中美文化的研究论文英文

一、引言文化，这两种孕育自不同半球的文化，由于历史、地理环境、生产制度等方面的原因，有着极大的差异，截然不同的特色。这两种文化差异，一直备受关注。随着全球化的到来，全世界各民族间商业交流往来的日益频繁，了解中西方文化价值差异可以更好促进民族间经济、文化交流与沟通，从而避免所引起的不必要的误会和麻烦，导致的文化休克（culture shock）或交际失败（communication failure）。而语言是文化的载体，是文化的一部分，很大程度上反映了文化。谚语作为“民族文化之明镜”，来自于生活，更深刻地反映了民族文化特色，体现了人们的生产生活、思想观念、文化取向，具有持久的生命力、广泛的通俗性、生动的口语化的特点。英国著名学者培根曾说过：“The genius, wit and spirit of a nation are discovered in its proverbs.”（一个民族的天才、智慧和精神，都可以在其谚语中发现。）本文将从汉英谚语入手谈谈中西文化在地理环境、宗教信仰、历史、文学传统、民族性格、思想观念等方面的差异。二、 地理环境文化是在一定的自然环境里生发出来的。人们所生存的不同环境势必影响人们的生活、生产方式，影响人们对客观外界的观察与思考。人们以通俗形象的语言来讲述自己的生活体验，描述自然现象，总结生产实践，概括生产经验。这些语言口口相传，千锤百炼，成为大家喜闻乐诵的谚语。这些谚语必然反映出自然环境的不同特征，带有鲜明的地域文化和生态文化的色彩。英国是个岛国，四面环海，海岸线曲折多变，港湾楔入，岛屿众多。这样的自然环境给英国人提供了舟楫之便。人们在长期的航运渔业生活中，创造出数以百计的英语谚语，反映他们对生活及大自然的体验和观察。如：There’s as good fish in the sea as ever come out of it.有了大海，还怕没鱼。No fishing like fishing in the sea.捕鱼要到大海。Who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock.船离舵，要闯祸。A dog in the morning,sailors take warning; a dog in the night is the sailors’ delight.朝虹出天际，水手心事重，夜间见彩虹，水手乐哈哈。He goes a great voyage that goes to bottom of the sea.到达海底的人，才算做了一次远航。特殊的地理环境形成了特有的岛国气候。英国气候潮湿，天气变化大，岛上晴天少，雨天多，且多阵雨，因此，英国人出门常带把雨伞。由于英国天气变化无常的缘故，英国人非常关心天气，也喜欢谈论天气，并因此而产生了许多关于天气的谚语[1](P85)：April weather, rain and shine both together.一边日出一边雨，晴雨无常四月天。An English summer, three(or two)hot days and a thunderstorm.英国的一个夏季，三（两）个热天一阵大雷雨。A misty morning may have a fine day.早晨有雾露，可能是晴天。When the wind’s in the west, the weather’s at the best.风从西方起，天气最佳丽。而处于另一个半球的中国则有着不同的地理自然风貌，中华文明发源于长江黄河流域，中国自古是典型的农耕社会，人们过着自给自足的农耕生活，农业是国民经济的重要支柱，农业在历代政府中都受到极大的重视。因此产生了许多与农业相关的谚语。如：庄稼百样巧，地是无价宝。 人勤地不懒，勤奋谷仓满。 田里无神无鬼，全靠肥料土水。 庄稼老汉不知闲，放下锄头拿扁担。 农夫不种田，城里断炊烟。 田像一块铁，在于人来打。[2]（P240-241）我国的天气谚语，从量上、质上，以及悠久的历史传统上，值得称道。如“灶烟往下埋，不久雨就来”、“春天孩儿脸，一日变三变”、“太阳颜色黄，明日大风狂”、“久晴大雾必阴，久雨大雾必晴”、“夜里星光明，明朝仍旧晴”等等。[1]（P85）三、 特定历史每个民族都以不同的方式在人类历史的画卷中写着自己特定的历史。从谚语中可以一窥历史风云变化。英国从十六世纪开始发展资本主义，经济迅速发展并逐渐开始迅速向海外扩张，掠夺资本主义原料，进行资本主义的原始积累。Shoe-maker’s wife goes bare feet.这句谚语正是出自于十六世纪资本主义新兴时期，小资本家拼命发家致富，属于手工业者的鞋匠们为积攒钱财，竟然连给妻子买鞋穿的钱都不舍得花。十七世纪起英国在东印度扩张，十八世纪中叶建立殖民统治。He came safe from the East –India, and was drowned in the Thames.他从东印度安然归来，却淹死于泰晤士河。[3]（P79）英国历史上曾遭到多次其他国家的入侵。罗马统治期间，社会生活罗马化，拉丁语是官方、法律、商业和法律用语。丹麦人侵占期间，丹麦语也传入英国。1066年法国诺曼底登陆后，英国为法国所征服。 法语很长时期成为英国的官方语言，贵族、朝臣、地主和上流社会都使用法语，如当时的英国国王爱德华是完全不会说英语的国王，因此有英谚云：Jack would be a gentleman if he could speak French.要是杰克能讲法语，那他就是个绅士了。而三种语言交配混合到英语中，充实了英语语言，也带来了许多拉丁语、法语谚语。[1]（P84）Anger is a short madness .愤怒是短暂的疯狂。（拉丁语）Art is long, life is short. 艺术是无限，生命是有限的。（拉丁语）All roads leads to Rome. 条条大路通罗马。（法语）He that is afraid of asking is ashamed of learning. 怕问者耻于学。（丹麦语）而在中国的历史长河中，秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国，从此中国进入了漫长的封建社会。广大劳动人民深受压迫和剥削，生活于水深火热之中，而统治阶级却过着穷奢极欲的生活。[4]（P50）有许多汉谚就反映了这一点。

隐喻的中西方文化差异Abstract: Metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon but also a way of thinking, which is one of the basic methods for human survival and cognition. It is rooted in language, thought and culture. Through the analysis and comparison of the use and concept of metaphor in different countries, we find that its universality and commonality of the metaphor as a basic human cognitive activities. However, metaphor in different languages reflects a different way of thinking and behavior and different cultural patterns. Owing to the different two modes of thinking and culture, there are some differences in understanding and formation that can not be ignored. Therefore, this paper will discuss the questions : metaphor, cross-cultural differences, translation. 1. Preamble Metaphor is a common phenomenon, a large number of people use metaphor to express his feelings and ideas. British scientists rhetoric Richards (IARichards) once said, "We have day-to-day in almost every conversation in three sentences may be a metaphor." According to statistics, life around the use of 4,700,000 new metaphor, 2,140,000 stereotypes of metaphor. Research in recent years, there is a great metaphor. This article introduced in the definition of metaphor on the basis of summing up the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western metaphor, and that its culture, precisely because of the prevalence of metaphor, how to translate metaphor has become a very important issue in the latter part of the article is aimed at The translation of metaphor put forward a translation of the three strategies. This paper studies aimed at trying to comparative analysis of English and Chinese in a large number of day-to-day language of metaphor to express, find out the differences and similarities, in order to be able to accurately translate the article in good metaphor to explore a little. This article is about the metaphor from the point of view to explore the differences in the way Thinking allows us to a deeper understanding of language, culture, the relationship between thinking and can more clearly understand the different ethnic language, culture, way of thinking, and so on On the nature of translation. 