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nsidered to be high or respectful. For example, Zhao Engineer, Wang Doctor, etc. If their statuses are considered to be low, such as cleaner, plumber, blue-collar worker, people are likely to call them “shifu” to show polite instead of their occupations. Among all the examples, “surname + teacher” is a typical form of address in China. Thousands of years of Chinese traditional culture regard it as a virtue to show great respect to teachers and the elders in families. Chinese children seldom doubt their teachers, and express disagreements to parents, for they are considered as impolite behaviors. Although great changes have taken place nowadays, children are still taught to follow the traditional virtues. However, the westerners are likely to minimize social or class inequality, and reduce hierarchical structures. On formal occasions, they address people of high statuses with Professor Smith, Chairman Brown, etc. But they never address them with “teacher or manager”. And on common occasions, everyone prefers himself to be called with his given name to show intimacy to others. But Chinese may feel unpleasant to be called such term by an unfamiliar person. For example, if an ordinary friend calls a Chinese girl named “Li Xiaoling” as “Xiaoling” or “ling”, the girl may think it as an insult.
Besides, there are many terms addressing relatives in China. Just for an “auntie” in English, there are “guma, yima, bomu” in Chinese. The ways to address strangers are also different. Chinese people prefer using family terms to address strangers or people elder than them. Students are taught to respect the old and cherish the young. For example, children are told to address adults “auntie” or “uncle” and address old people “granny” or “grandpa”, even at the first time they meet. But in the West, it is different to call a stranger. The terms “Mr.”, “Miss”, “Mrs.”, “sir” and “madam” are widely used among people. “Mr.”, “Miss”, “Mrs.” are used together with a 本论文由英语论文网 www.51lunwen.org整理提供surname while “sir” and “madam” are usually used alone.
“What is more，the attitude on the title of old people between China and western countries is also different. In west, the old people do not like the word “old”. They think old is the meaning of “useless”。So “old” is the taboo to them. Thus they often use elderly people or senior people instead of old people, and use get on year instead of become old. Especially women are sensitive to age. On the contrary, in China old is the symbol of wisdom and experience. They call old people “laoyeye”、“laonainai”、“chenlao” and so on. Not only is it respect, but also kind.” (朱秀芝外语学刊：2007.3 128)
B. The differences of greetings
In daily life, greeting is a polite language whenever one meets others and wherever he or she is. However, different cultures have different influences on greetings. Although both English and Chinese may also ask or comment on other things as a means of greeting, the two cultures differ in the ways they do this. For example, a Chinese and an English-speaker are acquaintances and came across on the way home one day. Chinese passed by and asked, “Have you eaten yet?” The English-speaker was offended by this question. This is a typically acceptable and polite greeting used by native Chinese people to show their concern for others, but it is peculiar and offensive to the Westerners. Because to some Westerners, this question might mean that, “I haven’t either. Come on, let’s go together and get somethin