different-friendship-between-China-and-West

1、A Study on the Differencesbetween Western Friendship and Chinese FriendshipAbstract Nowadays, the tendency of globalization makes the friendship beyond the national border. But in intercultural communication, different concepts of friendship may bring people who do not belong to the same culture som

2、e trouble. On the purpose of communicating well in the intercultural communication, we make a study on the differences between western friendship and Chinese friendship. By researching some material, we find the differences about the friendship are definition, expected return and so on. Then we anal

3、yze the main reason is the difference of social value. Western country based on individualism while China based on collectivism. Finally, we draw a conclusion that is we should respect the different friendship and increase the understanding of each otherKey words: friendship intercultural communicat

4、ion Chinese culture western cultureIntroduction With the development of globalization, China has been frequently communicating with Western countries. But there are some big differences for the friendship between the western culture and the Chinese culture. In order to develop good relationships wit

5、h each other and understand very well, we should make a study about the differences between Western friendship and Chinese friendship or we may make some mistake which may be have a bad effect on globalization. In this situation, studying the intercultural friendship is very necessary. In my paper,

6、I describe these things in three parts. First is Some Aspects about the Different Friendship. Second is The Reasons about these Differences on Friendship. Third is Some Tips to Solve the Problems Caused by Cultural Differences on Friendship in Communication.Chapter One Some Aspects about the Differe

7、nt Friendship.1.1 For the two different culture, the understanding about the definition of friendship is different.For Chinese, they treat the friendship with a serious way and regard the friendship as a very important part of their lives .Just as the old saying goes: A life without a friend is a li

8、fe without a sun. So in the concepts of Chinese people, friends are these who are the people you know very well. As friends, they both can do everything for each other. Besides, they have something in common, such as interest, hobby, personality and so on. In other words, they are just like soul mat

9、es who have the same ideas on one thing. For other people who they only know are just called acquaintance not friends.Friends and friendship in the eyes of western people are quite different from the Chinese people. In the western people's dictionary, the definition of friends is very widely. In

10、 the OXFORD friend are: 1.person you like 2. supporter 3. not enemy 4.silly or annoying person. The people to meet by chance like patches of drifting duckweed can be friends. Thus, for the friendship, the Americans more open to more casual compared with Chinese.Western people use the word "frie

11、nd" in a very general way. They may call both casual acquaintances and close companions “friends.” These friendships are based on common interests. When the shared activity ends, the friendship may fade.1.2For the two different culture, the concept about the deadline of friendship is different.

12、 In Chinese culture friendship means a strong life-long bond between two people. People always say we will be friends forever. Especially, in ancient China, once they become friends, they will swear that they want to die at the same time though they can't be born at the same place .This behavior

13、 shows how truth about their friendship. In this culture, it always needs a long time to develop the friendship , since they are built to last and the deadline of the friendship is also long. But in western cultures, friendship develops quickly and they may change just as quickly. American friendshi

14、ps are absolutely among the changeable ones. But this phenomenon is not strange1.3For the two different culture, the attitude towards privacy of friendship is different.There is no secret between the two Chinese friends and they would like to share everything with each other. Because they think this

15、 is a good symple of their friendship.Generally speaking, western people tend to care about their friends as well as leave room for them. one friend had better not so curious about another friend 's privacies such as the salary, diseases, and marital status. Because Its none of your business. If

16、 you try to find the privacy from an western people, most probably, you will be regarded as immoral. 1.4 For the two different culture, the opinion about the expected return of friendship is different. On one hands, In Chinese, when a friend asks, there is no “tomorrow”. If you say no to the request

17、 of your friends, you will lose your face that is a big deal. If a friend asks to borrow some money, he is probably thinking that he has no choice but to lend even if he does not mean to it. For the friends, what the Chinese people want is the ability to provide help in time, and to company with the

18、 friends to go through anything. Chinese people will help each other, and even help each other in the economy. The Chinese seem to show much concern for their friends so as always care about others privacy. And it even sometimes interferes with others decisions. So the Chinese people for friends and

19、 friendship to the relatively high expected return value.On the other hands, in the opinion of western people, friends are mainly in emotional support. Western people also will be willing to help their friends. But most of the time, they hope that the helping will be concentrate on small things. It&

20、#39;s maybe uncomfortable, even very strange, to shoulder much more so-called responsibilities for a friend. At the same time he keeps some distance, so that it will not interfere with your inner thought and decisions. In his eyes which belongs to your privacy. However, if you want to borrow some mo

21、ney from your friends, it is probably impossible. And he will recommend you to borrow it from bank. The western people have been characterized by being straightforward. So the expected return for the friendship is relatively lowChapter twoThe Reasons about these Differences on Friendship.2.1 The bas

22、ic reason is that the social value is different.The conflict between Collectivism and individualism .Collectivism is always popular in China, no matter in ancient times or in modern society. Confucianism has great influence on the development of China. His thoughts deeply rooted in people mind, and

23、take far-reaching effect on people behavior. In Confucius words: if one wants to establish himself, he should help others to establish themselves at first.”However, in western countries, at that time, nomadic economy developed rapidly with the manorial economy development. The “expansivity” of nomad

24、ic economy had become more distinct, which determined that “dispute” inevitably became the key point in western culture. Additionally, the later Renaissance of Europe produced the determined and key influences on the westerners thoughts. Since than, the thoughts of freedom and humanity had impressed

25、 on peoples heart deeply.2.2The second reason is that Social culture in China and the west is not the same. Collectivist culture of Chinese society is playing a leading role in the ideas of friendship. However in west the individual culture plays a decisive role in the community. In history, Chinese

26、 people depend on agriculture, so they had to develop good relationships to reach their goals. However, western people mainly rely on the sea. They don't need to unite together cultivate the files.2.3 Another important reason is that its quite natural for western people to move their home to dif

27、ferent places. Very few people live in just one place for a life long time. That is why the western people are always ready to make new friends. They often drop a visit to their new neighbors. And friendship will be established during chatting, taking an interested sports and small family parties. B

28、esides Western people are very independent.2.4The difference of pursuit is also a necessary reason .What the Chinese people pursue is to follow suit. They don't want to have something different from others. However, western people pursuit uniqueness, their cord cultural value is individual. And

29、the religion also makes a point of individual. So, there is no right to know other's privacy even friends.2.5 other reasonsBecause of the different definitions of friendship and friends, there is a different way to treat a friend. And the different ways to treat a friend t lead to a different expected return for friendship between Chinese and western people . And the another reason is In the individual's culture, independent element of self structure stands the leading role. While in the collective culture, interdependent constitutive element o