2. Metaphors in Chinese and Western studies In 1980, Lakoff & Johnson (George Lakoff & Mark Johnson) made a "living metaphor" (Metaphors We Live By) of the book, a modern metaphor to open a new chapter in the school. Domestic academia on the "metaphor" This is also a review of the system, such as Lin Wu's book "Study abroad metaphor Looking at the" beam-setting "metaphor research," Li of China and India "The main subjects Metaphor" and so on. However, the Chinese metaphor for the academic study of rare. "Chinese scholars on the study of metaphor, I am afraid the real contribution should be through the metaphor of the Chinese characteristics of research and study, through the metaphor of the Chinese and other languages in the comparative study of metaphor, metaphor for the establishment of a more general theory of the strong, and even unique The basis. "Lin Wu in the book" metaphor of the basic research the status quo, and the focus of the trend "in the main text, put forward a model of cultural metaphors with the relationship:" The language of metaphor is the emergence of expression into the system, which not only reflects the psychological Structure, but also reflect the different cultural models also play a role. " metaphor in the relationship between Chinese and Western cultures relationship Correspond to (corresponding) refers to the relationship between the two languages, English and Chinese in the meaning and metaphor in the use of the same meaning in the culture and image, and so on and-one mapping. This is because the survival of mankind itself, as well as all the external conditions, including the geographical environment, climate change, and the whole of human society and cultural background are certain there is a common, which formed a common humanity of their own and the outside world on many issues. In the "angry" mood, the English are angry that physiological responses, such as: grind one's teeth. (Teeth), bare one's teeth. (Ziyaliezui) an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. (an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth), reflecting the Chinese culture on the basis of common experience. non-correspondence English-Chinese metaphor, after all, rooted in two different languages on the soil, resulting in very different cultural backgrounds, fully corresponds to the few metaphors, the vast majority do not have common cultural identity in order to form the corresponding non-(non-corresponding ) Relations. Non-relationship metaphor can be roughly divided into three categories: Vehicle counterpart, Yu Yi does not correspond to English and Chinese in some cases there is the same as a metaphor, but in their own language and culture in the meaning of the metaphor means is different, even different. Peacock in the Chinese culture is auspicious, a symbol of beauty, especially the Dai people to express jumped Pavaner desire to better their own. If the Chinese people will be likened to a peacock, it means that beautiful light. However, in English, peacock (Peacock) is a symbol of pride, often interpreted as arrogance, love to show off. For example, They were eager to take the young peacock down a peg. (They want to pressure a pressure that the arrogant young guy's momentum). counterpart Yu Yi, the vehicle does not correspond to English-Chinese two nations due to their differences, from different angles to look at things the same, it will be a different analogy. As a result both English and Chinese language there is a different vehicle, but Yu was referring to was basically the same as the meaning of the case, that is the same kind of non-correspondence. Such as: a person described as the hearts of anxious, restless, Chinese is "ants on the hot pan" and English is "a cat on the bricks". There are similar: To kick down the ladder. Guohechaiqiao. Yu Yu Yi and do not correspond to Some of the metaphors Yu-Yu has a meaning and it refers to the language and culture are closely related, in another culture often can not find corresponding Yu and Yu Yi, which resulted in a culture known as the default Phenomenon. For example: in English "my rib" I am referring to Yu's wife, it comes from the "Bible" story, that is, Adam (Adam)'s wife Eve (Eve) God is with a piece of Adam's rib made. The Chinese did not, "the Bible" cultural background, and there was no analogy with rib habit, so the formation of