TripMagazine

Understanding Chinese culture

Understand Chinese Culture: a contribute from Ye Wong, a student from BLCU

Don’t Worry, They Are Straight

Many of my friends confess to me that when they first came to China, they were amazed to see so many “lesbians” here: in schools, shops, restaurants……wherever you go, you can see groups of girls or just 2 girls walking together hand-in-hand, or putting one arm around another’s. Don’t worry, they are straight! This is quite common in China, as well as in Japan and Korea. Although the Chinese are always believed to be a kind of people avoiding touching or any body contact, the bold display of affection (friendship) of the same sex (usually girls) is nothing to be surprised at. Boys seldom do that, because they are boys! They usually hide their affection.

My Aunt, Oh No, I Mean My Father’s Friend…

Once when I introduced my father’s friend to one of my international friend, I went like this: “This is my aunt….” “She’s your aunt?” my friend quickly asked back. “Oh no, she’s my father’s friend, but I call her aunt.” “What?” Obviously, he was totally baffled. I know I didn’t do well in that introduction (a good interpreter will surely prevent this kind of thing from happening), but what if you met a lame interpreter? So this is what I am going to talk about today, the address in China.

In China we tend to give everyone around us a certain family address: grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt, sister and brother to show a close relationship. This probably originated from the fondness of extended family. The Chinese valued extended family much, and since they lived within a relatively small area in the old days, nearly everyone they met in their daily life had a certain family connection with them. As the extended families gradually disappear in the modern society, the real relatives are gone, but the habit of addressing everyone they meet still remains.

Chinese people are pretty enjoyed to be called as others’ relatives, because it brings the two people closer—what can be closer than having blood connections? So next time when a Chinese introduces a friend to you and unconsciously calls him “brother”, don’t be confused.

by “Sophia” Ye Wong