When you are learning Chinese, the first step is to learn Chinese ways of greeting people. How do the Chinese acknowledge each other when they meet? In general they just say: “Have you had your breakfast/lunch/dinner?” or “where are you going?” Foreigners are unused to these ways of acknowledgment, especially the Americans who respect others’ privacy, by no means will they ask someone what he or she is going to do when they meet. The westerners just say: “Hello”, “Hi” or “How is going” … The British people tend to say: “It’s a fine day today, isn’t it?” While the Russians may say: “Are there any news today?” Different background culture has led to dramatically different ways of acknowledgments.

However, some Chinese ways of greeting people are fairly interesting. For instance, someone meet his colleagues in the canteen at lunch time, he would ask them: “Are you coming here to have lunch?” Although it is so obvious that he has known the answer, he would still ask the very question, because that’s a way of greeting others. Likewise, when you are reading a book in the study room, a friend of you would come towards you and pat you on the back, asking: “Are you reading books here?” just as a means of acknowledgment. The foreigners find it hard to understand why the Chinese ask questions deliberately while knowing the answer.

To learn mandarin well, it is necessary to know as much as possible its culture and customs so that you can be a qualified Chinese learner. Learning Chinese enriches your mind and enhances your insight.

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