A friend asks me “Why Chinese don’t go Dutch?” So I want to regard this question as the topic and write an article. As everyone knows, westerners will go Dutch while having a meal in the restaurant. But Chinese don’t go Dutch. Chinese will pay the bill and check out generously. Occidental don’t often entertain guests; but Chinese often invite friend to dinner. A lot of occidentals feel puzzled to this question.

Why does such a difference exist? Because the East and West culture and custom are different on the surface. I will analyze this question concretely.

First of all, food systems between China and Occident are different. Chinese put into practice Gather Dining System; Occidentals put into practice Individual Dining System. Everybody can share the delicious food of all over the table when eating Chinese food. Please note it is sharing; but Occidentals just eat the food in one’s own plate. If you eat beef, he eats chicken. It is impossible that you taste the flavor of his chicken. The result of the Individual Dining System is that you can only eat the food in your plate. It is unable to share. Ha-ha! What I said is right!

So to eat Chinese food is happier than to eat Western-style food. And I want to ask you a question. Do you like the free thing? I think nobody don’t like the free thing. Ok! Suppose I invite you to eat the delicious Chinese food, then I pay the bill. This is equal to that you have enjoyed a delicious Chinese food free. So you will be very glad. The friendship between the friends has been strengthened in this kind of atmosphere.

Secondly, Occidentals eat for health; Chinese eat for the friendship. Occidental advocate individualism and independence is strong. So Occidental express that respect for each other’s independence through the way of going Dutch. Chinese like making friends and solidarity. Chinese value the interpersonal relationships and friendship very much. There are a lot of folk sayings in China, for example “Depend on parents at home; while leaving home depends on the friend!”, “Handling affairs is easy if you have many friends!” another sentence is more violent: “Insert the knife into both sides of the rib for friend!”

Therefore, friend’s position is important in Chinese’s mind. The purpose that Chinese don’t go Dutch is that they don’t want to destroy the friendship between the friends. Dutch treatment is the stingy behavior in China, is unfavorable to the friends’ solidarity and is unfavorable to keeping the harmonious interpersonal relationship.

Third, it is only simple “Have a meal!” that Occidental entertain guests. It is not purpose that Chinese entertain guests, but it is the means. In Americans’ idea, “Have a meal” definition is to add fuel to the body for keeping health and normal life activity, thus resisting the attack of disease. That is to say, there is no any additional value.

Chinese are a nation liking treat very much. Generally speaking, one party who propose treat will pay the bill in China. But purposes are different. For example you help me to do a thing; I will invite you to dinner in order to express thankfulness to you. Certainly, I will pay the bill. Suppose I am a company manager, you are another company manager. I talk about the business with you, and I will say: “Let’s have a meal together!” Certainly, I will pay the bill. My purpose is to congratulate success in the business and promote the friendship between us, even the friendship and cooperation between two companies.

In fact, Chinese are very complicated. So I say that Chinese not going Dutch is not merely a kind of folkway and custom, but it is a means, a method, a repayment way, a way to express emotion, even probably a kind of stratagem.

In China, foods are given particular meanings, so that a type of food can only be eaten by some specific individuals in certain occasion, or must be eaten in specific occasion.

Usually, an honored guest will be served a snapper’s head or shell to greet him and show warm welcome in some districts.

Noodles are the symbol of longevity in Chinese culture. They are as much a part of Chinese birthday celebration as a birthday cake with lit candles is in many countries, so that youngsters or seniors all will have a bowl of Long Life Noodle in the expectation of a healthy life. Since noodles do symbolize long life, it is considered very unlucky to cut up a strand.

Eggs hold a special symbolic significance in many cultures, and China is no exception. The Chinese believe eggs symbolize fertility. After a baby is born, parents may hold a “red egg and ginger party”, where they serve round hard-boiled eggs to announce the birth. (In Central China, the number of eggs presented depends on the sex of the child: An even number, usually six or eight Red Boiled Eggs with a black point dotted on one end will be delivered for a boy and an odd number, usually five or seven without black point for a girl). Egg rolls or spring rolls resemble the shape of a gold bar, and thus are often served on the New Year as a symbol of wealth and prosperity in the coming year.

Fish also play a large role in festive celebrations. The Chinese word for fish “Yu” sounds like the homophonic words both for wish and abundance. As a result, on New Year’s Eve it is customary to serve a fish for dinner, symbolizing the wish for accumulations of prosperity and wealth in the coming year. In addition, the fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year.

Ducks represent fidelity in Chinese culture. If you are ever invited to a Chinese wedding banquet, don’t be surprised to spot a mouthwatering platter of Peking duck on the banquet table. Also, red dishes are featured at weddings as red is the color of happiness. (You may find them served at New Year’s banquets for the same reason.)

Chicken forms part of the symbolism of the dragon and phoenix in Chinese culture. At a Chinese wedding, chicken’s feet, referred to as phoenix feet, are often served with dragon foods such as lobster. Chicken is also popular at Chinese New Year, symbolizing a good marriage and the coming together of families, and serving the bird whole emphasizes family unity.

Seeds - lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc - represent bearing many children in Chinese culture. Visit an Asian bakery during the Chinese New Year, and you’re likely to find a wide assortment of snacks with different types of seeds in them.

There are other foods, snacks and fruits which symbolize good wishes under special circumstances. (498 words)

【推荐3】“Looking up, I find the moon bright; Bowing, in homesickness I’m drowned.” When Ifeoma Gladys from Nigeria, first read the line from Li Bai’s Thoughts on a Tranquil Night, the girl felt the poet’s experiences and emotions (情感). “I can’t help but feel homesick,” said Gladys, 22, who is studying Chinese Language and Literature at Southwest University.

From then on, the Nigerian girl fell in love with ancient Chinese poetry.     1    For example, in Li Bai’s poem Hard Is the Way of the World, Gladys felt the ambition and faith of tile poet. While reading Cao Cao’s A Short Song, she learned that life is short and thus we should let go of the difficulties we couldn’t overcome and value the present.     2    In her eyes, it is how it can travel over the mountains and spread from the ancient past to the present, but never change its original intention, keeping its truth and emotional weight.

“This is what many popular novels and online articles are unable to do,” said the Nigerian girl.     3    For example, Li Bai wrote, “Heaven has made us talents; we’re   not made in vain. A thousand gold coins spent, more will turn up again.” About 1,000 years later, Goethe, a German poet, would say something quite similar -    4    “Behind the beautiful poems, I discovered the wisdom of the Chinese people, the charm of Chinese culture, and the worldwide basis of Chinese culture as well,” said Gladys.

Now, the girl hopes to become a professional translator.    5