měi wén huà chā yì hěn dà la, yī jù liǎng jù shuō bù wán de!
Hmm…, Chinese like to drink hot water and hot tea, Americans often drink ice water. Hey, there are lots of differences between Chinese and American cultures. Can’t finish them in one or two sentences.
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
中国文化：Chinese culture
美国文化：American culture
文化：culture
不同／不一样／差别：difference
比如：for example
劝：urge/encourage
酒：alcohol
逼：urge
别人：other people
喝酒：drink alcohol
干杯：cheers/”bottoms up”
不礼貌：impolite/rude
行为：manner/behaviour
热水：hot water
热茶：hot tea
冰水：ice water
文化差异：cultural differences
一句两句说不完：can’t finish explaining in one or two sentences
句：sentence
中美：a short version of ‘中国和美国’, it is more formal
Cultural/Grammar note:
‘A和B有哪些不同’ is how you ask to compare two things.
‘劝酒’ is part of traditional Chinese culture. If someone says bottoms up to you, you need to do this literally, not only take a sip. You need to drink it up to show that you respect and want to be friends with that person. In fact, you can usually hear this sentence in a restaurant:
是朋友就干杯。
Shì péng yǒu jiù gān bēi.
If we are friends, bottoms up.
But, nowadays, there are some people who are more considerate, they would say:
我干杯，您随意。
Wǒ gān bēi, nín suí yì
I will bottoms up, you can do whatever, it’s up to you.