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Business
Home Archive by Category "Business"

Category: Business

BusinessTranslation

Business Plan Translation Services: Key Tips to Follow

Business plan translation services—an introduction 

A business plan is one written document that contains all the basic and important details of a business. Usually, it has the goals and objectives of the business and strategies that they are going to achieve while executing their plans and making implementations. Besides that, it also offers the road map for the firm that starts from the marketing, financial and operational key points. So business plan translation services should be containing all this information in the required language.

Significance of business plan translation

A business plan is one basic and important document that makers keep for the external audiences as well as the internal audience. Hence, it is of the foremost importance to translate the business plan as the first and basic part of globalization. A company or enterprise needs to present its business plan to foreign associates to have its investors and financiers on board.

The translators should consider including these points in A business plan so that the foreign clients and business associates get the idea about the business right always and expansion and globalization can be executed even easier.

Three points to cover in translation 

  1. A company’s profile states its business activities, objectives, and plans to achieve its goals.
  2. Startup companies particularly use their business plan to tempt investors and financiers outside.
  3. Different businesses could have different business plans with different formats. It could be either a traditional plan or a shorter and lean startup business plan.
  4. Good and effective business plans should include a summary, of products, and services it is offering, marketing analysis and strategies to be followed. Also, financial planning and allocated budget.

Six important key factors 

Translating the business plan also allows preparing the organization properly in terms of processes, budget, timeframes, product development, and project management with marketing communication. So, it all requires the consideration of important points so that the whole process of translation can be executed carefully. 

Focusing on the language

Once the business owners have worked on the basic things, it is time to hand over the business plan and documents related to it. It needs to contain the problems that particular business forecasting. The enterprises cannot wait for the last minute to translate their business proposal plan into the required language.

Hence, it is imminent that you already make the plan available for translation in all those languages in which you want to pitch your plan. So that whenever they require the translated version, you can send them right away. English is a common and universal language in the business and corporate world, but it is better to make a great first impression by providing the investor with the first-rate copy of your business plan in the native language of the investor. 

It is not possible to anticipate the languages of the target audiences that a business owner is going to invade, so it is better to narrow down the options and types of investors you want to have on board. You can also check the profile of the companies and financiers relevant to their industries and expertise.

Their cultural background and the language they speak can help you to translate your business plan in advance so that it is easy to present before them whenever needed, rather than looking for a translator at the nick of the time. However, an important tip for you, and as the reports and statistics suggest, the world’s 100 best venture investors usually speak English, Chinese, Arabic, and German. However, the languages may differ with your choice of investors.

Allocation of budget

Budget is an imperative part to keep in mind while going for the translation of a business plan. Taking care of the budget and sticking to a certain budget is extremely important. Going out of budget could disturb the whole financial cycle of a set-up. So, entrepreneurs need to be sure about this particular aspect.

There is no single answer to this problem of money. No one can predict the exact amount. It depends on various factors including the cost of products, time that has been spent creating them, return on investment projections, and many more. The translation price should include all of the above.

Moreover, when it comes to the translation budget exclusively, they might charge per hour or per project depending on the content of the business plan and its complexity. However, a strong recommendation is to go for professional translators with relevant expertise and knowledge.

Subject matter expertise

A business plan and other business document translation services can not be delivered by one and all. It requires a lot more than proficiency in the language. As Harvard Business Review suggests, an optimal time to spend on a business plan should not be more than three months.

After preparing the documents and being clear about your goals, the next step should be looking for a translation agency that has a team with subject matter expertise. You don’t want to miss the chances of getting financiers and investors with an inaccurate translation. The business plan needs to have every possible minor detail, from the target market to the financial plan.

One who wants to have good investors overseas needs to work on his business plan and his business goals and objectives should have clarity, most importantly need to work with a professional team who has relevant subject matter expertise.

Business plan translators should be well aware of the business writing rules, business terms, and abbreviations, along with marketing and business norms and the culture of the target market. So that they can work well on business plan translation services. You should also check for translators who understand your business type and industry well. Their in-depth expertise and knowledge can remove many barriers for you.

A hundred percent accurate business plan

A business plan has to be impeccable in all translated languages. All versions of the documents and translations should be accurate enough. A different language should not make it a different content. A precise and accurate business plan makes the investor understand all of it and realize how every item and aspect in the business plan is there to generate revenue.

So, these details should neither be overlooked nor ignored in the whole process. The future of the business could be relying on one translation, so this area should not reflect any loopholes. It is also important to note that in case of a small budget and limited amount reserved for the translation, it is better to not go for any translation and present the English language document to the investor and associates. 

It is always better to present a quality translation in a universal language rather than going for a poor- and low-quality translation with a lot of errors and mistakes. That may leave a negative impression. People who go for the automated machine translation should also consider the flaws of the machine translation that may reflect in the final draft, causing embarrassment.

Machine translating can hardly interpret the true meaning and context of the content. It’s wiser and beneficial in the long run to work with human translators and experienced linguists so that they can ensure accuracy.

Business plan translation agency

Most of the translation is greatly dependent on the hiring of a good translation agency. A professional and dedicated translation solution is the backbone of a good business overseas. Besides that, when it comes to the translation of a business plan, you need to be extra cautious and vigilant or things could take a disastrous turn.

This is the first document that presents your company profile and business details. Not taking care of the translation, its quality, accuracy, and precision could shut your business without even taking a start overseas. Hence, you should make sure that you hire a professional and dedicated translation agency who have prior experience and a competent translator familiar with the business norms of the target audiences.

A zealous and enthusiastic business plan

Translation services for businesses require a lot to deliver a quality and up-to-the-mark product. Everything needs attention, dedication, hard work, and effort. The business plan which you are going to present to your investors and business associates should be full of enthusiasm. It should spark the energy by presenting how an idea you have thrown up.

The numeric figures are also important. Also, the presentation of the business plan, the way it is translated, and the offerings it contains can also convince investors to come forward and support the business. You should never lose enthusiasm and confidence about your idea, and be sure that presenting it nicely could turn your set-up into a profitable company. A business plan is imminent for the companies that have just started and need foreign investors to fund their enterprises. 

If you want to slay internationally with your business, you need to be sure about your idea, your business goals, and the strategies that you plan to implement in all possible languages. In order to build a trustworthy and long-term relationship with your investors, you have to work with professional translators to present your business plan and proposal.

Final words

Business plan translation services are significant for a first corporate and official impression overseas. The companies need to ensure that they get their business plan translated through a professional and competent team that is well versed in the craft. It is also important to be mindful of certain factors during the translation services of the business plan.

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Eric Batley April 27, 2022 0 Comments
BusinessTranslation

How To Prepare Documents for Translation?

By 2023, the translation industry is expected to reach $70 billion. There is a high demand for translation services around the world as more and more businesses are going global. Translation allows businesses to better connect with their customers by communicating with them in their native language. 

