By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: What are the things Chinese typically find most annoying about foreigners?
I've heard a bit of everything, some of it deserved, some of it absolutely not.
I've heard we were (all of us, of course - they don't distinguish) too loud (lulz), too honest, allowing ourselves opinions about China and Chinese politics or way of life, smelling, and even, no joke, for smiling too much.
Any other common complaints you've heard?
They sometimes think we are too demanding. Such as in contract negotiations or not agreeing to the extra work that is not in the contract but just expected "because everyone else has to do it."
Asked my wife this question: She said, and I quote, "Sometimes you guys are too arrogant and you complain about many things."
Like derek said, I've been told I complain too much. Part of that may come from the fact that I tend to make observations that may be perceived as complaints, even if I didn't intend it that way.
derek:
I absolutely agree!!!!! I too, believe I am making observations that become misconstrued as complaints.
I always tell everyone, people who complain about things are the worst. ;)
this is one of the biggest culture differences. in usa we are taught to stand up for ourselvesregardless of who it is. if someone cuts right in front of a chinese person they must have no reaction, but we are taught to not allow it even f we have to get physical. in china you do want your govt , parents , teachers, boss, husband, wife, tells you to do without question .
GuilinRaf:
Sometimes even students! I was once told by a student tht I could not fail a particular student because he was "so handsome".
yes,as you guys said. chinese think think foreigners complain too much, and foreigners think chinese have too much problems. i thought it is culture problem. no just chinese and foreigners, even the Frenchman and German maybe have simillar differences.
GuilinRaf:
Expats are the same everywhere. Even when we are living in anotgher western cuntry, we will cry; and moan about how messed up things are in the host country.
That we're too direct and that some things are best left unspoken. A lot of my friends think it's weird that I mostly prefer to text people rather than directly call.
My wife hates the pissing and moaning about incompetence. But, what am I supposed to do? Not say anything when a waitress says they don't have any bottled water when I'm LOOKING at a bottle of water in their fridge?
Just too damn handsome,really pisses off the Chinese guys
As mentioned above, every statement, observation or comment is immediately categorised as either a demand, complaint or negative opinion. Then, of course, they are justified to dismiss everything because, as a famous Chinese playwright said "Methinks thou doth protest too much."
I also get the impression that the rule of thumb is to find as much fault with foreigners (and HKers) as possible, whether it is justified or not.
i think its envy.we are free thinker,free speakers living freely and often times flaunting it,we basically stink freedom and dont take crap so they be jelas
icerock:
so it is all about "envy" ? just like the president little Bush said:" the enemy envy our freedom so they want destory us! " ?? i can't agree with you.
MissA:
I kinda agree with Sandy, icerock. A lot of my friends have a real desire to travel, see the world, live in new exciting places etc. It simply isn't possible. Myself and the BF have had to tone down the "oh, when we're finished contracts here, maybe we'll pop back to Australia then travel through China and India and maybe swing by Indonesia on the way...." type comments except around fellow foreigners, because its simply not fair to people denied the freedom to move freely and travel outside their own borders. It comes across, as others have mentioned, as arrogance.
Actually, for me the common annoyance is that I am too polite! I say "thankyou" and "sorry" all the time, and close Chinese friends find it really off-putting because once you reach a certain level of intimacy, "thanks" just doesn't cut the mustard anymore. They say that with close friends, "thankyou" is not used any longer because it doesn't fully explain the depths of the gratitude you feel toward that person. I also say "sorry" or "excuse me" when I run into people in public or do anything else that would require an apology in the West.
Being Canadian, however, I have a hard time changing my polite ways.
I know my insistence on forward planning, and for others to forward plan for things that affect me, annoys the crap out of the people I know.
I think chinese people most annoy to go or ask for complaints.
thye just follow command and obey rule .
Given the reaction from many of my students, my demands they take responsibility for their actions (ie, study or fail) seem to get their ire!
And I know my ex was never happy when I dummy-spat with the local concept of 'customer service'. Or my need to have to complain to get things fixed properly...
1) Foreigners are always harming China. Why do you think China is such a poor country? Foreign harm.
2) Foreigners are always stealing Chinese inventions, such as cars, computers, and the atomic bomb. Foreigners steal everything and just take credit! For example, the Chinese made Bill Gates. No explanation needed or given. Tricky foreigners! >:(
drumbum:
I hope you are just being sarcastic! Stealing Chinese inventions? Let's take the workplace for example, western suits, jeans, computer, cell phone, internet, phone, copy machine, and they need to get there by subway, bicycle or car. And if they need to go on a business trip, they may need to take a plane or train. Yes, so Chinese.
kchur:
All stolen ancient 5000 year old technology. Foreigner man come down from tree 200 year ago, so jealous, harm China.
Mr_spoon:
Confucius was totally rocking World of Warcraft before the white man stole it!
From what I have experienced they hate that I can drink them under the table and wonder how anyone can drink as much as me.
Also dating Chinese girls always draws their ire, and I really really wish I knew what they where saying about it in Chinese but I have a pretty good idea.
And also the whole "size" thing. I have been drinking in local bars and had men want to drink with me and after a few ask me if I have a "big" ...you know...because they know we all do. I think they have insecurity issues.
from personal experience the shirt I wear with a life size picture of my junk it is a really long shirt
from personal experience the shirt I wear with a life size picture of my junk it is a really long shirt