{"id":471,"date":"2023-08-18T09:21:30","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T09:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/?page_id=471"},"modified":"2023-08-18T09:21:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T09:21:31","slug":"useful-information-on-chinese-culture-and-basic-chinese-phrases","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/asylum\/rights\/useful-information-on-chinese-culture-and-basic-chinese-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"Useful information on Chinese culture and basic Chinese phrases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Culture and customs<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in a new country comes with its own set of challenges, including adapting to a new culture and customs. Here are some tips that might help you navigate your new environment in China:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greetings<\/strong>: Common greetings include a slight nod or a small bow. Handshakes are also common in urban areas but might vary in firmness. In more formal settings, it’s common to address someone by their title followed by their last name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respect for Elders<\/strong>: Chinese culture places a strong emphasis on respecting and honoring elders. It’s common to address older individuals with proper titles and to show deference in your interactions with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language and Communication<\/strong>: Learning basic Mandarin phrases can be helpful for daily interactions. Politeness is valued in communication, so using honorifics and appropriate titles is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Behavior<\/strong>: Maintain a level of decorum in public spaces. Loud or aggressive behavior might be seen as disrespectful or disruptive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Religious Awareness<\/strong>: China has a diverse range of religious practices, including Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity, among others. While these practices are often tolerated, it’s important to be respectful and aware of local customs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dress Modestly<\/strong>: Dressing modestly and conservatively is generally appreciated in China, particularly in more traditional or rural areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural Sensitivity<\/strong>: Be open-minded and willing to learn about the various cultures and ethnicities within China. The country is incredibly diverse, and people from different regions might have distinct customs and traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal Awareness<\/strong>: Familiarize yourself with China’s laws and regulations to ensure you are abiding by them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese New Year<\/strong>: Also known as Spring Festival, this is the most important traditional holiday in China. It involves family reunions, feasting, giving and receiving red packets, and celebrating with fireworks and dragon dances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mid-Autumn Festival<\/strong>: Also known as the Moon Festival, it’s a time for family gatherings and moon-watching. Mooncakes, a traditional pastry, are often given and shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Footwear Etiquette<\/strong>: Remove your shoes before entering someone’s home or certain indoor spaces. It’s customary to provide slippers for guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that adapting to a new culture takes time, and it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you are willing to learn and adjust. Observing and respecting local customs and practices will go a long way in building positive relationships into your local community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic Chinese<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning some basic Chinese phrases will greatly assist you in your daily interactions and help you navigate your life in China. Here are some essential phrases to consider learning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greetings:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f60\u597d (N\u01d0 h\u01ceo) – Hello<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u60a8\u597d (N\u00edn h\u01ceo) – Formal Hello<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u518d\u89c1 (Z\u00e0iji\u00e0n) – Goodbye<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic Courtesies:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8c22\u8c22 (Xi\u00e8xi\u00e8) – Thank you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e0d\u5ba2\u6c14 (B\u00f9 k\u00e8q\u00ec) – You’re welcome<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77 (Du\u00ecb\u00f9q\u01d0) – Sorry \/ Excuse me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introductions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u53eb [Your Name] (W\u01d2 ji\u00e0o [Your Name]) – My name is [Your Name]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f60\u53eb\u4ec0\u4e48\u540d\u5b57\uff1f(N\u01d0 ji\u00e0o sh\u00e9nme m\u00edngzi?) – What is your name?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numbers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e00 (Y\u012b) – One<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e8c (\u00c8r) – Two<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e09 (S\u0101n) – Three<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5341 (Sh\u00ed) – Ten<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u767e (B\u01cei) – Hundred<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking for Help:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8bf7\u95ee (Q\u01d0ngw\u00e8n) – Excuse me \/ May I ask…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u9700\u8981\u5e2e\u52a9 (W\u01d2 x\u016by\u00e0o B\u0101ngzh\u00f9) \u2013 I need some help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8fd9\u91cc (Zh\u00e8l\u01d0) – Here<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u90a3\u91cc (N\u00e0l\u01d0) – There<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5de6\u8f6c (Zu\u01d2 zhu\u01cen) – Turn left<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u53f3\u8f6c (Y\u00f2u zhu\u01cen) – Turn right<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u76f4\u8d70 (Zh\u00ed z\u01d2u) – Go straight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying and Bargaining:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u591a\u5c11\u94b1\uff1f(Du\u014dsh\u01ceo qi\u00e1n?) – How much does it cost?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u592a\u8d35\u4e86 (T\u00e0i gu\u00ecle) – Too expensive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u53ef\u4ee5\u4fbf\u5b9c\u70b9\u5417\uff1f(K\u011by\u01d0 pi\u00e1ny\u00ed di\u01cen ma?) – Can you make it cheaper?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emergency Phrases:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6551\u547d (Ji\u00f9m\u00ecng) – Help \/ Save me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u533b\u9662\u5728\u54ea\u91cc\uff1f(Y\u012byu\u00e0n z\u00e0i n\u01cel\u01d0?) – Where is the hospital?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u9700\u8981\u6551\u62a4\u8f66\u3002(W\u01d2 x\u016by\u00e0o ji\u00f9h\u00f9ch\u0113) \u2013 I need an ambulance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obtaining a police registration form<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8bf7\u95ee\u53bb\u6d3e\u51fa\u6240\u600e\u4e48\u8d70\uff1f(Q\u01d0ngw\u00e8n q\u00f9 p\u00e0ich\u016bsu\u01d2 z\u011bnme z\u01d2u?) – Excuse me, how do I get to the police station?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u60a8\u597d\uff0c\u8bf7\u60a8\u5e2e\u6211\u529e\u7406\u4e34\u65f6\u4f4f\u5bbf\u767b\u8bb0\u3002(N\u00edn h\u01ceo, q\u01d0ng n\u00edn b\u0101ng w\u01d2 b\u00e0nl\u01d0 l\u00ednsh\u00ed zh\u00f9s\u00f9 d\u0113ngj\u00ec) \u2013 Could I register myself please?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8fd9\u662f\u6211\u7684\u79df\u623f\u5408\u540c\u3002(Zh\u00e8 sh\u00ec w\u01d2 de z\u016bf\u00e1ng h\u00e9t\u00f3ng) \u2013 This is my lease contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8fd9\u662f\u6211\u7684\u96be\u6c11\u8bc1\u4ef6\/\u5bfb\u6c42\u5e87\u62a4\u8005\u8bc1\u4ef6\u3002(Zh\u00e8 sh\u00ec w\u01d2 de n\u00e0nm\u00edn zh\u00e8ngji\u00e0n \/ x\u00fanqi\u00fa b\u00ech\u00f9 zh\u011b zh\u00e8ngji\u00e0n) \u2013 This is my refugee ID card\/ asylum-seeker ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, pronunciation is key when learning a new language. Practice the tones and sounds of each word as accurately as possible. Learning these basic phrases will not only help you communicate your needs and understand basic information, but it will also show your respect for the local culture and willingness to engage with your local community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Culture and customs Living in a new country comes with its own set of challenges, including adapting to a new culture and customs. Here are some tips that might help you navigate your new environment in China: Greetings: Common greetings include a slight nod or a small bow. Handshakes are also common in urban areas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":363,"featured_media":0,"parent":178,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-471","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/363"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=471"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":472,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/471\/revisions\/472"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/china\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}