Preparing the document for the translation is very important because it doesn’t just save a lot of time but also ensures optimal outcomes. No matter if you are hiring an individual translator or a translation agency, document preparation is imperative in all cases. There are many things you have to consider while preparing a translation document. 

For managing your translation projects, you have to work with LSPs, so you better know the professional way of handling things. For example, if you are going to launch a new ad campaign for your product in different regions, you have to perform some key steps to prepare the documents. It wouldn’t look professional when you hand over all unsorted document files to your service provider.

Read this article till the end to know about the basic steps and rules you should be following to get your document ready for the translations. 

Why Would We Need to Prepare Documents for Translation?

If you want your LSP to fully understand your goals and expectations, and deliver desirable results, then your translation documents have to be clear and concise. Professionally prepared documents make it easier for the translators, editors, and proofreaders to manage your translation project more effectively. Creating your translation documents considering all rules and guidelines would allow your LSP to efficiently perform their translation tasks using the instructions provided in the documents. 

If you are going to prepare your translation documents, you have to first identify the objectives of translation that you want to achieve. Moreover, it is also important to be aware of the potential problems that are likely to occur during the translation process. Make sure you are providing your service provider with accurate information to avoid any sort of issues. 

The person who will be preparing the translation document should have detailed knowledge of the project and must know the scope of the project. Some companies would hire someone to do the document preparation, but the best scenario will be to do it yourself following the professional guidelines. 

Things To Consider for Preparing Translation Documents

1. Consider Your Project Scope 

Start with keeping the scope of your translation project in mind. You must be aware of the goals, objectives, potential problems, and other requirements of your project from the beginning. Before planning your translation project, you must know how much content needs to be translated and what are the deadlines for the completion of tasks. Knowing the scope of your project would allow you to clearly document all the project requirements and guidelines to complete the project without making any costly mistakes. 

2. Get Your Reference Material Prepared 

The purpose of preparing the documents is to support and assist the translation team in managing your translation project. Make sure your source files are professionally written in their original language. In most cases, English is used as a source language, so you have to make sure that your document is precisely written in English and the information provided is accurate and clear.

 Keep the sentences short, complex sentences can confuse the translators’ team, and they may lose the track of your project. Make sure there are no idioms, symbols, and other cultural references that may not cross cultural barriersout of touched Text in Images.

All the content that you want to be translated should be live, it will keep the translation process smoother and hassle-free. In case there is text embedded in the graphics, you must extract it manually. Otherwise, it will get hard for the translation team to capture the content for translation. Manual extraction of emended text would take a lot of time, that’s why you should avoid this mistake in the first place. 

3. Text Can Shrink or Expand

Some languages take more space than others. For example, German script may take up to 35% more space than English language script. So, you have to shrink or expand the designs based on the number of spaces translations would take. You have to keep your graphics and artwork in content documents flexible, so they are easily adjustable to different texts/translations. 

4. Use More Illustrations 

For any user, it is easier to comprehend illustrations and graphics as compared to written text. In your translation documents, you must use graphics along with text to make it more understandable for the LSP. Moreover, long passages of textual content would not just make your document look boring, but the user will be less likely to remember the instructions and guidelines you have provided in the document.

It can also save you money because most translators would charge based on words, using graphics reduce your word count and you have to pay a lesser fee to your service provider. 

5. Provide Source Files 

You must provide your translation team with editable source files along with other translation material. Make sure you are not using any complex file formats because not all translators are used to working with these. You should use common file formats; otherwise, it will become very time-consuming. Moreover, whenever you would need any changes, the editing process will be even slower. 

6. Link Graphics 

Rather than embedding the graphics, you should better link them in the documents. By doing this, it would get easier to replace the graphics for localization or update the document in the future. The best thing is, linking graphics would reduce the size of images that would further make the file transfer more convenient.  

7. Product Publishing Details

Your LSP should know your publication requirements, and how you want to distribute your content. You want it in PDF format, make it downloadable, or publish it on the website. In each type of publication, the requirements would be different. 

LSP always takes your project further keeping in mind the publication requirements, so there are chances that they ask you questions about it, or require you to create a separate file to mention all of your publication requirements. This will allow you to get your LSP on track and they will stay focused on your project scope, goals, and never miss the deadlines. 

8. Provide Guidelines 

You must provide your translators with all necessary guidelines, including your project scope, reference material, source files, expected outcomes, and deadlines. All the information should be precisely delivered to the teams, so they can deliver you desired results. Make sure you are skipping nothing, even the little details like style guides and output format should not be ignored.

9. Communicate Your Expectations 

The way you communicate with your LSP has a huge impact on your translation project deliverables. Even after providing all the necessary stuff to the translation team, you must not stay out-of-touch. Communication is the key to your project success and its on-time completion. Collaboration with your service provider would allow you to get feedback from them on a regular basis.  

You have to discuss your project guidelines, goals, and communication expectations with your service partner. For content and style guidelines, you will create a clear and precise translation document. Objectives and goals will be discussed orally with LSP and also provided in written form with reference material for the project. You have to clearly express your communication expectation to your service provider, whether they prefer phone calls, emails, or online meetings? Doing this will keep things sorted between you and your service provider from the beginning. 

10. Add Glossary 

As we know that the glossary contains the terminologies’ definition and style guide that assists the translators in keeping the content culture-friendly. You can create a glossary and send it to your translation team as a guiding tool. The best thing about having the glossary is that it keeps all the translators and localization teams on the same page. Having a glossary would also allow you to maintain brand consistency throughout your targeted regions. 

The excessively used term’s definition in the glossary will enhance the content clarity, and the intent of the message will stay intact. So, no matter how many languages you are translating your content to, the original messages of your brand will stay alive. 

11. Assemble File Submissions

Double-check your files before submitting them to the LSP. Make sure all the files are relevant and editable. Try not to add any extra or useless files. While you are reviewing the file content, validate that all the graphics and fonts, included in the files, are linked. Organize your finalized files into a folder, it will keep the things in one place to eliminate confusion for the translation team. 

12. Share Your Deadlines

The deadlines should be mentioned with all the translation tasks to avoid any delays. Once you have sent the guidelines to the LSP, they will tell you the time required to finish a task and what will be the expected date for the finished task. However, you must also inform your service provider about your preferred deadlines keeping in mind the product launch date, publication timing, etc. You can negotiate with your LSP on deadlines to come on a common ground feasible for both you and your service provider. 

You should keep inquiring your translation partner about your project’s progress, making sure they will not surpass the deadlines. 

Conclusion:

Summing up the discussion, it can be said that preparing the document for your translation project is significant to keep things sorted and support your LSP to bring out the best outcomes you expected from the translation project. This article discussed guidelines and tips to effectively prepare the source files, reference materials, and other requirements. Having clear, precise, and accurate requirement information and translation documents in place will reduce the complications and your translation team is less likely to make any mistakes.

