中西方时间观念差异-英文

ComparedwithAmericabeingslavestonothingbuttheclock.Chinesecarealittleabouttimegoingby.Theconceptoftime（时间观念）①Inchina，wordsandphrasesabouttimeareverygeneral.Forexample，ifyoudatewithsomeone,mostofChineseusedtoanswer:intheafternoon/atnight/afterawhileandsoon.Butinwestern,peoplehaveaverystrongconceptoftime.Ifyoudatewithaforeigner,theywillaskyoutheSpecifictime,suchas:whattimeshouldwemeet?②InChinesedating,peoplewouldliketocomeinadvanceandtheythinkitsrepresentrespectandpoliteness.Westernerslikecometothedatingplaceontimeorafewminuteslate,whichcangiveeachotherfullytimetoprepareandtheenoughprivatespace.Theythinkthatarrivingontimeshowspeoplehavegoodeducation.Otherwisehewillberegardedasunreliableorisnotresponsiblefortheotherpeople.MostAmericansplaceastrongemphasisonbeingontime.Theytendtoorganizetimebymeansofschedules.TimeishighlyvaluedandtreatedassomethingrealinAmericanculturebecauseitconveysdifferentmeaningstoAmericanpeople.Intheireyes,“Timeandtidewaitfornoman”and“Timelostisneverregained”.Asaresult,theywanteveryminutetobeimportantandmeaningful,andtheyfirmlybelievethatnotimeshouldbewasted.Notsurprisingly,thenewcomerstoAmericafindtheAmericansseemalwaysinahurryanddoeverythingatarunningpace.Sowhatmakesthenewcomersembarrassedistohavenoopportunitytosmile,converseorhaveashortexchangewithstrangersbecausetheAmericansregardsuchpracticesasawasteoftime.KeepingAppointmentsandDatesItisconsideredimpoliteandinconsideratetofailtokeepanappointmentordatewithoutgivingpriornoticetotheotherperson.Ifyoudonotplantomeettheperson,thenyoushoulddeclinetheinvitation.