商務禮節美語第15期:有面子(2)
Jerry要去中國出差，找同事Amy請教。
Jerry: My book on Chinese culture says that the idea of shame is a big part of how society works.
我的一本關於中國文化的書上說羞恥心對於一個社會的發展至關重要。A: That's true. Chinese culture places more value on the group and less on the individual.
確實是。相比較個體而言，中國文化更重視集體。J: Pretty much the opposite of the U.S. huh?
和美國文化正好想法，對吧？
A: Yeah. In China your actions at work reflect on your employer and your daily conduct reflects on your family.
是的，在中國你工作時的表現會影響到你公司的形象，你的日常舉止行爲能反映出你的家庭教養。J: So if you shame yourself you're also shaming your employer?
所以說如果你自己感到羞愧，你同時也會對你的僱員感到羞愧嗎？A: In some cases, yes.
有的時候，是這樣的。集體的概念在中國文化裏很重要。Amy說，Chinese culture places more value on the group and less on the individual. 相對個人而言，中國文化更重視集體，the opposite of the U.S.，跟美國正相反。你工作時的表現會影響到你公司的形象，你的日常舉止行爲能反映出你的家庭教養，to reflect on someone，是影響到某人形象的意思。
A: Chinese culture doesn't encourage showboating or aggressive self-promotion.
中國文化不鼓勵自我吹噓或者激進的自我宣傳。
J: Ha! In America, we promote ourselves all the time! It's the only way to get noticed.
哈，在美國，我們總是自我激勵！這是贏得注意的唯一方式。
A: But in Chinese society, you might have a better chance at getting a promotion at work by being a real team player. The best advice I can give to a foreigner who wants to do business in China is this: be sincere, try not to offend and tone down the volume.
但是在中國社會，當你是團隊中的一員是，你可能會得到晉升。我能給一個想在中國做生意的外國人最好的建議是：真誠，不要冒犯別人，儘量低調。
中國文化不鼓勵showboat，自我吹噓，也不鼓勵self-promotion，自我宣傳。在美國，只有自我宣傳才能得到上司的注意，然而在中國，最好的途徑是be a real team player，做團隊的一員。Amy說，她給外國人最好的建議是：be sincere，真誠；try not to offend，不要冒犯別人；以及tone down the volume，調低音量。
J: What do you mean when you say, "turn down the volume?"
你說的“儘量低調”是什麼意思？S: Well, for one thing: don't talk so loud! Americans are loud and although China is a very noisy country, people don't like it when you draw attention to yourself.
嗯，一方面，是說不要說話太大聲。美國人說話聲音很大，而中國儘管是一個非常吵鬧的國家，但是中國人不喜歡說話大聲引人注意的人。J: Would that include how I dress as well?
這個包括我的穿着打扮嗎？A: Certainly. Try to blend in as much as possible. The locals will appreciate the effort.
當然。試着融入環境。當地人會對這樣的改變讚賞的。J: Wow, Amy....I'm so glad I talked with you! You've been a great source of information.
哇，艾米……我真高興和你談了這些！你真是個巨大的知識庫。A: Sure. Let me know if you need more specifics.
當然。讓我再告訴你一些具體的細節。Amy建議Jerry講話不要太大聲，因爲 People don't like it when you draw attention to yourself，大家不喜歡那些故意吸引別人注意的人。另外，穿着打扮也不要太醒目，Try to blend in as much as possible，意思是融入周圍的環境，也就是說，Jerry應該儘量設法跟周圍的人打成一片。