Resources:

  • How to Maximize Translation ROI for Your E-Commerce Store
  • Best Way To Improve Your Language Skills As A Translator
  • Exploring the Cultural Differences between China and the US
  • How Cultural Differences Affect Global Businesses

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Ismail November 15, 2021 0 Comments
Business

How to Maximize Translation ROI for Your E-Commerce Store

You need facts to work in the optimal way to get a high ROI. It’s all about the bottom line after all. A common measurement that every business wants is Return on Investment. Businesses put the best of their efforts, involves all of their assets, and many attempts to go global for the very purpose of earning profit. 

Particularly, for businesses like e-commerce, the sales potential increases exponentially by following a multilingual approach. Translating your e-store can expand your reach by breaking the language and cultural barriers. For instance, if you want to tap into the Chinese market, you need to hire professional Chinese e-commerce translation services.

In order to improve your translation ROI and become a globally recognized name, you need to keep some factors in mind. Take a quick look at the three major components that can effectively maximize your translation ROI.

  1. Clean source
  2. A baseline guide
  3. Manage the system (workflow, technology, and vendors)

Simple and Clutter-free Source Content

Does a complex source matter? Sometimes it does, but it depends on your source of translation as well. Human translators understand the references, tones and cultural expressions whilst automated translation lacks the understanding of such crucial factors.

You have to pay once for a good automated translation tool, long term investments sound plausible, but with human translators, you pay them constantly with every work done. To cater to the accurate translation for every project is important, that is why you pay such a price for human translators.

Targeting a global audience will boost the localization (if done correctly) and increase your ROI by 15% (according to SDL).

Help the translators to provide you with seamless and effective translation by preparing clean and simple source content for them. Bring new ideas, creativity, and originality for the brand and product lines. This will help to target the right audience. Avoiding jargon is for the best and the simpler the content is the better it will reach the audience.

  • Using translation memory to maintain consistency is important too. So yes using such tools is imperative.
  • Content that comes with safety precautions requires technical skills on the writer’s part. For instance, a product description will need simplified content, avoid using any technical words that the reader may skip altogether.
  • The use of images is catchy, but the more you use the images and graphics, localization will become time-consuming. Website text should be easy to edit in multilanguage when configuring CMS.

As a result, it suffices to say a simple content works, minimum resources are required, it’s cheaper, and shows consistent quality too.

Track the Translation Impact

Justifying the expense in the translation process can be tricky if you do not keep track of all elements involved. The impact of translation is similar to being global. You need to maintain the budget in both cases. But how will you know you made a good decision? Translation will have the desired effect on the audience and boost a sale, that’s how.

Keeping this point in mind, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are helpful to produce maximum within the minimum budget and answers your queries like:

  • Is localization enough to increase sales?
  • How can we reduce input but earn maximum output?
  • Or how many customers will come to us?

And so on the questions will continue to rise. Keep track of sales, products, and packages. This is the basic step. For eCommerce, it’s a MUST to create a multilingual site to ensure high traffic from different regions. Will this attract non-English speakers? Yes, of course! If your website supports different languages, customers from different geographical regions will come by.

To increase the conversion rate, keep healthy maintenance of the shipments and deliveries, and orders in process. This is the best way to ensure that you are targeting the right customer.

Of course, this way will automatically be able to generate a list of new visitors per hour. Using multilingual keywords will have the desired effect too; this way a native can search for the product. The website’s visibility will be strong.

Before going for the second round of translation, give ample time to make the first performance with the localization content. Keep track of the translation, monitor the results, and make changes to your action plan accordingly to acquire your business goals.

Manage Systems and Streamline Workflows

With a lower cost of translation, you can still increase the conversion rate, generate traffic and sales. But to do so, you need to maintain your workflow and processing too alongside the translation.

Using the right technique is important

  • You may adapt some parts of the text according to the market niche. It will improve the product pages, and convince the visitor to buy. Also making navigation easier is the key to increase sales. Navigation with the right content is like following the breadcrumbs. Customer will easily find the desired product and is most likely to purchase.
  • Using SEO friendly titles for products is another trick. This will help increase the page rank on search engines making it easier to find suggestions also.

Improve your translation management

  • A good TMS lets you work more efficiently and yields high-quality output. One of the key benefits is to access the network of professional translators, keep track of projects, costs, or any required updates.
  • For an eCommerce site, this tool acts as a facilitator; you can also connect with other language experts and expand your source pool too. The result? Greater translation ROI.
  • Every page can be produced in hundreds of languages which can make localization more complex. Automate the much-needed process but do not rely on it alone.

How Chinese Translation Services Can Help You with E-commerce Translation

With a team of native translators and localization experts, we, at Chinese Translation Services  help you build a personalized relation with current and potential customers by localizing your online business. Your online store translation is made easy with our Magento plugin and we are here to provide you with fast and reliable results at affordable results. Get in touch for more details.

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Antonia January 22, 2021 0 Comments
Business

How Cultural Differences Affect Global Businesses

Every country in the world has a different culture that shapes consumer behavior. The cultural norms that are acceptable in one culture are not acceptable in other cultures. The entrepreneurs who want to spread their business across borders need to consider the cultural intricacies so that they target the foreign markets in the best suitable way. At present, many cross-cultural teams and multinational companies are working around the world. They share their knowledge, values with each other but they face a problem in dealing with cultural differences. Cultural nuances when considered in targeting the foreign market have resulted in globalization. It takes a lot of time and money to start your business in a foreign land. Cultural intricacies, if not taken into account, can lead to misunderstandings and result in loss. So for global businesses, it is important to overcome such differences and that’s where you need professional localization services.

 

Communication

Communication is very important in expanding your business across borders. Although English is considered the language of business, many cultures in the world want to be communicated in their native language. Even if you go for translation, a great risk is that you will get lost in translation. The official language of every country is different and different dialects are spoken according to their region so it is important to communicate in a manner that conveys your message effectively. For example, if you are communicating with an Indian audience then you need to be more indirect and nuanced in your communication and if you are communicating with Finns then you need to be outspoken and direct. In addition to verbal communication, nonverbal communication is also important in dealing with your global business in different cultures. What might be acceptable in your cultures like eye contact and a handshake could be considered offensive in other cultures. For this, you need to do thorough research in advance to know how to act professionally in different cultures so that none of the non-verbal communication fires back. If you are in doubt in any of your acts, do ask. Dealing with cultural intricacies is a big challenge so you need to handle this challenge with openness and sensitivity. In this way, you will be able to communicate your business message effectively to the target audience.

Workplace Etiquettes

Globalization has led businesses to expand in different countries. If you are a multinational company and have opened subsidiaries in other countries then it is necessary to understand the workplace etiquettes. For example, how you address your colleagues and business partners from around the world is different in every culture. In some cultures, people call each other by surnames, and in other cultures, people address each other by their first name. It not only depends upon the country’s culture but it also involves the culture of organizations. Asian countries like Singapore, China, and South Korea use Mr and Ms before the surname while Canadians and Americans used first names.

