The Chinese Have a Word for It The Complete Guide to Chinese Thought and Culture

by De Mente, Boye

• ISBN13: 9780658010781
• ISBN10: 0658010786
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-22
• Publisher: McGraw Hill

Summary

This is an ideal introduction to the Chinese language and culture for business people, students, and travelers. It sheds light on the character and personality of the Chinese by examining the meaning, historical significance, and use of more than 300 Chinese expressions. This practical guide will help readers anticipate Chinese behavior and avoid cultural faux pas.

Author Biography

Boyé Lafayette De Mente is a renowned sinologist and has written many books on language and culture.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Guide to Key Cultural Themes	xvii
Loving Chinese Style	1	(1)
Ai
Heaven on Earth	2	(2)
An
Bartering ``Social'' Credits	4	(1)
Bao
The Need for Revenge	5	(2)
Baochou
Your Brother's Keeper	7	(1)
Bao Jia
Booking Mistresses	8	(2)
Bao Qi Lai
Keeping Your Powder Dry	10	(1)
Bei
Unity the Chinese Way	11	(2)
Bi
Stay Loose and Win	13	(1)
Bian
Life in Slogan Land	14	(2)
Biaoyu
When Things Fall Apart	16	(1)
Bo
Waiting and Watching	17	(2)
Budaitou
Sincerity Plus Understanding	19	(1)
Budan Xin
How to Say No in Chinese	20	(2)
Bufangbiande
Avoiding Social Obligations	22	(1)
Bu Hao
The Power of Fuzzy Logic	22	(2)
Buhe Luoji De
You Have to Be Kidding	24	(2)
Buxing
Nobody Here But Us Chickens	26	(1)
Buzai
I Haven't Got a Clue	27	(2)
Buzhidao
China's ``Amoral'' Wisdom	29	(1)
Caizhi
Judging Your Sincerity	30	(2)
Cheng
Personal Loyalty First	32	(1)
Cheng
Eating Is Heaven	33	(3)
Chi
Revering the Dead	36	(1)
Chong
Beware of Criticizing	37	(2)
Chou
Indulging in Melancholy	39	(1)
Chou
The Show-Offs	40	(1)
Chu Feng Tou
Big Brother	41	(3)
Danwei
Taking the High Road	44	(2)
Dao
Keeping Your Claws Sheathed	46	(1)
Daoguang Yanghui
The New Fat Cats	47	(2)
Da Wan
Da Kuan
Culture in Action	49	(1)
Daxi
Big Daddies	50	(2)
Da Ye
Avoiding a Swelled Head	52	(1)
Da Yu
Mao's ``Dragon Dream''	53	(4)
Da Yue Jin
Using Power Wisely	57	(1)
Da Zhuang
The Power of Virtue	58	(2)
De
By the Numbers	60	(2)
Deng
Singing in at the Door	62	(1)
Deng-Ji
Just a Moment, Please	63	(2)
Deng Yi Xia
Moral Education	65	(1)
De Yu
The ``Good Old Boys''	66	(2)
Difang Baohuzhuyi
Cute Little Hearts	68	(1)
Dim Sum (Dian Xin)
Introducing Third Parties	69	(1)
Di San Zhe
Sorry About That!	70	(2)
Dui Bu Qi
Dealing with Envy	72	(1)
Duji
Looking Into a Mirror	73	(1)
Fa
Virtue Versus Law	74	(4)
Falu
The Family Clan	78	(2)
Fan
Hot Friends	80	(1)
Fashaoyou
No-Man's-Land	81	(2)
Feiguanfang
China's ``Flying Books''	83	(2)
Fei Shu
Your Cup Runs Over	85	(1)
Feng
The Dragon's Breath	86	(2)
Feng Shui
The Assignment System	88	(2)
Fenpei
The Appeal of Buddhism	90	(2)
Fojiao
It's About Time	92	(1)
Fu
Shades of Chinese Truth	93	(2)
Fu
Dreaming of Happiness	95	(1)
Fu
Cradle to Grave Welfare	96	(2)
Fuli
The Woman Problem	98	(2)
Funu Wenti
Don't Complicate My Life!	100	(1)
Fuza
Finding the Right Person	101	(2)
Fuze Ren Yuan
