Emailing a Chinese Contact: Make the Request Clear
Use a clear subject, an appropriate form of address and a specific request.
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Culture
Customs, etiquette, and the unwritten rules of Chinese life — practical reference guides.
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Chinese Embroidery: A Li Textile Example from Hainan
Li textile traditions in Hainan combine spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery.
Mianzi: Reading the Social Meaning of 面子
面子 can refer to social prestige or face, as well as an outer surface.
Filial Piety: Family Responsibility in Confucian Thought
Filial piety concerns conduct toward parents and ancestors in Confucian ethical discussions.
Wuxing: The Five Phases in Chinese Thought
Wuxing describes five phases: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
Forbearance and Patience: 忍让 and 忍耐
忍让 and 忍耐 express forms of forbearance, endurance and patience.
Giving a Gift: Ask about the Occasion and the Recipient
Choose a gift with the recipient’s preferences and the specific occasion in mind.
The Golden Mean: Clarifying a Translation of 中庸
In discussions of Chinese thought, the English phrase golden mean can refer to 中庸, zhongyong.
Expressing Gratitude: 感谢 and 感恩
感谢 means to thank or be grateful; 感恩 also expresses being grateful.
Green Tea in Chinese: 绿茶
绿茶 is the Mandarin term for green tea.
Greeting a Chinese Contact: Names and Forms of Address
Ask how a person wants to be addressed and use the name and pronunciation they provide.
Guanxi: Relationships, Connections and Context
关系 can mean a relationship or connection, including personal connections.