Punctuality is also observed differently in every culture. When you need to deal with business partners and colleagues from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, you need to be more punctual and expected to come on time. Contrary to this, in Russia, you are expected to come slightly late. In Brazil, you can be late for several minutes or you can follow English time to reach on time.

Working attitude is also greatly influenced by culture. It includes rules and regulations, workplace confrontation, and resumed working hours. In some cultures, working for long hours is considered a sign of achievement and commitment while in other cultures, it shows a lack of efficiency.

Different Negotiation Styles

Negotiations are very important in dealing with global business. Culture shapes human behavior and the way they think and communicate. It is pivotal for businesses to understand the cultural nuances to negotiate business deals and make the final decisions with global business partners. In Asian cultures, negotiations are an integral part of business deals and they help in building long term business relationships. Spanish speakers view negotiation as a way of finalizing their contract. Spanish people consider negotiation as a win-lose process whereas the Japanese regard negotiation as a win-win process.  

The way of communication needs attention to detail while negotiating with business partners. Americans are very direct in their communication so they want to know immediately whether their contract is approved or not. In contrast to Americans, the Japanese tend to be indirect. You need to be very careful in interpreting them so that you can know the approval or rejection of your proposal. Some cultures tend to be very emotional such as Latin America whereas some cultures are good at hiding their emotions like Asia.

Every culture also handles the contracts differently. Americans give attention to details and want everything to be mentioned in the contract. In contrast to Americans, the Chinese don’t want any details to be mentioned in the contract because it will lead to developing the relationship with the business partners.

Organizational Hierarchy

The worker’s attitudes towards organizational hierarchy and management roles also vary because of cultural nuances. Whether you can ask questions in meetings or stand by or against the decision is shaped by cultural norms. The attitudes of workers towards the chain of command are a result of the country’s societal norms and their sense of equality. The organizational hierarchy helps in giving the right roles and responsibilities to deserving people. This means that people who enjoy a high position in the hierarchy are more proficient in their work and deserve a certain level of formality and respect from the junior level. In Japan, organizational hierarchy is given importance. People respect seniors at their workplace. However, in Scandinavian countries such as Norway, societal equality is practiced and they follow the flat organizational hierarchy. You need to be very careful in dealing with the diverse attitudes of people in global organizations so that you can work professionally and take your business or organization to the next level.

How Chinese Translation Services Can Help?

There are different languages spoken in different cultures. Understanding languages helps in understanding the cultural intricacies and it can assist in making your mark in global markets. If you aspire to tap into multiple foreign markets, Chinese Translation Services can help! We are offering localization solutions in a wide range of languages at affordable rates. Get in touch for a free quote!

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Antonia January 21, 2021 0 Comments
BusinessLanguages

Exploring Ancient Chinese Culture

When one hears of the word ‘China’, the first image that comes up in most peoples’ minds is the ancient Chinese dynasty, led by an emperor. Despite its economic and technological edge over the rest of the world, the history of this land and the ancient secrets it holds still fascinates travelers and visitors throughout the world.

The ancient Chinese culture is more than 5000 years old. This was the time when its culture, architecture, and art was lauded throughout the globe, resulting in its philosophy spreading as far as the Enlightenment and French Revolution, influencing the culture and the people in those areas. Due to the ancient Chinese culture’s roots which have influenced Chinese philosophy, religion, and politics, the popularity of this culture had spread into faraway lands. Even today, the ancient Chinese religions of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism have shaped the Chinese culture as we know it and the Chinese writing style is one of the world’s most ancient writing styles, having its own uniqueness and distinctiveness. 

Let’s take a look at the evolution of ancient Chinese culture and some aspects of the culture that has evolved into the present-day culture of the region.

Ancient Chinese Culture (1600–221 BC) — Development and Features:

Before the imperial era (221 BC onwards), the ancient Chinese culture was a bit ambiguous. Later, owing to contact with other states’ cultures, modifications began to occur in the Chinese culture. However, the basic forms established during the Zhou and Shang eras still appear in current Chinese culture in everything from religion, to dress, to traditions, to writing in characters. The people of the Shang era (c.1600–1046 BC) developed cultural forms like pictographic writing, clothes, and typical foods and underlining large-scale construction projects. Later on, these traditions saw further changes in the Zhou era (1046-221 BC) with the development of modern Confucian philosophies and imperial dynasties. 

How Ancient Chinese Culture Was Defined

Various historians use the expression “ancient culture” to mean the culture of the Zhou and Shang dynasties. Imperial culture originated in 221 BC with the Qin Dynasty. In the imperial eras, the educated leaders and dynastic courts relied upon the historical records of Sima Qian as the cultural model for their kingdoms. This gave rise to the modern Chinese culture that we know of today. 

Ancient Chinese Culture and Sima Qian

Since times immemorial, Chinese people have customarily believed that the Huaxia tribe created the Chinese culture. According to ancient texts, the Huaxia were situated in the Central Plain near Beijing before the commencement of the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC) and spread southwards and westwards along the Yellow River. They believed in this owing to the concepts of an ancient Chinese historian named Sima Qian (130–86 BC). Sima Qian was a man who explained that the supernatural, Yellow Emperor, and his conquering Huaxia tribe was the foundation of the Han people, their culture, and civilization. His history, Records of the Grand Historian (太史公書 Tàishǐgōng Shū or 史记 Shǐjì), were written before his death and before 86 BC regarding the foundational text of Chinese civilization. In short, his text and work are attributed to Confucius, and historians modeled ancient culture.

Some aspects of Chinese Ancient Culture

Ancient Chinese culture approximately from 3,600 to 2,200 years ago supports modern Chinese culture in everything from religion, to traditions and to writing as well. Here are a few aspects of the ancient culture which still exist to this day.

  • Pictographic Characters for Writing

Archaeological researches show that by 1200, Shang was writing in pictograms that were slightly identical to the characters which are used in Chinese writing today. Scholars have observed that certain characters like the word for father, 父 fù, is identical to the characters that the Shang wrote. New characters are comprised of small pictograms. 

  • A High Esteem for Writing, Literature and Historical Records

It has been observed that the Shang people have heavily commented on writing for record-keeping. Their inscriptions have been seen on hundreds and thousands of oracle bones and on their living figure metal formations. The writing was perhaps a significant feature of their routine life, but a majority of their writings have been lost since they had written them on things such as parchments that have deteriorated. This highlights that education and writing were a vital portion of ancient culture and were of great value in all the imperial eras starting from the Qin conquest in 221 BC till the year 1912.

