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.