a corresponding gap. Similarly, "ugly duckling" (Ugly Duckling) refers to the metaphor will get ahead of Little, "early bird" refers to the diligent Yu, in the words into Chinese language, culture, as a result of the default, can not find a corresponding relationship between metaphor . Chinese and Western cultures in the common metaphor Metaphor and culture to a large extent, human beings have a common understanding, rooted in the people's own day-to-day experience. In this connection, often between different ethnic groups are the same. Both English and Chinese language in a lot of abstract thinking that the metaphorical expression is the same. For example: the human child in the period to form a position on the concept of input in that direction in the form of many of them easily understood, including the position expressed by metaphor, which has become a fixed pattern of thinking. For example: The term direction (up, down) to describe people's social status, physical, emotional, and other abstract concepts to the case when the good is up; Sad is down. We Chinese are also not difficult to find a similar sentence: "Gas Prices "," enhance the social status "and" vision "and" depressed. " Since the objective laws of nature with the relative unity of different cultures to understand the nature of the course is similar to the cognitive experience. in the metaphor of the difference between Chinese and Western cultures As the English-Chinese geographical and cultural differences, living in two different cultures in practice there are a lot of differences, and different life experiences and let people understand the objective world, a different language carries different nationalities Cultural characteristics and cultural information. Understanding of metaphor is not out of socio-cultural backgrounds. For example, social and cultural impact of the color words is deep-rooted, some color words in different cultures in an entirely different meaning, has a distinctive feature of our national culture. Such as: English, said in green "inexperienced" and "shallow knowledge", such as: "a green hand", "I was very green when I started working there." The Chinese like to express the meaning of the word is "yellow" Such as: "Huangmaoyatou" and "flower girl". Cultural background knowledge is the metaphor to create a rich source of thinking, as the Eastern and Western cultures are different, metaphors in English and Chinese applications there are also significant differences. The metaphor of the cross-cultural differences between Chinese and Western influence Language is a cultural change in the development of the complex, subject to political, economic, historical, environmental and other factors. Chinese and Western styles are different, but in many ways to infiltrate interaction and integration, language differences and cultural metaphor for the inevitable impact is complex and diverse. metaphorical expression of cultural conflict Different nationalities in the world to observe a different perspective and ideas, different cultures there are a lot of conflict or inconsistency metaphor. If the animal metaphors, in English Long (dragon) is a kind of evil, will belch out smoke monster. "Bible", the dragon is the devil, is a symbol of evil and terror, there is a terrible vicious meaning. The Chinese dragon is in power, the auspicious symbol of Chinese traditional culture, the Chinese have "Wangzichenglong", "descendants of the Dragon." The same analogy in different cultures, different meaning, of two cultures "Dragon" to give a different connotation. differences in living conditions caused by differences in metaphor In English is a lot of metaphor and marine-related, such as: all at sea (at a loss what to do); drink like a fish (drinking cow); fish in the air (Shuizhonglaoyue); give up the ship (give up). In Chinese, there are a lot of the horse or cattle pose a metaphor, such as: "a willing ox" (a willing horse) Gan means to serve the community; "old ox" (a working horse) refers to the hard work; "bragging "(Talk horse), and so on. This is due to different geographical location and natural environment caused by different cultural metaphor. Britain is an island, ultimately, dependent on the sea, and China is a large agricultural country, farming culture deeply feudal society. different religious and cultural differences arising from the metaphor Religious culture of human culture is an important part of it by referring to the nation's religious beliefs, such as the formation of the sense of culture, "the Bible" in the story, with its language and meaning has become a feature of daily life in the West in terms of . For