  • The Style of Arts and Crafts

The Shang produced heavy, large, and geometrically complex bronze objects in characteristic styles that the Zhou clan who were subjects of the Shang Dynasty in the very beginning, continued after conquering the empire. Their bronze work style was found to be totally dissimilar from the bronzes of the concurrent Sanxingdui civilization in Sichuan. This indicates that the ancient people of the Zhou and Shang dynasties maintained a different artistic culture and refused to adopt the Sanxingdui style.

  • A Liking for Jade

Contrary to other cultures that prized bronze over other metals, the Shang people, as well as people of the Zhou era, preferred objects made of jade. Archeologists digging the ancient ruins of Chinese sites have discovered a huge quantity of jade ornaments, artwork, and other objects that had been designed for ritual ceremonies and decorations. The people of the Shang dynasty even used jade to make body armor. Later, this jade was used to encase the bodies of royal emperors that are preserved to this day. 

  • The Tea Drink

One of the beverages that the people of the Shang dynasty were particularly fond of was tea. This became evident when archeologists discovered tea in the 2nd century Han emperor’s tomb. However, ancient records say that tea was considered a medicinal drink during the Zhou era. Moreover, it was thought that tea was first cultivated in Yunnan during the Shang period. Thereafter, the tradition of drinking tea spread to other Zhou era states and neighboring countries.

  •  The Silk 

One other thing that has its roots in the ancient Chinese culture is silk. Chinese people have been credited with the invention of silk fabric. In fact, the earliest records of the invention of silk date back to 37 Century BC in Henan. Eventually, the manufacturing of silk cloth was quite advanced during the Shang era. This is the reason why silk weaving is still prevalent in modern-day China and mainland Chinese produce more than half of the world’s silk. 

  • Ancient religion and Daoism

The people of the Shang dynasty worshipped their own ancestors in addition to famous persons who had passed away. They believed that the dead souls could harm, as well as heal, people and this belief in ancestral worship are still present to this day. 

The Last Word

The traits of the ancient Chinese culture explained above are just a tiny glimpse into the vast world of Chinese history. The modern-day Chinese culture still holds some features of the ancient past, fragments of which can still be observed during Chinese festivals such as Chinese New Year when people take a great part in attending to clan burial places and temples as well as engaging in rituals and customs of the past. Nevertheless, tourists and travelers visiting China are sure to get enticed by the features of the ancient past that can still be seen in Chinese art, architecture, and museums. 

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Antonia January 8, 2021 0 Comments
BusinessLanguages

All You Need to Know about Dragons in Chinese Culture

Chinese culture is one of the most interesting cultures in the world. Belonging to the commercial and economic giant China, the Chinese culture holds many things that are different from the rest of the world. This is why it presents such an interest for travelers, visitors, and culture enthusiasts throughout the world. 

One thing that is distinct and unique in Chinese culture is dragons.

According to Chinese culture, the dragon sign is a symbol of good luck and wealth. Additionally, to Chinese people, it is also considered as one of the four most intelligent creatures amongst unicorn, phoenix, and tortoise. Maybe this is the reason why Chinese rulers and emperors have been emulating dragons since the very start of civilization. In China, the dragon is considered legendary a animal, and its sign has been used to display power in China for a very long time. The extent of importance that the Chinese place on dragons can be judged by the prediction pointing out that the year 2020 will be a lucky one for Dragons, with an excellent development in their professions. 

Dragons and China—some amazing facts

The Dragon is a significant sign, not only in China but globally as well. In China, dragons represent power, leadership, and wealth. Let’s look at some of the amazing facts surrounding dragons in Chinese culture.

Chinese dragons come in many different forms

The philosopher Wang Fu defined the dragon as a blend of numerous animals almost 2000 years ago.  People usually take Chinese dragons as some snake-like creature. But actually, it is more like fish and turtles.

Chinese dragons control the weather

Dragons represent both evil and good, which means sometimes they are blamed for the occurrence of natural disasters.  They have been considered responsible for harsh storms, floods, and tidal waves. Today, anyone can visit the shrines that were built in the honor of dragons. For instance, the “Green Dragon Temple” also known as “Qing long Temple” is situated near “Xi’an” city which was built to honor the dragons. 

Emperors were believed to have descended from dragons

A legendary popular hero named “Fu Xi” was credited with creating the first human dragon. He was described as a man with a human head and the body of a dragon. At the beginning of the Chinese dynasty (c. 2000 BCE), he was considered as one of the first three sovereigns. Additionally, all the way through the imperial age, only the royal leaders and their families were supposed to wear the official colors of the dragon. For instance, the color apricot was used by the crown prince, golden yellow was for the emperor’s other wives and yellow color was for the emperors and empress.

 Dragons are born in China every 12 years

Chinese Zodiac revolves around twelve different creatures consisting of equal but dissimilar qualities. Usually, Chinese people plan their pregnancies so that kids will be born in the dragon year. This fortunate year is said to be the birth year of influencers and rulers. The last dragon kid was believed to have been born in 2012 and the next in the year 2024. 

 In China, dragons paddle and dance at festivals

In China “Dragon Boat Festival” is held, in which dragon decorated boat races through the waters and this festival takes place in many cities of China. The decorated boats consist of long dragon tails, carved dragon heads and these boats are long enough for carrying 20 paddlers. People can also witness a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year. The dance goes along with drums, drama, and music as well. It is believed that evil spirits are afraid of aggressive dance and loud noises. In this festival, a team of dancers manipulates wood puppets and the cloth of a dragon too.

Dragon sons protect places and implements

Chinese believed that there are nine dragon sons, charged with certain traits for protecting belongings and houses. With the help of old Chinese sites, anyone is able to see these entire nine dragon sons featured prominently today. 

 Many historical leaders were born in the Year of the Dragon

Little Dragon or Bruce Lee, Li (November 27th, 1940), Deng Xiaoping (August 22nd, 1904), Martin Luther King (January the 15th 1929) and Vladimir Putin (October the 7th 1952) all of these legends were born in the Dragon year. 

The dragon is the subject of many Chinese idioms

There are some proverbs and idioms in Chinese that revolve totally around dragons: For example:

  • 龙争虎斗 (lóng zhēng hǔ dòu): Literally “a fight between a dragon and a tiger”, it refers to a struggle between two similarly matched forces.
  • 人中之龙 (rén zhōng zhī lóng): “A dragon among men” is used to describe an exceptional, unmatched talent.
  • 群龙无首 (qún lóng wú shǒu): “A group of dragons, but no leader” refers to a group that needs a leader.
  • 望子成龙 (wàng zǐ chéng lóng): “To wish your son becomes a dragon” refers to parents hoping for their kids to succeed.
  • 画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng): “Paint the dragon, dot the eyes” means adding the finishing touch to something.

