Comments on: Chinese Drinking Etiquette: Beer, Tea Etiquette, Bottled Water, Hard Liquor http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/chinese-drinking-etiquette-tea-beer-alcohol-bottled-water/ Robert Thompson on all things China. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:24:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Joren http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/chinese-drinking-etiquette-tea-beer-alcohol-bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-7666 Joren Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:15:12 +0000 http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/complete-china-guide-part-iii-drinking/#comment-7666 Ali, don't let that stop you from going to China! Obviously you are foreigner, so you'll always get a little leeway in the etiquette department ('laowai' the most commonly used term for foreigner is actually best translated as 'crazy old foreigner' (prob from breaking all the customs) while 'waiguoren' is the politically correct term meaning 'person from another country'). The thing about cultures is that respect goes two-ways: try to adhere to their customs as much as possible (you are the guest) but they should respect that you are coming from another country as well. Just decline in a light-heartened manner and you'll be allright. And, you can always explain that you don't want to offend but you have to decline. If you show that you make an effort to adhere to local customs as much as possible, you will not offend, because it is obvious that you treat them with respect, even though you might be different. And if someone is offended, just let them be; they show no respect to your side of the story either, so why bother? you can always explain by saying 我不喝茶或者酒因为我的宗教不许可 (wǒ bù hēchá huōzhě jiǔ yīnwèi wǒde zōngjiào bù xǔkě) Ali, don’t let that stop you from going to China!

Obviously you are foreigner, so you’ll always get a little leeway in the etiquette department (‘laowai’ the most commonly used term for foreigner is actually best translated as ‘crazy old foreigner’ (prob from breaking all the customs) while ‘waiguoren’ is the politically correct term meaning ‘person from another country’).

The thing about cultures is that respect goes two-ways: try to adhere to their customs as much as possible (you are the guest) but they should respect that you are coming from another country as well. Just decline in a light-heartened manner and you’ll be allright. And, you can always explain that you don’t want to offend but you have to decline. If you show that you make an effort to adhere to local customs as much as possible, you will not offend, because it is obvious that you treat them with respect, even though you might be different.

And if someone is offended, just let them be; they show no respect to your side of the story either, so why bother?

you can always explain by saying
我不喝茶或者酒因为我的宗教不许可 (wǒ bù hēchá huōzhě jiǔ yīnwèi wǒde zōngjiào bù xǔkě)

]]> By: Ali http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/chinese-drinking-etiquette-tea-beer-alcohol-bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-417 Ali Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:42:16 +0000 http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/complete-china-guide-part-iii-drinking/#comment-417 My husband and I are moving to china as ESL teachers. We have never been to Asia before but we have read and heard about the "tea ceremonies". We are concerned because we don't drink alcohol or tea (religious reasons) and we are worried about offending them if we refuse to drink with them. Any advise? -Ali My husband and I are moving to china as ESL teachers. We have never been to Asia before but we have read and heard about the “tea ceremonies”. We are concerned because we don’t drink alcohol or tea (religious reasons) and we are worried about offending them if we refuse to drink with them. Any advise?
-Ali

]]> By: Joyce http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/chinese-drinking-etiquette-tea-beer-alcohol-bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-416 Joyce Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:14:48 +0000 http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/complete-china-guide-part-iii-drinking/#comment-416 Nice Nice

]]> By: Ron http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/chinese-drinking-etiquette-tea-beer-alcohol-bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-415 Ron Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:32:52 +0000 http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/complete-china-guide-part-iii-drinking/#comment-415 I know the chinese people are very serious about their customs. I like the valued information, about the quality of the alcohol, and the other health information. I know the tip about the water quality will sure help visitors have a nice travelling experiance. I know the chinese people are very serious about their customs. I like the valued information, about the quality of the alcohol, and the other health information. I know the tip about the water quality
will sure help visitors have a nice travelling experiance.

]]> By: Jon http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/chinese-drinking-etiquette-tea-beer-alcohol-bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Jon Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:41:18 +0000 http://www.jazzviolin.com/china/2007/09/25/complete-china-guide-part-iii-drinking/#comment-414 Also depending on where you go, beer is drank out of little glasses slightly larger than a shot glass instead of straight from the bottle (especially if it's the big bottles). I found I got on very well with my boss after he saw I was able to hold my liquor. And it's not totally uncommon to see a person puking in the bushes early in the afternoon from drinking too much. I've even seen the ladies do it. Also depending on where you go, beer is drank out of little glasses slightly larger than a shot glass instead of straight from the bottle (especially if it’s the big bottles). I found I got on very well with my boss after he saw I was able to hold my liquor. And it’s not totally uncommon to see a person puking in the bushes early in the afternoon from drinking too much. I’ve even seen the ladies do it.

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