example, power of the keys (the keys to the kingdom of heaven; the rights of the Pope), in the right church, but in the wrong pew (in general is right, but not the details), and so on. Chinese culture and Buddhism, Taoism and more affected by the impact of Confucianism, the Chinese, there are a lot of related argot. "Jiehuaxianfo"; "临时抱佛脚"; "做一天和尚撞一天钟" and so on. It is due to the diversity of culture, resulting in the differences between English and Chinese metaphor. This difference to the cross-cultural communication has brought the impact. As a foreign language students, do not understand the difference between metaphor and language will make mistakes, sometimes mistakenly made good as pleasant, caused by either one or both of the conversation unpleasant; also sometimes mocked as a praise. When a native language other operators do not understand the language contained in the cultural differences, it is often difficult for such language to accurately convey the meaning of the understanding, difficulty to the cross-cultural exchange. 3. Metaphor of the three methods of translation The translation of metaphor not only accurately and effectively convey the original language, but also loyal, accessible, complete reproduction of the original language and cultural connotation and significance. But in the West because of cultural differences and different, so the translation of metaphor in English on the need to consider not only its literal sense, and so on, but also in the West should pay attention to their cultural differences. American Eugene Nida said: "Translation is the exchange between the two cultures. The real success of the translation, even more familiar with the two cultures is more important to master two languages. Because only in terms of its role in the culture In the background will only be meaningful. "Therefore, the translation of metaphor to combining Chinese and Western cultures, and cultural backgrounds to leave the translation, can not be achieved between the two languages of the real exchange. Literal Translation The so-called "literal" is asked in the language when conditions permit, in the translation to maintain the original content, but also to maintain the original form, in particular, to maintain the original metaphor, the image of the nation, and other local color. In the literal translation method to maintain the original expression of the culture and at the same time, target enriched the vocabulary and expression, such as: "a Pandora's box" (Pandora's Box); "chain reaction" (chain reaction). In the original text and asked the information contained in the same culture, we should adopt the literal translation method. (1) You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. : You are my sun, my only sunshine. In Chinese and English, the sun is warm, beautiful, in both languages, they disseminate information on culture are the same. As a rule, and asked in the original text in the form of grammatical structure, similar to the style or color on basically the same, the law should adopt the literal translation. (1) He is another Shylock. : He is also a Shylock. (Note: Shakespeare's Shylock is "The Merchant of Venice" in a very harsh mean business People. ) (2) To carry coals to Newcastle. : Coal to Newcastle. (Note: "Newcastle" is a British coal, coal is superfluous here.) 4. Conclusion Metaphor as a way to figures of speech or skills, a unique feature of grammar, which features make the sentence more flexible and constructive, but the United States. Is a metaphor to express more complex ideas and things, a powerful tool. Wherever and whenever people in their daily lives are often used metaphor. As Mr. Lin Zhuang said: "The metaphor is no longer expanding his knowledge and understanding of a passive process. To help us in the form of new knowledge, the metaphor has played an active role so that we can better a better understanding of the objective world." In English and Chinese Metaphorical significance of the difference is due to cultural differences between East and West, that mode of thinking, moral values and sense of difference. However, different cultural impact of what is the concept of metaphor, it is still a need to examine and address the problem. At the same time, in the metaphor of the process of translation must pay special attention to cultural differences. The best translation is to be able to accurately reflect the true meaning of the author, as well as its cultural and stylistic characteristics of the translation, that is, the translation of metaphor to make as much as possible the original language and to achieve the target language culture, and so on.