The Party People	103	(2)
Ganbu
The New Can-Do Breed	105	(1)
Ganjin
The Great Divide	106	(2)
Gao Kao
Keeping Your Balance	108	(1)
Ge
Eyes on the Road	109	(2)
Gen
Immoral Individualism	111	(1)
Gerenzhuyi
Grand New Tradition	112	(3)
Getihu
Rise and Fall of the CCP	115	(5)
Gongchan Dang
The Cult of Communism	120	(2)
Gongchanzhuyi
The Flattery Factor	122	(2)
Gongwei
Avoiding Temptation	124	(1)
Gou
Shoring Up Your Defenses	125	(2)
Gu
Becoming Wise	127	(1)
Guan
Official Profiteering	128	(2)
Guan Dao
Mixing Oil and Water	130	(2)
Guan Shang
The Chinese Life-Line	132	(2)
Guanxi
The New Mandarins	134	(2)
Guarner (Chuuarguan)
Keeping a Low Profile	136	(1)
Guei Mei
Fighting for Honor	137	(2)
Gui
The Essence of China	139	(1)
Guo Cui
Power of the Shackled Id	140	(2)
Guo-Jiao
National People's Party	142	(2)
Guo Min Dang
The Foreigner Syndrome	144	(2)
Gweilo
China's Secret Code	146	(2)
Hanyu
The Cost of Harmony	148	(2)
He
The Secret Societies	150	(2)
Heishe Hui
Drinking in Culture	152	(2)
Hejiu
Hanging In	154	(2)
Heng
Resisting Peaceful Evolution	156	(1)
Heping Yanbian
The Bottomline	157	(2)
Hong
Using the Back Door	159	(1)
Hou Men
Obsession with Power	160	(2)
Hu
The Glory Seekers	162	(1)
Hua
The Overseas Chinese	163	(2)
Hua Qiao
Raising Money from Friends	165	(1)
Huei
The Bridegroom Brotherhood	166	(2)
Hui You
Reach of Big Brother	168	(2)
Hu Kou
The Key to Success	170	(1)
Ji
All in the Family	171	(2)
Jia
The Tortoise Wins	173	(1)
Jian
Vim and Vigor	174	(2)
Jian
Sexual License	176	(1)
Jian
Bitter Toil	177	(3)
Jiangong Shuzui
No Communication in China!	180	(1)
Jiaoliu
Learning the Chinese Way	181	(2)
Jiaoshu Yuren
The Fifth Cousins	183	(1)
Jia-Zu
Dividing Up the Money	184	(2)
Jicheng
Soothing Ruffled Feelings	186	(1)
Jidong
Road to Good Fortune	187	(2)
Jie
Staying Within Limits	189	(1)
Jie
The Unleveling of China	190	(2)
Jieji
Bringing Up Little Emperors	192	(3)
Jihua Shengyu
Staying on the Bandwagon	195	(1)
Jin
What Really Satisfies	196	(2)
Jing
The Capitalist Enclaves	198	(1)
Jing Ji Te Qu
Technical Exchange Ploys	199	(2)
Jishu Jiaoliu
Forced Job Placement	201	(1)
Jiu Ye
Open Door Policy	202	(2)
Kai Fang Zhengce
Facing Danger	204	(2)
Kan
Hot Times in the Cold North	206	(2)
Kang
Face-Reading for Fun and Profit	208	(2)
Kan-Xiang
We're Looking Into It!	210	(1)
Kaolu Kaolu
The Great Exams	211	(2)
Kaoshi
Rituals Versus Laws	213	(1)
Keqi
The Honored Guest	214	(2)
Keren
The Gimme Generation	216	(1)
Kiasu
Year-round Resolutions	217	(2)
Kuai
Small Piece Picker-uppers	219	(1)
Kuai Zi
Overcoming Contradictions	220	(2)
Kuei
Bad Days	222	(1)
Kun
In Harmony with Nature	223	(1)
Kun
The Power of Chi	224	(3)
Kung Fu
Gong Fu
The Master Sage	227	(2)
Kung Fu-Zi
Extending Your Social Credits	229	(2)
La Guanxi
Re-education Through Labor	231	(1)
Laodong Jiaoyang
Thought Reform Camps	232	(3)
Lao Gai Dui
The Brave New World	235	(2)
Lao Jiao
The Honored Teacher	237	(2)
Laoshi
The Outsiders	239	(1)
Laowai
Pull of ``Native Place''	240	(2)
Lao Xiang
The Importance of Ritual	242	(1)
Li
The Right Behavior	243	(2)
Li
The Perfect Man	245	(1)
Lian
