Address in Chinese Greeting

Normally,most of western nations accept hugs(拥抱yōngbào) and kisses(吻wěn) as a well-known form of greeting though a handshake(握手wòshǒu) is still the formal way of greeting individuals. In China, a handshake is a common way to address your greeting.

Form of Address:

A form of address is somewhat a reflection of social climate. In China, numerous forms of addresses are used based on situations. Deciding on the proper and appropriate form shows your intelligence and high respect to others. Usually, for Chinese individuals it needs to be in accord with convention and care significantly regarding the personal favor of the people becoming addressed. You will find four major categories:
 

Job Title(职业称呼zhíyè chēnghū)

You are able to get in touch with someone directly by his job title or put it prior to his surname or full name. This is often used in the workplace and on much more formal occasions:

Chinese

Pinyin

English

习主席

Xízhǔxí

President Xi

李总理

Lǐzǒnglǐ

Prime Li

王局长

Wáng júzhǎng

Director Wang

沈经理

Shěn jīnglǐ

Manage Shen

徐主任

Xú zhǔrèn

Director Xu

 

To address depending on professional qualifications means showing respect to these people: 

Chinese

Pinyin

English

李老师

Lǐ lǎoshī

Teacher Li

苏工程师

Sū gōngchéngshī

Engineer Zhao

金律师

Jīn lǜshī

Lawyer Jin

陆校长

Lù xiàozhǎng

Principal lù

 

An address according to educational qualifications is useful to emphasize the academic authority of the people being addressed:

Chinese

Pinyin

English

马博士

Mǎ bóshì

Dr. Ma

赵硕士

Zhào shuòshì

Master Zhao

王学士

Wáng xuéshì

Bachelor Wang

 

Usually, you can call a person’s full name or family name when addressing him, very good friends and colleagues, or only the surname proceeded by an informal title which indicates his age:

Chinese

Pinyin

English

老赵

Lǎo zhào

Elder Zhao

朱阿姨

Zhū āyí

Aunt Zhu

小王

Xiǎo wáng

Younger Wang

Contact is extremely vital in people’s life,such as eye contact(眼神交流yǎnshénjiāoliú), a smile, and politeness are expressions of sincerity. These are the beginning of communication. Just as westerners, the Chinese typically pass the time of day with others as a precursor to finding towards the point of a conversation or presentation.Do not forget to express yourself by your polite ways.

 

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