1.Addressing People：

Discuss the differences in addressing people between English and Chinese cultures

2.Addressing：

In many English-speaking countries, people address each other by just using their first names, e.g. Tom, Michael, or Ellen, or Sophie. This is particularly true in the US, where equality is greatly valued on different levels of social life. Therefore, it is not strange for a student to call his or her teachers by their first name or a mother- in –law to be called the same way by her daughter-in law. Although, some seniors may prefer to be called by their surname.

In China, and many Asia countries like Japan and Korea, it is embarrassing for elder people or people with higher position to be addressed by their first name. The hidden rule is that given name are limited to husband and wife, very closed friends, and subordinates by superiors. The reason might be the strict hierarchy which has influenced China for more than one thousand years and the tradition of respecting the old.

3.How to address people?

①Acquaintance

    Mr. Ms. or Mrs. + surname

②VIP

     Title + full name/ surname

    Ambassador大使  Doctor博士   Duke 公 Marquis or Marquess侯 Count or Earl伯 Viscount子 Baron男 

③Stranger

    Mr.   Madam   (only use the word Sir if he is much older than you or you  don’t know his surname but he is a VIP)

④Young people

   Young man  Young Lady 

    Kid(s)          Young Master(小王子) 

4.Summary of addressing people

	Chinese	English
Formal Relationship/ Situation	Surname+Title	Title+Surname
Neutral Relationship/ Situation	Surname+Title	Title+Surname Given Name
Close Relationship/ Informal Situation	Given Name	Given Name

5.Greetings：

Western expressions

Good morning/afternoon/ evening.

How are you?

How are things going?

How are you getting on?

How are things (with you)?

How’s everything?

How’s life?

Hello.

Hey. /Hi.

Chinese expressions

Where are you going?你上哪去？

Where have you been?你去哪里啦？

Have you had your meal?吃过了吗？