“Leaping over the dragon gate” means success

According to Chinese culture, a carp that can leap over the “mythical Dragon Gate” will become dragons. Unfortunately, none has been able to find the dragon gate. But Chinese say that out of these countless Chinese waterfalls there is one that leads to this sacred gate, for instance, the Jiulong Waterfalls, also known as the Pearl Shoal Waterfall or the Black Dragon Pool Waterfall or Nine Dragon Waterfalls. 

China is home to most places named after dragons:

The name ‘dragon’ conjures up attractive vibes for anyone in the world. The travelers and visitors to Hong Kong can experience this when they go for a hike on the Dragon’s Back trail. Although there are no dragons to view there, the scenic beauty of the place is sure to fill a person with wonder. Moreover, other places such as Longsheng Dragon’s Back Terraces offers a sloping surface that resembles the body of a dragon and is a popular tourist attraction liked by many.

The Last Word

To people residing in the West, a dragon may be a symbol of evil, depicting fury and rage. But in China, it is one of the most popular and powerful symbols. This is the reason why the Chinese rely so much on this symbol and hold it in such high esteem. Nevertheless, a person visiting China is sure to have a good time exploring and learning more about the Chinese dragons and their history as it goes way back into old times. 

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Antonia January 7, 2021 0 Comments
Business

How to Choose a Business Partner in China

China, the economic and technological leader, is also one of the countries with the most lucrative businesses. A businessman seeking to expand his business globally is sure to get good support if he decides to start with China. However, doing business in China is quite different from doing business in Europe or the United States. This, perhaps, is owing to the traditions and customs which are unlike any other in the world.

Similarly, searching for a business partner in China also requires a different approach. A local partner who is aware of the ins and outs of the business practices in China will be helpful in making this task possible, but he needs to have ample knowledge of the legal processes and rules in China. On top of that, a businessperson or any Chinese corporation based on a good contact of the state will surely be helpful.

In a study carried out by Australian companies, it was observed that using video conferencing or Skype instead of telephone calls has aided them in building up trust with Chinese business partners and contacts. However, like all business partnerships, trust and reliance need to be built up before finalizing anything as these are essential ingredients of a successful business venture.

Chinese businesspersons are becoming progressively more confident and self-reliant with the passage of time. Most of them feel that they don’t require any foreign partnership, especially when it comes to dealing with the fast-growing local market. Those who performed well during the last Asian business crisis can be chiefly demanding with regards to negotiations. For global industries, these modifications can mean that the Chinese establishments generally are much more reluctant to enter a partnership or are interested in higher value and higher-priced deals. The locals are reluctant as well, for giving up large share and majority control of upcoming profits when they have a feeling that their private business product or offerings are equally good, if not better than those of their external investors.

Following are the top eight things that person should focus on choosing a business partner in China;

  • Derive a Marketing Strategy:

Before looking for a business partner in China, businesspersons should set up an operative and confident marketing strategy. It is suggested to search for a business partner, but many companies have decided to work independently on their own in China. It’s a good initiative, but it is quite a time taking. Meanwhile, you may also need assistance from professional Chinese Translation Services.

  • Review Chinese Business Opportunity:

For ensuring the reliability of a probable Chinese business partner, it is important to operate a business review of it. For instance, a press journalist who collects speeches from consumers, previous workers, and every probable entity that is connected with the company will be helpful in developing the correct picture, thus avoiding any case of fabricated legal filings and financials.

  • Understand the Market:

Doing market research earlier will assist a person in defining the additional value that can be provided and the scope of the opportunity. Awareness regarding the market and its capability will become the base for determining one’s requirement, specifically while looking for a business partner in China.

  • Search for an Innovative Solution:

Purchasing a firm in an identical field may become a very difficult task sometimes, owing to the very small size of the market or of the opportunity in China. Going for neighboring markets or complementary goods, making a list of fresh options for one’s market strategy in China will most of the time aid him in finding innovative solutions in searching for a business partner.

  • Filter to find a partner:

After creating a list of potential firms, it is very essential to efficiently filter against the particular criteria in order to discover a suitable company: A company that has an appreciable market share, brand strength, partner interest, local contracts, distribution capabilities, etc. Such a partner will not only help in making business possible in China, but it would also open ways for other companies to join the competition.

  • Target the Chinese Consumer:

While following the intended marketing policy, it would be really wise to focus on the low priority groups or commodity players, if an interested person is looking for a cheaper source or is in search of marketing heads and niche players.  In short, a businessman should concentrate on the point where he is interested in hitting the Chinese market. Once again, it will be regarding recognizing the chief requirements that will open the doors for any businessman searching for a business partner in China.

  • Assess your Company Size:

A perfect partner in China is an enterprise that is of the same size as the interested firm. Larger companies will out-leverage other companies, but minor firms may not have a network large enough to get things done in China. This is the reason you should properly assess the size of your firm as well as the size of the target firm in the Chinese market.

  • Secure a Chinese lawyer:

 Before entering the Chinese market don’t ever forget to retain a Chinese lawyer. Without a doubt your business partner will aid you, but as the rules and paperwork are everything one must be careful and try to keep things transparent. After successfully discovering a perfect business partner in China, it’s suggested to a businessperson to go deeply into his primary interests, motives, and decisions; for creating an effective and long-term partnership.

  • Do your Homework:

This is also one of the most important steps after entering the Chinese market. To ensure a business partnership is set up successfully, a businessman needs to do the proper homework—recruiting and hiring local Chinese people who understand the Chinese customers and are willing to work for the company. Other than that, proper project management and customer care also need to be in place so that a businessman can make it big in a lucrative market like China.

The Last Word

Setting up a business partnership in China is easier than it seems, simply because the basic rules are the same everywhere. To step into any market, it is first imperative to search and set up an appropriate target. An on-ground team with professional advisors and agents will definitely help to make the whole process faster. Combined with that, ample knowledge of the Chinese business culture and etiquettes are the keys to making sure a business is set up successfully in China. 

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Antonia December 25, 2020 0 Comments
BusinessLanguages

Why Do American Companies Choose China Over Other Countries

The evolving world market presents a host of opportunities for the business markets and stakeholders. With a shifting tendency of many businessmen to choose emerging and developed countries for their business, some nations have successfully managed to stand out amongst the others. China is one of the countries that possess a host of opportunities for foreign businesses. Considering China, one would easily be able to tell that it is the ideal choice for business expansion, with its sound manufacturing knowledge, money stability, reliability, and domestic market development. 

American companies, like other companies across the world, prefer China over other countries. The question is why?

The answer lies in a few qualities that set China apart—cheap labor, tax exemptions being a few of them. While other countries such as India, Brazil, and Mexico are also emerging markets, China outperforms them allowing to its favorable business policies, cheap labor, and logistics efficiencies. Not only that, China upholds the principles of corporate social responsibility that are a deciding factor for many firms seeking to enter a new market.

Here are all the reasons why China is the preferred choice of American companies.

