中美文化差异(中美文化存在哪些差异)

1. 如厕方式蹲坑VS马桶

Toilets: To Squat or Not

　　尽管部分中国发达地区的卫生间有坐便器，但传统的蹲坑式厕所仍是主流。因为中国人觉得蹲坑对身体有好处。相比之下，美国人就更钟意于坐便器式马桶。但随着国家间联系的加深，西方文化也逐渐接受“中国式蹲坑”了。比如，有些美国人会专门买附带板凳设计的坐便器以方便如厕。

　　While the estern toilet has a presence in more developed areas of China, the traditional squat toilet is still the choice for most Chinese citizens. While most Americans prefer to do their business hile seated, the Chinese believe that squatting is healthier for your body. This idea has been gaining some supporters in estern culture as the information spreads For example; Americans are no buying specially designed benches that allo them to use estern toilets as squat toilets.

2. 生病买药:处方药VS非处方药

Going to the Pharmacy

　　人难免会生病，每种文化对待小病小灾的方式稍有差异。中国人生病时一般去就近的药店买所需药品，处方药或者非处方药都可以在这些药店里买到。而这种方式在美国人看来简直太方便了，因为在美国，他们必须有专业医师的处方才能买到处方药。

　　Nobody enjoys having a cold or the flu, but ho e deal ith these mon illnesses varies depending on our location. Here in China, sufferers are able to alk themselves don to any pharmacy and pick up their medicine. From traditional Chinese cures to hat Americans refer to as “over the counter” medications; all are available ithout a doctor’s preion. This process sounds incredibly simple to an American ho is used to making an appointment to see the doctor and then aiting to get medication ith a preion.

　　3. 逛街会友挽手VS 距离

　　Walking ith Friends

　　友情很常见，不同文化间表达友情的方式却迥然不同。中国人喜欢在逛街时与朋友手挽手甚至手牵手，这种现象在男生和女生中都存在。而在外国人看来这一亲密举动在情侣关系中更合适。因为不同文化对两个手挽手的人会有不同的定义。

　　Friendship is universal, but ho e express our feelings toards our friends is not. In China, you ill often see groups of friends linking arms or even holding hands hile alking the streets. This is true for both males and females. To a estern mind this level of intimacy is generally reserved only for romantic partners. Seeing to people arm-in-arm sends very different messages depending on hich culture you e from.

　　4. 饮茶方式热茶VS冰茶

　　Drinking Tea

　　许多西方人以中国为茶的故乡。美国饮茶文化与中国饮茶文化判然不同。“美式冰茶”是一杯由切碎的茶叶为料并加以大量糖块和柠檬的冰饮料，并不像经多次浸泡的中式茶口感温热。国外茶包里的茶叶要比中国茶叶更苦涩，所以美国人更喜欢经过深加工的甜味茶品。而茶，作为中华民族的举国之饮，中国更倾向于一种传统的饮茶方式，喝热茶是中国人普遍的饮茶习惯。

　　Many people in the est equate China ith tea drinking. Hoever, if you asked an American to bring you a glass of tea you ould probably not receive the perfectly steeped, arming tonic that a Chinese person ould bring you. In America you are more likely to be given an iced beverage made from finely chopped tea leaves, steeped from a bag, and loaded ith plenty of sugar and lemon. The estern idea of the tea bag mean that tea is usually more bitter and more processed than loose-leaf teas in China. This is hy the Americans dron their tea in seeteners. While Chinese tea culture maintains more of a traditional approach that the estern palate has yet to discover.

　　5. 买卖习惯小费VS讲价

　　Bartering and Buying

　　中美货币流通大体相似，但价格标签却大不一样。在美国，你需要花多于5美元的价格去购买一件标价5美元的东西。因为价格标签并不包括营业税及小费。相比来说，由于“讨价还价文化”，中国商品可能一开始就没有标价。在中国，顾客先问价再准备好以合适的价格砍价。讨价还价是中国顾客的一种习惯，就像美国人习惯性把营业税与小费加到商品上一样。

　　Price tags in America and China vary on more points than simply the currency they reflect. In the U.S. if you ant to buy something marked as $5.00 you should plan on paying a little more than the listed price. Sales tax and gratuity are rarely factored into the listed price of items in the States. On the flip side, items in China might not even have a price tag to begin ith. This is because of the bartering culture that exists in many markets across the country. Shoppers should be prepared to ask for prices and then be ready to spend a bit of time bargaining don the price to a reasonable amount. The art of bartering es second nature to Chinese shoppers, just like adding up sales tax and tips does to Americans.