文化差异(Culture Difference):种族 National race The whole question of the changing role of Blacks in American society as been the subject of newspaper articles around the world so frequently that visitors to the United States do not know what to expect when they arrive. They may be surprised when they see that Blacks and Whites work side by side in offices , factories , and schools across the country . The majority of Blacks in the United States, however, live in and around only a small number of American cities. Many dark-skinned visitors arrive in the United States fearing personal attack or expecting various degrees of racial prejudice. Some forms of discrimination [1] still exist ,unfortunately, especially in the areas of the housing , schools , and jobs . The school equality is still more a dream than a reality. There are still too many areas of the country where Black Americans do not enjoy the same full opportunities as White Americans . However, the vast majority of American s are working , studying , and sharing public places together. This was not true even a few years ago in some parts of the country , but progress is steadily being made . You will be able to observe the improvement in race relations as soon as your plane lands . You will see it in the airport, in public buses and trains , in theaters , restaurants , rest room, in sops and libraries , in offices and factories . Close personal friendships between Blacks and Whites , full trust and social relationships are still not common , except in certain areas, However, even in this - the slowest area of progress-there has been change , especially among young people. [1] discrimination n. 辨别, 区别, 识别力, 辨别力, 歧视 Excerpted from " A Guide to . ", edited by Li Yang, Li Yi, published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. Culture Difference 发表日期：2005-04-22 10:58:52 作者：洪恩在线 It is not a novel knowledge that culture difference exists between eastern and w estern countries. But not until I heard the lecture given by a Chinese scholar, who has been lived in Australia for several years, did I came to understand that how different it is. The scholar summarized that we, as Chinese, prefer to think in a spiral, casual way, while western people, more often than not, are fond of a linear, business-i s-business way. Supporting the idea, he named out examples he himself experience d while staying in Australia. Here are some excerpts. Firstly, line up matter. If you are in China, it is not rare to see that a crowd of people throng in the supermarket, trying to get service first. People in Ch ina do line up, the scholar said in a humorous tone, but they prefer to line up at a horizontal way. In contrast, in western countries, say, in Australia, people always line up, no matter in a big bank or a small grocery store. And they take it for granted. Lin ing up has long since become part of their life that they scarcely doubt it or g row impatient while doing it. Secondly, first come, first served. Though in words it is a normal principle her e in China, it’s mostly not the case in reality. Take an example of what usuall y happens in a bank. Here when we are in a middle-sized bank, and suppose we are talking with the cashier, it always tends to have someone butt in, claiming tha t his or her request takes only one second. And it seems that we have already been accustomed to it. So has the cashier. But in western countries, it never applies. It is always rude that you butt in whil e the cashier is serving his customer. No matter how little time your request co sts, the cashier, more often than not, is likely to turn you down. Only one cust omer at a time is his principle. Thirdly, change stuff. Suppose I am in a shopping mall and the stuff I purchase cost me 142 RMB. While lining up at the casher’s and happening to check my wall et, I find I have 200 RMB and two one-yuan coins. What will I do? To give the ca shier 200 RMB, or give him 200 RMB and the two one-yuan coins so that he could r eturn me 60 RMB, which is more convenient for both of us. I think when the Chinese were in this situation, they would mostly choose the la tter one. But the scholar said, in Australia, they won’t do so. He then told th at he himself did try it once, and he thought it was self-evident to do so. But the cashier did not understand. So the scholar latter on summarized that western people are prone to lack of fle xibility while doing their work. Then how about us in their eyes? They think we Chinese have a tendency to make things complicate. What an interesting contrast! Here I don’t intend to tell which is better and which is worse. What I try to s ay is just that we might well be in conformity with the customs and be aware of the culture differences while being abroad. Like the saying goes—while you are in Rome, do as Romans do. If you don’t want to put yourself in the public, bear ing all this in mind is perhaps the best policy. Caroline This article has been read by 276 persons. Copyright: This article was written by caroline. and first posted in HongEn online. The author owns the copyright, and HongEn online owns the right of using it. Any other unit or individual should get the author's approval before using, repasting or quoting. The author will assume all the civil and penal responsibility, directly or indirectly caused by posting the article. The SYSOPs and board