  • Low Tax Rates:

When it comes to taxes, China presents the lowest tax rate among other countries. The corporate tax rate in China is approximately up to 25%, whereas the tax rate in other countries is much higher. In India, the corporate tax rate is 35%, Mexico 30%, and Brazil 34%. It might come as a surprise that China is 5% cheaper than in other countries. Although this 5% is not the deciding factor of whether to set up a factory in China or not, it is still one of the main factors why American companies opt to choose China over other countries. 

  • Cheap Labor: 

China is a communist state; therefore a person would assume that his employees would have other rights such as collective bargaining. The China of today has labor rights which are stricter than five years back. Although salaries are increasing day by day, wages in China are cheaper than in Mexico and Brazil. Talking about labor rights, according to the International Trade Union Confederation China is at 5th on the list of 1 to 5 the world’s worst states for employees.

On the other hand, India has set a bad example, which means it is a place that cannot take place without incidents of labor violations. Mexico is at 4th place on the list of worst working place for workers and Brazil is on the 3rd. This is because Brazil has some of the toughest labor laws around. Tough labor rights that favor unions tend to be unpleasant to international capital searching for inexpensive investments as well as little drama. As opposed to these states, workers of China claim that “Anything you can do, we can do it as well; much cheaper and much faster”. This means that labor rights in China are somewhat favorable than in other countries.

  • Less Costly Logistics: 

There are hidden charges included in doing business in all states. But nations like Brazil consist of hidden taxes which cannot be avoided. Take the example of the company’s smartphone account which, if taxed, is almost equal to the corporate tax rate. In addition to taxation, there is a logistics rate of transferring goods from one state to another and from one country to the next. Brazil is famous for being a logistical mess—it might be holding just 3 decent ports.

If we talk about the port side, China rules over it. Chinese seaports are extremely remarkable. You won’t be able to find something even near to them in India or Latin America. Cartels govern the Mexican ports, as Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador currently stated regarding the existence of corruption at two of the country’s custom stations and ports. India can take benefit owing to its location, but the infrastructure of Indian port has no match with Chinese ports. Therefore, it is quite clear that logistical benefits are on the Chinese side. 

  • Low Corruption: 

China is not as corrupt as any other evolving market. Mexico, Brazil, and India are way more dangerous in the sector of corruption and crime rate. If we talk about the quality of life for expat employees, then building a workshop in such states is less safe than constructing one in China. Capitalizing on operations taking place in Rio de Janeiro and bringing down American laborers may sound tempting, but Rio is one of the most dangerous towns around the globe. 

  • Environmental Conservation: 

India’s dull environmental principles have made it one of the most polluted countries in the world. There is no doubt that China is polluted and consists of poor air quality as well. But at the same time, it takes this problem very seriously and keeps on figuring out ways of dealing with it. For instance, China has spent a lot of money on a high-speed rail which is very successful today. China is the biggest electric-vehicle producer in the world. In addition, the Chinese government is taxing coal utilities and producers and is trying to shrink fossil fuel consumption. Although it has a long way to go, all of this creates opportunities for American firms that wish to serve the Chinese market. 

  • Low cost of energy: 

Keeping the lights on in China is cheaper than it is in Mexico, India, and Brazil. Workers from unskilled to a skilled, stable currency, weak unions, world-class logistics, and transport network, politics and a safe place for doing business make China better than all other states. Look at the gigantic evolving markets as a probable alternative and it is clear that Mexico, India, and Brazil have to improve their infrastructure and reform their heavy taxes, for helping exporters and drastically reducing vicious crime rates. Otherwise, they will never be able to compete with China. This means that the low energy costs in China favor the American companies wishing to kick-start their business in the country.

The Last Word

Although China has a long way to go with regards to its logistics, politics, and overall business environment, it cannot be denied that it is one of the most favorable countries for American companies to extend their business. Not only that, China is known for its cheap labor, low taxation rates, and low energy costs—all of the ingredients necessary for a company to spread its operations in another country. Although the language barrier might be a bit difficult for these American companies to cross, once these companies get the gist of doing business in China, they can reap the benefits of a favorable business environment that is bound to attract global profit and revenues. 

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Antonia November 17, 2020 0 Comments
Business

10 Fun Facts About China

China is the largest country in the world in terms of territory. It has a diversified culture that makes the civilization of China unique and worth mentioning. It has developed as the second-largest economy in the world. Let us explore the fun facts about China that could go on and on and on from the distinct nature to strange values and customs. The more you know about their culture, traditions, and values, the better you can localize your content for making your mark in the Chinese market.

Geographical Diversity

  • China covers 9.6 million square kilometres that make China the third-largest country in the world by territory. It has a north-west extent of 5,000 km and a north-south extent of 3900 km. The region of China includes 33% mountains, 19% basins and deserts, 10% hills, 12% plains region, and 26% high plateaus.
  • Some people think China is the largest country in the world, but it is not true. China comes at 4th number after Canada, Russia, and the United States. Russia is 2 times bigger than China.
  • China has the highest mountain ranges in the world. Two important of them are Mount Everest and the Turpan Depression.
  • It has the most international neighboring borders in the world with 14 countries like Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Russia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Korea, and India.
  • China enjoys different weather conditions. The Northside has cold and drier weather as compared to the South. West has drier weather than the east.
  • The weather in Northeast China can reach -40 degrees centigrade in winters while the weather in South reaches 40 centigrade in summer. Rainfall occurs with few millimeters every year in the Taklamakan Desert, and 3 meters of rain occurs in the Southeast.

China’s Population

  • China is the most populated country in the world with around 1.5 billion people in 2020.
  • The population of China is 4 times bigger than the population of the US.
  • Out of every 5 humans, one is Chinese.
  • Chinese is the most spoken language in the world.
  • It is spoken by 14% of people in the world.

China has the Fastest Growing Economy

  • China is the world’s fastest-growing economy. It grows with an average of 10% every year.
  • It is considered as the world’s second-largest economy.
  • According to the Trading Economics global macro models and analysts’ expectations, the GDP of China will reach 14000.00 USD billion in 2020.
  • China is known as the factory of the world. The largest production of fertilizer, concrete, Steel, fertilizer, clothing, and toys take place in China.

Silk Road is the World’s Oldest and Longest Trade Route

  • The Silk Road is in China’s territory, and it is 2,485 miles long and extends across the entire area of China.
  • It starts from Beijing and connects to East and Southeast and West Asia and Southern Europe.
  • Silk Road is a funny name, but it does not depict that only the Silk trade is done from this road. Its name was designated by German Geographer and historian Ferdinand Von Richthofen when he tried to explain its journey.
  • Products like animals, porcelain, precious stones, silver, gold, teas, carpets are traded from East to West from Silk road.
  • Silk Road exists today, but it is not used for trading. It helps the top-tourists in China to explore and experience ancient China.

