Body Language in China

Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication and it is connected with culture. In order to make successful exchange in multi-cultural communication, we should know the body language from different cultures. Sometimes the same body language has different meanings in different cultures and has different social functions.
Americans often touch their temples to express somebody’s cleverness. But this action means there is something wrong with one’s mind or one is stupid to Chinese. Chinese are often surprised to see Americans lay their hands on their necks when they are full. Because it is an suicide action to Chinese, who used to express fullness by patting their stomachs.
People from English-speaking countries turn around their rings constantly to show nervousness or uneasiness. Now people from Taiwan and Hong Kong also have this gesture. But if people in the mainland of China act like this, they will be regarded they are showing off richness.
According to Chinese tradition, people who are sitting have right to take charge of others: Monarch sits and officer stands; father sits and son stands; leader sits and employee stands and so on. So the younger give the old a seat to show respect. But in America and Britain, people who are in charge of others have tendency to stand. They will make use of the height of space to indicate the high status.
American’s informalness is famous. Teachers can sit on the platform or desk when they are teaching. And the students needn’t to sit straight. But in China, people are required to have a good manner.
In China, people greet with each other with head nodding, smile, hand shaking and so on. Even good friends just hold hands for a short time or hammer softly on the other friend’s shoulder. Nowadays, hand shaking has become a custom to show hospitality and friendliness in many countries. But the way of hand shaking is a little different.
In English speaking countries, people used to hug or kiss each other in public between males and females, which is unacceptable and only exists between lovers and couples in private in China. In America, common friends and acquaintances will avoid body touch. Even in the elevator, body touch is not allowed. Touching the other people slightly or unconsciously, people will say “Sorry”, “Very Sorry”, “Excuse me” in a hurry to express apology. Or they will be abused. In western countries, people particularly mind their private space, which often represents people’s privacy and intimacy. But Chinese pay less attention to their private space. It is crowded in China because of a large population. So Chinese have got used to it and they often show their understanding and tolerance.
It is common to see youth of the same sex hold hands and hug in China. But in English speaking countries, it will be regarded homosexuality.
In China, people will give chrysanthemum to the patient. But French people never do this. Because they think chrysanthemum is used in funerals.
In many cultures, smiles are signs of happiness or friendliness, like America and China. We will find out others will return a smile to the person who is smiling at them but will turn away or stop talking with the person who are pulling a long face. “When we are speaking English, it is generally good to smile at your listener from time to time, especially when he has made an interesting comment. Also nodding your head up and down to show you are really interested in it. From time to time, you can add a sound of agreement, such as “Uh huh” or even just “mmmm”, to show you are listening.”
A foreigner broke a dish in a restaurant and felt embarrassed. But Chinese who were on the spot smiled at him, which made him angrier. In fact, this smile means “Never mind”. Another facial expression is stretching out one’s tongue. When Chinese realize that their behavior is unsuitable and feel embarrassed, they often stretch out their tongues and shrink their necks at the same time, especially girls and children. But Americans never do it. They think it is rude.
Head nodding often means agreement or greeting in most countries. And shaking one’s head often means disagreement or “No”. Applauding means appreciation or agreement and so on. If a person is hurt, he/she will cry to express painfulness. And we smile when are happy. Waving one’s hand means goodbye. Even some Chinese and English expressions and their meanings are totally same. For example, patting on the back means encouragement and appreciation. Pulling a long face indicates unhappiness and anger. Being all smile means happiness, standing with folded arms means indifference and so on.
Nowadays, with the development of the world, people from different cultures communicate more and more often. We have more chance to exchange culture and economy. The expert, Mcluhan compare the world to “global village” to describe the world, which means the world becoming smaller and smaller because of more and more communication. On the one hand, people from east world have accepted the body language from west world, such as thumbing a ride, shrugging, “OK” gesture, “V” gesture and so on. On the other hand, with rapid development of East Asia and Southeast Asia, the body language from east world has a great influence on that of the west world. In the communication of east and west people, many westerners have learned Chinese customs and etiquettes.
As an idiom goes “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” It is the main principle in communication. This principle refers that communicators should respect and understand the culture of the other nations and eliminate the interference of their own cultures. According to this principle, we should know the differences of their customs, beliefs and their connotations of body language.