Chinese Culture 101 | Part 7 – Differences

This post is part of a series exploring Chinese culture. See the links at the bottom of this page for more.

Having explored some of the main concepts in Chinese thinking the table below summarises the key differences between eastern and western cultural values:

Cultural ValuesWest (US / Europe)East (China / East Asia)
LogicLinear (direct associations)Spiral (roundabout and subtle)
CommunicationExplicit or direct, verbal, likely to “speak their mind”Implied or inferred, non-verbal, subtle
IdentityIndividualistic, independent, values freedomGroup orientated, values harmony and stability
Agreement / DisagreementArgumentative, verbalDifficult to say no, non-verbal
ThinkingRule or law orientated, detailed, analytical, logicalContext or situation specific, holistic, intuitive, big picture
PunctualityStart and end on timeAppointment times flexible
RespectSuccess, achievement, wealthSeniority, wisdom, ability
Business RelationshipsSuperficial, contractual, economics come firstPersonal, long-lasting, relationship comes first
Decision MakingDistributed authority, fast, proactive, plannedManager has final say, slow, considered, impulsive
OpennessOpen to alternate ideasReceptive but superficial
Conflict ResolutionLegalistic, confrontationalMediation through 3rd parties
Time HorizonShort-term (think per quarter)Long-term (think years ahead)
Risk / SpendingRisk-takers, spend for todayRisk-avoiders, save for future
DiningKnives & forksChopsticks!

Remember that the above are general impressions to keep in mind but there will always be exceptions to the rule. Younger Chinese will often be more open and flexible than older Chinese who may be stuck in their ways – a different approach will be needed for both, with more attention required for the latter.

Meetings

Meetings are on the whole fairly similar to what you would expect in the west but remember that Chinese rarely get straight to the point and they will often speak formally or indirectly. It is only when you have gained their trust (through guanxi) that they will use more informal language and reveal their true intentions. Often only the most senior attendees will talk and all questions should be directed to those people.

Great Companies, Great Leaders - Tianjin WorkSpace 2008
Photo by World Economic Forum

Do not be afraid to ask someone to clarify or repeat themselves and that silence is not a sign of weakness in China. Suppress the urge to interpret things at face value as often the unsaid message is more important than what is being said verbally.

Turning Differences into Success

Whilst differences can sometimes create uncomfortable situations for those not used to them they can also be used to the advantage of both sides.

The Chinese are more often than not friendly towards foreigners and frequently go out of their way to try and be helpful (sometimes even when you don’t need it!). Those who have worked in China before generally find the Chinese to be hard working and eager to learn from the experience of others. For young people, having completed their education at great expense to their families, there is often a lot riding on their shoulders and the drive to succeed is high.

When beginning any sort of business in China, it’s often wise to partner with a company which already has a presence there. While government departments and state-owned enterprises are often stuck under mountains of bureaucracy, private companies are able to take far more agile approaches to meet your needs. Foreign or jointly owned enterprises will have a wealth of knowledge and experience which will give you a head start. Partnering with them will also open doors to arranged introductions to other qualified parties while shielding you from unscrupulous ones who might try to take advantage of your relative naivety. You will also find that larger companies have established training programs designed to familiarize their own employees with western business practices and culture.

Job Fair in Nanjing, China
Photo by evadedave

The key to success in China is building relationships. This fundamental element of Chinese culture helps build companies for long-term success rather than short-term gain. While decision-making can be slow compared to the west, it is thoughtful and considered. Because so much of an individual’s success is intertwined with the success of their personal network, they will risk less for individual gain and focus more on making the right decision for the company. It is the relationship that they will protect. In this respect, it’s particularly important not to cut corners and to spend time building on them in order to make the most of your investments.

Next time we present some practical tips for how to approach cultural differences in China.

If you have any experiences you’d like to share or think I’ve got something wrong please feel free to leave a comment below.

Other posts in this series:

  1. History
  2. Language
  3. Society
  4. Education
  5. Food / Dining
  6. Core Concepts
  7. Key Differences (this post)
  8. 10 Practical Tips
David avatar

5 responses

  1. […] between Western workers and Chinese workers. The article is part of a series of articles on China.Chinese Culture 101 – Part 7: DifferencesI will start my new job at MCon next Monday. They are hiring me as a Systems Administrator (i.e. […]

  2. Emma Yang avatar
    Emma Yang

    It’s wired no one comment on this one.
    Still surprising about your ability of logical summarize, and incredible insight.

    It’s great! Totally reliable and such a excellent guidance.

    Although there is a doubt about the “respect” part. But I don’t know, give me sometime to think about your opinion, and then I think I can help.

    Again, it’s surprising and amazing —— to David.

  3. Understanding Chinese Culture — Mandarin Chinese lessons Colorado Chinese Language Center

    […] other hand, in China, you just don’t get involved with strangers. It’s too risky and Chinese people avoid risk.  The people on the scooters have nothing to do with you. You just move on and avoid becoming […]

  4. Scarlette Johannsons avatar
    Scarlette Johannsons

    Such a good article to help foreigners understand chinese culutre. As a Chinese lady, I fully agree writer’s opinions on differences between Chinese and Western. I want say one words additionally, meeting always could not solve problem in china, its just create a chance to talk, talk and talk, however no decision make when meeting end.

  5. […] family and friends, they just don’t get involved with strangers. It’s too risky and Chinese people avoid risk. When someone has a problem, you just move on and avoid that person’s problems becoming your […]

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