The Importance of ``Face''	246	(2)
Lian
Things Are Looking Up	248	(1)
Lin
Leaders and Managers	249	(2)
Lingdao
Keeping Up with Spirits	251	(1)
Lishu
The Dragon Dream	252	(1)
Long De Meng
Watching Your Ps and Qs	253	(2)
Lu
Guidelines for ``Travelers''	255	(1)
Lu
Your Worst Enemy	256	(2)
Lu
The Greatest Fear	258	(1)
Luan
Fighting to the Finish	259	(2)
Luan
Ethics Chinese Style	261	(3)
Lunlixue
Behind the Chinese Face	264	(1)
Luoji
Noises in the Night	265	(2)
Majong
Fighting with Your Mouth	267	(2)
Ma Zhan
Ma Jie
Beauty in a Chinese Eye	269	(2)
Mei
The Beautiful Country	271	(2)
Mei Guo
No Way, Buddy!	273	(1)
Mei Men Er
I'm Not Interested	274	(2)
Mei Yi Si
We Just Sold the Last One	276	(1)
Mei You
You May As Well Forget It	277	(2)
Mei You Ban Fa
That Doesn't Compute!	279	(1)
Mei You Guanxi
Paying Your Dues	280	(2)
Meng
Keepers of the Keys	282	(1)
Men Wei
Keeping a Tight Rein	283	(2)
Ming Yi
You're Nobody Without Them	285	(2)
Ming Zi
Ming Pian
The Long Wait	287	(1)
Minzhu
Democracy Wall	288	(2)
Minzhu Qiang
Where? Where?	290	(2)
Nali
Nali
Those Who Went South	292	(1)
Nan Yang Hua Qiao
Privileged Information	293	(2)
Nei Bu
Keeping People Pure	295	(1)
Nei Can
Red Carpet Treatment	296	(2)
Nei Hang
Up Against a Wall	298	(1)
Pi
The Prejudice Mongers	299	(1)
Pianjian
Briefcase Companies	300	(2)
Pibao Gongsi
Eating Chinese Culture	302	(1)
Pidan
Living with Flexible Laws	303	(2)
Pientun
Spell That Again!	305	(1)
Pin Yin
Plugging into Cosmic Power	306	(3)
Qi
Power of Creativity	309	(2)
Qian
Everything in Moderation	311	(1)
Qian
Taking on Challenges	312	(2)
Qian
Breathing Your Way to Health	314	(2)
Qigong
Avoiding the Fall	316	(1)
Qi Ji
Clearing Up Cobwebs	317	(2)
Qing
Wining and Dining to Win	319	(1)
Qingke
Yanjiu Yanjiu
Lessons in Being Boss	320	(2)
Quan
People Propaganda	322	(2)
Quyi
Chinese Benevolence	324	(2)
Ren
The Patience of Job	326	(1)
Ren
Having a Hot Time	327	(2)
Renao
Maintaining Family Ties	329	(2)
Ren Jia
Appealing to the Heart	331	(2)
Ren Qing
Human Feelings First	333	(1)
Ren Qing
Inhuman Rights	334	(2)
Ren Quan
Looking for Loose Seats	336	(1)
Ruan Xi
Ying Xi
New Human Beings	337	(2)
Sam Yan Lu
The Three Bonds	339	(1)
San Gang
The Three Irons	340	(1)
San Tie
Three Crises in Faith	341	(2)
San Xin Weiji
Making of a Businessperson	343	(3)
Shangren
The Spirit of Things	346	(2)
Shen
Romance of the Sages	348	(1)
Sheng
Getting What You Deserve	349	(2)
Sheng
When Sex Appeal Fails	351	(1)
Shen Kui
Knowledge Is Power	352	(2)
Shi
Getting It Together	354	(1)
Shi
Addressing People	355	(2)
Shifu
Making Things Better	357	(1)
Shi Ke
Gentlemen of China	358	(1)
Shi Shen
Learning to Be Chinese	359	(2)
Shufa
Gentleness Versus Force	361	(1)
Shun
The Soft Way to Success	362	(2)
Shun
Knowing When to Run	364	(1)
Song
Living with Bad Times	365	(2)
Sun
The Ducks Are Lined Up	367	(1)
Tai
Using the Great Fist	368	(2)
Tai Ji Quan
Love Talk	370	(1)
Tanlian Ai
Indulging the Young	371	(2)
Taoqi
Tiananmen Square	373	(3)
Tiananmen Guangchang
Breaking the Iron Rice Bowl	376	(2)
Tie Fan Wan
Speaking in Tongues	378	(2)
Tifa
