Chinese people? Incomprehensible!

Last year,I read this great article for the first time.The other day,I read it again and decided to translate it into English to tell you how Chinese people look at ourselves.Yi Zhongtian does have an insight into Chinese national characters.I couldn't help laughing when read this article.Well,differences exist in every country.But Chinese people share the same characters while behave differently,you always have to read between the lines.Some judge Yi that he should've brought up with some solutions about our flaws rather than just generalized them.But as I'm concerned,don’t even try to change them,unless you give us another 2000 years.

Chinese people,incomprehensible

Author:Yi Zhongtian 
Original post:http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_483c11a601008nd0.html
 

Chinese people are hard to comprehend in every case.



Take corruption as example,are Chinese people fond of that?Of course not.In fact,they all find it hateful.So do those bribees and bribers,I dare say.Why would the officials like to take the plunge of getting in jail,if they have money rolling in without corruption?And why would the bribers like to give out their sweat money,if their ways are unblocked?



So most people do not like corruption.However,they can hardly quit it.As the case stands,once Chinese people get in trouble,the first idea they come up with is how to “get in by the back door”.If the officials actually don’t accept grease of any kind,I'm afraid that people would feel disappointed and insecure because they’ve got no “promises”.Therefore,it’s not practicable either to totally forbid or to stop fighting corruption.The best way left is to establish some rules,like "It's allowed to be invited to dinner for once or twice",or "It's okay to accept one or two packs of cigarettes".There everyone is happy.



Some people reckon it's all due to the social convention in China.But I can't totally agree with that idea.When it comes to recreational activities using public funds,Chinese people seem to feel disgusted with it.Whereas,whoever you invite to join in the activity for their first time,he or she will be willing to do it and feel content.So it is obvious that people are not actually against those activities if they can reap the benefit of them.



I don’t mean that Chinese people say one thing and do another,nor they are double-faced.But there are many ways of the world,with much contradiction in terms.The ancestors left many teachings of the deceased,but some of them can't be wielded at the same time.For example,the ancestors told us to "ready to help others for a just cause",but then suggested us "not to meddling in things that do not concern you".Wait a minute!Are we doing it or not?See that’s why I call you a nerd - leave it,if it’s just an unimportant matter;go for it,if it is.So Good Samaritan is right,and standing-by is also right.There is much to be said on all sides.Each and everyone just has to claim himself is in the right.



But in that case,those experts who study the "Chinese National Characters" would have a headache to define Chinese with one expression or two.Chinese people are fairly frank but tactful,honest but sophisticated,distrustful but credulous,hidebound but flexible,self-serving but loyal,decent but incivilized,mild but ultra,economical but extravagant,old-fashioned but swanky,contented but get-rich-quick,superstitious but (mostly) irreligious,collectivistic but factious,picky but smooth,un-meddlesome but gossip,saying "Time is money" but taking time.China has vast territory,abundant resources and a splendid culture of more than 5,000 years.She “got rich first” but then experienced a period of suffering impoverishment and chronic decadence. "Lagging behind leaves one vulnerable to attack",as the history books tell us.



Anyway,Chinese people are hard to understand.Not just foreigners,even Chinese people find themselves incomprehensible.As a matter of fact,even "incomprehensible" can’t be the right word for everyone,because I’m convinced that someone will argue against it at once—"Incomprehensible?How so?I'm gonna define my people to you".Then he will talk about it in full details.I believe he'll make his point so that the listeners will all nod their agreement.But so what?They also nod when they listen to Tom, Dick or Henry,as long as they all make sense.Not to mention that in China,not every nodding means approval(while it doesn’t have to mean disapproval).It may just be a sign for “I'm listening”,or for being polite.So much as it's just a unconscious pattern of behavior.



Chinese people themselves just have too many issues,even about food.Chinese people,no matter from the North or South,are all fond of inviting or being invited to dine together. Virtually there are many differences about what to have and how to have it.If you’re treated by the Northern,chances are you get many different kinds of dishes and any of it can easily stuff you because there are normally a whole chicken or duck and much pork or lamp.You just gotta devour ravenously. At the same time,the Southern don’t order that many kinds and you won’t see much food on each plate.It doesn’t take much time to finish all of them.But those dishes seem more delicate—they make several kinds dishes from one chicken or add more ways to finish one fish.One thing led to another,the Northern start to think the Southern are petty and look down upon them,whilst the Southern think the Northern are douche.The most interesting thing is that they both call each other hypocrites.The Northern say,"we don’t even bothering using chopsticks for that little shabby food.Do you seriously wanna treat me or what?"Nevertheless,the Southern says,"we don’t have to waste anything to show our sincerity.We're not stuffed shirts.And order that much food?You must have nothing to do but eat."Thus,they’re both pure-hearted but misunderstood.



As my original point,Chinese people are literally incomprehensible.