　　6. 晾晒衣物晾干VS烘干

　　Drying Your Clothes

　　中国人晾衣服仍很传统，他们一般把衣服晾在室内或阳台的晾衣架上。中国人认为这种方式既健康又节约空间，而美国人则不这么想。在美国，几乎每个家庭都配备洗衣机和烘干机，乡村也不例外。并且美国的便利店里都售卖可加入烘干机的留香去渍产品。因为美国人钟意烘干机的烘干速度和效率，他们认为烘干机省时省力省空间，还能烘干出柔顺芳香的衣物。

　　In China, the process of drying clothes has remained a traditional task. Most Chinese ill dry their clothes on a rack either inside their home or on a balcony. A belief that this is a healthy and space saving option means that the American alternative is not likely to catch on anytime soon. In nearly every American household hoever, you ill find a ashing machine and dryer. Even in rural settings, the average American loves the speed and efficiency of using the clothes dryer. Stores in America are filled ith products added to the dryer to enhance the smell and stain resistance of laundry. Americans believe that a dryer is orth the extra space and electricity it uses because of the arm, fresh smelling clothes it produces ith speed and ease.

　　7. 家务劳动家政服务VS 分工合作

　　Household Chores

　　在美国，每个家庭成员都有保持房间整洁和做家务的义务。在一些美国人看来，请家政服务是一件奢侈甚至炫富的事儿。家政服务在中国则是一种文化常态。中国人觉得雇一个阿姨来帮忙洗盘子、叠衣服、做饭很平常。这也是中美家政服务价格差异悬殊的原因之一。一般说来，大多中国家庭都可承担请一个阿姨的费用，但在美国只有富人才请得起家政人员。

　　In America, families tend to split the household chores amongst themselves. Everyone in the home ill be responsible for keeping things tidy and functioning. The idea of hiring someone to help ith the everyday chores is seen as extravagant and even a little pretentious by some. In China hoever, household help is a cultural norm. Having an Ayi e by to ash dishes, fold clothes, and make meals is seen as just another part of life. This can be explained hen e look at the price differences beteen America and China. In China, the average family can afford the services of an Ayi. In America hoever, only the affluent ill spring for such a luxury.

　　8. 拜访家庭换拖鞋VS 不换拖鞋

　　Slippers

　　在中国的文化习惯里，人们在家更喜欢穿拖鞋来保持室内整洁。所以，假如你去中国家庭做客，主人大多会提供拖鞋给你。但这让美国人很难适应。通常，当你拜访美国家庭时无需换拖鞋，因为美国文化里并不在意你穿鞋与否。这一差异也反映出中美文化的不同。

　　As anyone ho lives in a Chinese city ill tell you, the streets are a dirty place. Even dogs out on alks ill ear booties to keep their pas clean. It’s no surprise therefore that Chinese people prefer earing slippers in their homes. Most homes you visit in China ill offer you a pair of slippers upon entering. This may take a little bit of getting used to for Americans. Typically, hen you visit a home in America you ill leave your shoes on hile visiting. If you do take them off, you ill most likely not be offered a pair of slippers. This difference is both a matter of cleanliness and of cultural ideas of respect. Americans ill not be offended if you keep your shoes on since this is not part of their culture.

　　9. 抚养方式开裆裤VS 纸尿裤

　　Diapers

　　外国人都搞不懂中国宝宝开裆裤的奥秘。美国宝宝使用纸尿裤相当普遍，从出生到宝宝能自理，他们都会穿一次性纸尿裤。美国人觉得这种方式既方便又卫生，但中国人有自己的说道。中国人认为宝宝穿开裆裤会更透气舒服，更利于宝宝的生长发育。即使这种“衣冠不整”的行为会让美国游客颇感震惊，但中国人仍认为这是一种自然、卫生、便利的抚养方式。

　　One of the first things many expats in China tend to ment on are the spilt-pants orn by Chinese babies. In American culture, diapers are the unrivaled norm. Babies ear cloth or disposable diapers from birth until they are potty-trained. While Americans vie this as convenient and sanitary, the Chinese alternative has it’s on merits. Chinese babies bee more aare of their bodily functions through the process of earing split pants. Though the idea of exposing the public to the bathroom habits of your child may shock American visitors, the Chinese vie their ay as natural, clean, and efficient.