masters have the right to reserve or delete the article. Reply|Digest|Return|Search Replied Articles Title Author Size Post Time Grade Re：Culture Difference tdeanxx(Tim) 1K 01:19 Dear Caroline, I think your scholar friend spent several years in Australia and completely miss ed the most important value represented in his examples. That value is egalitar ianism. The principle that people should be treated equally. When the bank teller insists on attending one customer at a time the principle i s not "only one customer at a time" it is "this customer waited in line and so w ill you, no matter how tall, how well dressed or how loud your voice." And you can be sure if the customer is a poor working man and the impatient man is a wel l dressed business man, the customer will very bruskly insist on his rights not to be interrupted. A well run bank will have a customer service person who can answer questions, but people doing transactions must wait their turn. My impres sion of a business or a nation where people are not treated equally in the marke tplace and a bully can obtain service without waiting is a place where there is a class oriented culture and/or where one can bribe one …………[文章太长，没有全部显示，点击本文标题阅读全文] Re：Culture Difference caroline.(caroline) 2K 12:25 Dear Tim, The lecture given by the scholar is mainly on English learning. That's for he na med such examples. He just aimed to tell the audience how important to understan d a culture is, which is different from our motherland. What you said is indeed right. And I am with you on this. The corruption in Chi na is rampant these years, you relate it with class. Well, I haven't thought abo ut it. But I do agree that the idea of class roots in many people's mind. Like the example you took in the article, I almost could be sure that here the c ashier would definitely turn to the well dressed business man. You say that the poor working man will insist on his rigts not to be interrupted. But here I gues s he would just pretend not to mind it and let it be. I myself experienced this once, in fact. Once I was in a post office to have a p ackage posted. You know, it was crowded inside and the people lined up in a wayw ard way. So when it was my turn, and when I was just about to tell the man my re quest, one guy …………[文章太长，没有全部显示，点击本文标题阅读全文] Re：Culture Difference panpanpan 210 08:32 You've got a sharp eye for the human conditions, Tim. -- Learning is like rowing upstream; not to advance is to drop back. Learning is like sailing a boat against the current; it either advances or retre ats. Re：Culture Difference tdeanxx(Tim) 351 12:47 Dear Panpanpan, I wouldn't have written in such a non-diplomatic fashion except that I wanted to see what people thought, and that sort of behavior is particularly irritating t o me. I will try not to lose my temper when I am in China. I don't want to get "kung fu'd". Great to hear from you, friend. I want to hear more of your thou ghts. Tim Re：Culture Difference smdyfc(Dont happy) 263 18:05 English is so good!Do you announce some articles more again?Did you graduate?Wor ker, should have of, all of you have brains!Can come to our company to work? -- Power is everything!!Falling behind would be beaten!! I'm never,never,never,never give up!!! Re：Culture Difference spoilme(maple) 804 06:02 "Thirdly, change stuff. Suppose I am in a shopping mall and the stuff I purchase cost me 142 RMB. While lining up at the casher’s and happening to check my wal let, I find I have 200 RMB and two one-yuan coins. What will I do? To give the c ashier 200 RMB, or give him 200 RMB and the two one-yuan coins so that he could return me 60 RMB, which is more convenient for both of us. I think when the Chinese were in this situation, they would mostly choose the la tter one. But the scholar said, in Australia, they won’t do so. He then told th at he himself did try it once, and he thought it was self-evident to do so. But the cashier did not understand. " It won't happen in New York. Maybe the cashers in NY are smarter. :) -- Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.参考一下Diet Culture difference between China and America.（中美饮食文化的差异）这篇也可以参考一下The main difference between Chinese and America eating habits is that unlike, where everyone has their own plate of food, in China the dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares. If you are being treated by a Chinese host, be prepared for a ton of food. Chinese are very proud of their culture of food and will do their best to give you a taste of many different types of cuisine. Among friends, they will just order enough for the people there. If they are taking somebody out for dinner and the relationship is polite to semi-polite, then they will usually order one more dish than the number of guests (. four people, five dishes). If it is a business dinner or a very formal occasion, there is likely to be a huge amount of food that will be impossible to finish. A typical meal starts with some cold dishes, like boiled peanuts and smashed cucumber with garlic. These are followed by the main courses, hot meat and vegetable dishes. Finally soup is brought out, which is followed by the starchy "staple" food, which is usually rice or noodles or sometimes dumplings. Many Chinese eat rice (or noodles or whatever) last, but if you like to have your rice together with other dishes, you should say so early on