Long Nails and White Skin Tone as Symbol of Wealth

  • In every part of the world, long nails are considered a symbol of beauty, but in the case of a Chinese businesswoman, you are mistaken. It sounds funny. They considered long nails as a symbol of wealth.
  • The strange thing about China is that men also don’t cut nails to show that they are well off.
  • Nails should be short only if you are a white corner worker.
  • If you have white skin color, you are considered rich because people who have white color usually work indoors.

Growth of Cities and Improvement in Transportation

  • In China, people have moved to cities from villages for the last 3 decades. This trend is projected to be followed for the next 30 years.
  • Transportation in Chinese cities has improved a lot.
  • They enjoy traveling on intercity high-speed trains and metros of the city.
  • Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest airport in the world and busiest in Asia. China has some large seaports that are Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.

Controlling Traffic Jam Problem

  • China is the most populated country in the world so they have traffic jam problems.
  • If you are stuck in the market, then the amazing thing is that two guys will come to you on a motorbike. One person will take you to the place where you want to go and the other person will handle your car.

56 Ethnic Groups Living in China

  • 56 Ethnic groups are residing in China.
  • The largest ethnic group is the Han, which comprises 91% of the whole population.
  • In other minority groups Hui, Manchu Miao, and Zhuang have a large number of population.

Highest Number of UNESCO Sites in the World

  • China has the highest number of UNESCO sites in the world.
  • The number of sites in Italy and China is 55.
  • These are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

People of Beijing Eat Scorpios

  • Another funniest thing about Chinese people is that Scorpios are sold live in Beijing streets.
  • They are boiled in the oil for a few seconds and they are pierced on the stick.
  • Other insects like mollusks, tasty sea things and other insects are seen on sale on Beijing streets.

Wrapping Up

Every country has distinct features that differentiate it from other nations. These fun facts about China depict its cultural values and norms. To know more about China, you need to know its native language. If you can’t understand the Chinese, then no problem Chinese Translation Services is here for you. It provides you impeccable translation services in all the dialects of the Chinese language.

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Antonia November 13, 2020 0 Comments
BusinessLanguages

Exploring the Cultural Differences between China and the US

It is a commonly known fact that the culture of a country is its true depiction of its people. While cultures, norms, and values differ across boundaries and nations, they are often the distinguishing factor that sets them apart. Taking time out to study different cultures, therefore, is not a futile attempt at understanding the customs and practices of a nation.
The Chinese and United States cultures are poles apart when it comes to examining the different aspects of values and norms. Although a few similarities do exist between the two, the differences are profound and clear, affecting the way of life and business.
Opting to go abroad for higher education or to do an internship is a culturally inspiring experience. When a person chooses to move from America to China for at least for a year, he will experience many differences. However, the good news is that Chinese and American cultures aren’t completely different from each other.

The Importance of Individuality in American and Chinese Culture

The United States of America features a country of individuals depending upon love to maintain their individuality. One of the major cultural differences between China and the United States is the sense of individuality and separate identity that is missing in the Chinese culture. Having an individual and separate sense of purpose is generally glowered upon in the Chinese culture. Take, for instance, the Chinese and American workplaces. In the U.S., assigning a remarkable deal for a corporation can be celebrated as an individual accomplishment. But in China, big achievements are considered as an accomplishment of the whole company.

Socializations in China and the US

Time is the most significant element when it comes to conducting business dealings anywhere in the world. However, Chinese people generally put more emphasis on time management and are individuals who prefer punctuality. China is also famous in terms of its attitude towards networking and socialization. The difference between Chinese and U.S. cultures lies in the way their people socialize and interact with each other. While the Chinese put a great emphasis on building long-term interaction with their business partners, this socialization in the U.S. is much more momentary and short-lived. This may be due to the fact that the Chinese tend to acquire a possible acquaintance’s trust in their dealings. Though there is no fixed length of time for socializing, it cannot be denied that the harsher elements of doing business cannot take place without interactive and proper networking.

The Difference of Hierarchy

One of the prominent differences between American and Chinese culture is the difference in the way they perceive hierarchy. In China, it is almost unheard of by anyone that an entry-level staff is interacting with the CEO of the company, even if they share the same workspace. Opening workplaces in a bid to encourage reduced hierarchy barriers is a thing of the West only and doesn’t truly exist in China. It is important to keep this in mind when moving from Chinese to U.S. culture, otherwise, it would give the impression that different members of the same office are being deliberately rude to each other.

The Classroom Environment

The majority of American schools consist of a very relaxed and comfortable classroom environment than Chinese schools, but teachers are respected and are seen as professionals in both of the states. While teaching or learning in a Chinese school, it’s common to see apprentices raising their hands for asking questions. Additionally, students are taught to stand as well when teachers enter the classroom. This shows that the environment in the classroom in Chinese schools is much strict than in the schools in the U.S where open interaction and dialogue are encouraged.

Conflict Management and Resolution

In China, people avoid all kinds of conflicts and useless fights. A foreigner visiting China would easily notice that Chinese won’t raise an issue directly with another Chinese who has left him feeling aggrieved. This is a major difference between the cultures of the two top countries of the world. Chinese people understand that conflicts are unnecessary and need to be resolved, unlike the Americans who may take time to resolve conflicts.

The Support for the Elderly

In the United States of America, it is very common to move the elders of the family to spend their last years of retirement in old homes where they are supported in the care of professionals. As opposed to Americans, Chinese people put greater emphasis on family bonding, treating the elders of their family with love and respect.
In China, grandparents are well respected and much more likely to be cared for by the family home as well. Consequently, the concept of moving parents to old houses is discouraged by the Chinese culture. Another of the differences between Chinese and American culture which plays a role in supporting elderly family members is that it is considered strange for Chinese families to move hundreds of miles away from each other. On the other hand, people of America may travel from state to state for educational purposes or doing work and will also prefer to settle there for the rest of their lives.

The Difference in Spending of Money

Many Chinese households see money as something to be treasured. They will go out of their way to reserve their finances for absolute essentials, such as education and repairs around the home. Owning the latest clothes, gadgets, and cosmetics is considered less important, whereas in the United States there is a great demand for modern things. Any person doing an internship in China, therefore, should follow his new friends’ leads and start saving his money for the home.

Eating out in the U.S. vs China:

Going out for dinner in some other countries may not feel unusual because of the differences in culture and cuisine. In China, it’s very common for everyone to pay the bill and then give tips to the staff. In most cases, if it is not done then it is considered to be rude. On the other hand, when a person invites someone out for dinner in America it is obvious that the host will be the one paying the bill. But tipping the service staff is not necessary.

The Last Word

Culture, norms, and practices in China and the U.S. may be different from each other but some values bind the two communities—those of mutual understanding, respect, solidarity, and honesty. This is the reason why one should expect to be at home in both these cultures. All that is really needed is a knowledge of the customs and practices of these two areas, and fluency in the languages spoken by the native people.

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Antonia November 6, 2020 0 Comments
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