10 Things to Learn about Chinese

After living as a Westerner in China, or traveling around the country, you will notice many strange things to Chinese people. Here are the top ten things I learned about Chinese.

These things normally take a board of view for the sake of briefness. Obviously, I know that every Chinese is not the same and I don’t mean to insult anybody. I just want to help you to better recognize what to expect when you visit China.

1) There are many people all the time, Everywhere

Rén shān rén hǎi 人山人海 is a Chinese catchphrase for many Chinese people, which means to people mountain, or people sea. In China you will never alone on the subway, train station, public place, and out on the road. For Americans, consider shopping on Black Friday. However, from a Northern European viewpoint, it is the regular Saturday morning before Christmas in the ordinary shopping spot of a big city. An ordinary American street seems like isolated people as compared to China.

2) Chinese people don’t like to plan things

“Plans can’t carry on with change”, is a Chinese expression. Chinese people don’t get a burden with planning. Sometimes things change very deliberately just with the little announcement, and suddenly it is declared to come about at once.

3) Chinese people can be quite rude, but individually they are very nice

In China Street and public transport, you will experience a lot of aggressive and pushing, running over, cutting in line, etc., all these things will give you the sense that Chinese people are very rude. But when you will come across a person, you will find him very nice and helpful to the people.

4) Chinese are stoical

People blocking them off, cars running over, conditions where many Westerners would curse or criticize, often hardly produce any response from a Chinese. But every Chinese is not stoical all along.

5) Chinese don’t like the Sun

Chinese people especially women don’t like the sunshine. When the sun comes out, Chinese women take out their sun umbrellas. It is just like the regular umbrella embellished with lace and beads and has a special cover inside. It is used to protect the skin from direct sunlight. In China, being pale is a beauty standard and women are very conscious about their beauty or skincare.

6) Chinese are very Capitalistic

This is what you may not assume in a socialist country. Shopping is the main interest of Chinese people and pretension the latest things and top brands products are very common. There are many shopping centers in China, in Beijing, multiple shops joined by above-street level sidewalks, is a most visited shopping place.

7) Chinese similar to partner look

Chinese people like cute partner looks, they like to wear matching a couple of dresses, or even family matching dresses. In China, you can get whole family matching dresses, socks, shoes, and other matching accessories.

8) Chinese people don’t appreciate peace and silent

Chinese people are very active in having fun. They don’t like to be silent and peaceful. In China, you will not often find a group of travels silently taking in the magnificent scenery. There is always noise and action in China public places. Chinese don’t like to be alone. They are not used to being alone.

9) Many Chinese consider that Western food is all the same

There is no difference between French, Italian, and German cuisine. Sometimes the Westerners refer to go for Asian cuisine. But the Chinese don’t favor to American cuisine, they think all American foods are just burgers.

10) Chinese mostly like Chinese food

Chinese people always like to eat Chinese food. No matter wherever they living, they always preferred to go to Chinese restaurants and cook Chinese food. The ingredients for Chinese food are easily available everywhere. Therefore, they like to cook Chinese food at home.