this question as the topic and write an article. As everyone knows,
Occidental will go Dutch while having a meal in the restaurant. But
Chinese don't go Dutch. Chinese will pay the bill and check out
generously. Occidental don't often entertain guests; but Chinese often
invite friend to dinner. A lot of Occidentals feel puzzled to this
question.
Why exists such a difference? Because of the East and West culture and
custom are different on the surface. I will analyze this question
concretely.
First of all, food systems between China and Occident are different.
Chinese put into practice Gather Dining System; Occidentals put into
practice Individual Dining System. Everybody can share the delicious
food of all over the table when eating Chinese food. Please note it is
sharing; but Occidentals just eat the food in one's own plate, if you
eat beef, he eats chicken. It is impossible that you taste the flavor
of his chicken. The result of the Individual Dining System is that you
can only eat the food in your plate. It is unable to share. Ha-ha!
What I said is right!
So to eat Chinese food is happier than to eat Western-style food. And
I want to ask you a question. Do you like the free thing? I think
nobody don't like the free thing. Ok! Suppose I invite you to eat the
delicious Chinese food, then I pay the bill. This is equivalent to
that you have enjoyed a delicious Chinese food free. So you will be
very glad. Have strengthened the relation between us in the happy
atmosphere.
Secondly, Occidentals eat for the health; Chinese eat for the
friendship. Occidental advocate individualism and independence is
strong. So Occidental express that respect for each other's
independence through the way go Dutch. Chinese like making friends and
solidarity. Chinese value the interpersonal relationships and
friendship very much. There are a lot of folk adages in China, for
example "Depend on parents at home, leave home and depend on the
friend!","Handle affairs is easy if you have many friends!", another
sentence is the more violent: "Insert the knife into both sides of the
rib for friend!!!".
Therefore, friend's position is important in Chinese's mind. The
purpose that Chinese don't go Dutch is doesn't want to destroy the
friendship between the friends. Dutch treatment is the stingy behavior
in China, is unfavorable to the friends' solidarity and is unfavorable
to keeping the harmonious interpersonal relationship.
Third, it is only simple "Have a meal!" that Occidental entertain
guests. It is not purpose that Chinese entertain guests, but it is the
means. In Americans' idea, "Have a meal" definition is to add fuel to
the body for keeping health and normal life activity. Thus resist the
attack of disease. That is to say, there is no any additional value.
In the Chinese idea, "Have a meal" not only is for maintaining the
health of the body, but also is a kind of life enjoyment, even is the
means to promote friendship between the friends. After enjoying the
sumptuous delicious food, you are glad, I am glad too, everybody is
glad. The friendship between the friends has been strengthened in this
kind of atmosphere.
Chinese are a nation liking treat very much. Generally speaking, one
party who propose treat will pay the bill in China. But purposes are
different. For example you help me to do a thing, I will invite you to
dinner in order to express thankfulness to you, certainly, I will pay
the bill. Suppose I am a company manager, you are another company
manager. I talk about the business with you, and I will say: "Let's
have a meal together!". Certainly, I will pay the bill. My purpose is
that congratulates business' success, promote the friendship between
us, even the friendship and cooperation between two companies.
In fact, Chinese are very complicated. So I say that Chinese don't go
Dutch is not merely a kind of folkway and custom, but it is a means, a
method, a repayment way, a way to express emotion, even is probably a
kind of stratagem …
FROM SINA
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