Chinese Wisdom/Western Technology	380	(2)
Ti-Yong
Holding People Together	382	(1)
Tong Ren
The Importance of Titles	383	(2)
Touxian
Watch That First Step	385	(2)
Tun
Hoodwinking Customers	387	(1)
Tuor
Watching over Foreigners	388	(1)
Waiban
Going for Broke	389	(2)
Wan Ming
Feeding Fewer Mouths	391	(2)
Wan-Xi-Shao
Country of Cultural Essence	393	(1)
Wenhua
The Chinese Holocaust	394	(4)
Wenhua Da Ge Ming
Holding Your Ground	398	(2)
Wenzhu Zhenjiao
My Mother's House	400	(1)
Wo Muqin De Jia
The Five Family Rules	401	(2)
Wu Lun
Keeping Your Slate Clean	403	(1)
Wuwang
A Chinese Nooner	404	(2)
Wu Xin (Chi Fan, Xiu Di)
Putting Out to Sea	406	(1)
Xia Hai
The Glue That Binds	407	(1)
Xian
There's No Place Like Home	408	(2)
Xiang Tu Qing
Respecting Your Betters	410	(2)
Xiao
Back-Alley News Network	412	(1)
Xiaodao Xiaoxi
Paying Attention to Details	413	(1)
Xiao Guo
The Times Are Not Right	414	(2)
Xiao Xu
Going Down to the Country	416	(1)
Xia Xiang
All for One	417	(2)
Xie
Putting on a Happy Face	419	(2)
Xin
Brain-washing in China	421	(2)
Xi-Nao
Not Tonight, Dear!	423	(2)
Xingbie
Old Hundred Names	425	(1)
Xing Ming
Introducing Sexual Harassment	426	(2)
Xing Saorao
Ties Binding Businessmen	428	(2)
Xin Yong
Winning Through Waiting	430	(2)
Xu
Things Couldn't Be Better	432	(1)
Ya
Hitting Criminals Hard	433	(2)
Yanda
A Chinese Style Banquet	435	(2)
Yanhui
Dealing with Barbarians	437	(1)
Yi
Here Today Gone Tomorrow	438	(2)
Yi
Nourishing Your Spirit	440	(1)
Yi
Your Brother's Keeper	441	(2)
Yi
Doing What Is Right	443	(1)
Yi
Making Things Official	444	(2)
Yinji (Zhang)
Doing Without Privacy	446	(2)
Yinsi
Dealing with Duality	448	(2)
Yin
Yang
Smothering the Party	450	(1)
Yong Gongsi Baowei Zhongyang
Creativity in China	451	(2)
Youchuangzaoli De
The Disease of Patriotism	453	(2)
Youhuan Yishi
Here's to Friendship	455	(1)
Youyi
Staying in Sync	456	(2)
Yu
Living with Natural Disasters	458	(1)
Yun
Living with Man-Made Fate	459	(2)
Yun
Fate, Luck and Intuition	461	(1)
Yunqi
A Special Chinese Skill	462	(2)
Zajiyanyuan
Gift-giving in China	464	(1)
Zen-Ping
The Great Wall Syndrome	465	(2)
Zhang Zheng
Wan Li Zhang Zheng
Depending on the Stars	467	(1)
Zhanxingxue
Dealing with Shocking Events	468	(2)
Zhen
Might Makes Right	470	(2)
Zhengyi
Needling Cosmic Energy	472	(1)
Zhenjiu
How to Tell the Truth	473	(2)
Zhenshi
Land of Philosophers	475	(1)
Zhenxuejia
Unbounded Ambition	476	(2)
Zhi
Wisdom of the Chinese	478	(1)
Zhi
Bonds That Bind	479	(2)
Zhong
Circumstantial Loyalty	481	(1)
Zhongcheng
Pursuing True Insight	482	(2)
Zhong Fu
The Great Middle Kingdom	484	(2)
Zhong Guo
People of the Middle Kingdom	486	(3)
Zhongguo Ren
Don't Be an Expert	489	(1)
Zhongguo Tong
The Role of Centerpieces	490	(2)
Zhongtang
The Chinese Language Labyrinth	492	(2)
Zhongwen
Nature's Way to Health	494	(2)
Zhongyi
Have Specialty, Will Travel	496	(1)
Zhuer
Groupies in China	497	(1)
Zhuixingzu
Voice of the People	498	(2)
Zi Bao
The Proud Ones	500	(1)
Zihao
License to Be Bad	501	(2)
Ziyou
Making Friends the Chinese Way	503	(1)
Zuo Pengyou
Revering Your Ancestors	504
Zuxian