1、The Differences of FriendshipThe Differences of FriendshipBetween the West and ChinaPresenterPresenter 1 Xiao Zhang 2 Xiao Wang 1 Xiao Zhang 2 Xiao Wang Proverb“没有真挚朋友的人，是真正孤独的人。”Without a friend,the world is like a wilderness.GeneralityGeneralitySocial culture in China and the United States is not
2、the same.Collectivist culture is playing a decisive role in the society.Meanwhile,the American community is leaded by individualism.The differences of values result in various attitudes and understanding towards friendship.1.person you like;2.supporter;3.not enemy;4.silly or annoying person-Oxford E
3、nglish Dictionary“彼此有交情的人或恋爱的对象。”现代汉语词典The friendship and friends in the eyes of Chinese and western peopleWhat can you expect from your friends?How long can friendship last?How much can you depend on your friends?How much can you expect from your friends?The Friendship and Friends in the Eyes of Th
4、e Friendship and Friends in the Eyes of Chinese and Western PeopleChinese and Western PeopleAlthough Chinese are more gentle and humble,the definition of friend and friendship is quite clear.We regard the two in a very serious way.Chinese friend must share similar interest,similar personalities.Othe
5、rwise they are just acquaintance.The Friendship and Friends in the Eyes of The Friendship and Friends in the Eyes of Chinese and Western PeopleChinese and Western PeopleFriend and friendship in the eyes of western people are quite different from that of Chinese.Those people who were chanced on like
6、patches of drifting duckweed can be friends.Furthermore,for the friendship,the western people are more casual compared with our Chinese.What Can You Expect from Your Friends?What Can You Expect from Your Friends?A friend in China is someone who can feel that you are in trouble,and offer assistance b
7、efore you ask for.In China there are few limits on what you can ask or expect from a friend.You feel free to tell your friends what he/she can or should do to help you or please you.What Can You Expect from Your Friends?What Can You Expect from Your Friends?In western countries,you can certainly ask
8、 a friend to do something for you,but you would not expect a friend to recognize and respond your will without stating them explicitly.There are limits on what you can expect from a friend.When you ask for help in western countries,you should recognize that the friend may say no.How long can friends
9、hip last?Chinese seem to expect their friendship to stay the same over a long period of time,maybe for a lifetime.A true friendship is a relationship endures through any changes.In western countries an individual likely to change even their best friend.The reason is that friendship,like many other r
10、elationships in western countries,especially the country like the United States,would encounter frequent alteration.If people involved dont see each other and interact regularly,the relationship is probably wither.How much can you depend on your How much can you depend on your friends?friends?Chines
11、e friends give each other more concrete help and assistance than western friends do.A Chinese will use personal networking to help a friend to get something hard to obtain such as a job.We will even help our friend get out of their economic hardship by lending them money and require no interest.How
12、much can you depend on your How much can you depend on your friends?friends?People prefer to be independent rather than involved with each other in the west.So they may feel uncomfortable in a relationship in which one person is constantly giving and the other one only depend on whats be given.How m
13、uch can you expect from your How much can you expect from your friends?friends?Chinese tend to communicate with others in an indirect way.But in close personal relationships such as friendship,we usually perform an opposite way.The talk between Chinese friends would probably sound too direct to west
14、ern ears.How much can you expect from your How much can you expect from your friends?friends?Americans apologize to their friends for minor inconveniences such as telephoning late at night.Even in close friendship they choose polite forms in communication like Could you and Would you mind中国朋友的朋友=朋友，
15、朋友的敌人=敌人The West-friends of my friends=?Foes of my friends=?Because of the differences among the definition of friendship,the attitudes towards the treatment of friend and how to maintain a friendship vary from China and the west.And the differently expected return between Chinese and the west would
16、 mislead our intercultural communication.Therefore,the people of China and the west should promote their cultural exchanges.We must understand each others different cultural practices and social custom.That means cross-cultural communication between China and the west will show more profound and far-reaching significance in the long term.ConclusionConclusion
