十分鐘讀懂中國

What is China?

中國到底什么樣?

The People's Republic of China, commonly known as China, is located in east Asia and borders 14 nations or any other country in the world. It is the most populous state in the world with a 1.3 billion citizens, while the world's population is 6.8 billion. That means other every 5 people in the world, one is Chinese. China is made of 56 distinctive ethnic groups with Han Chinese making the 92% of its whole population. China is a single party state governed by the Communist Party of China, whose power is enshrined in Chinese constitution. Though China is officially an atheist country, its religious roots lie within Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and from these most social and moral values are derived. There are also a significant number of Chinese Muslims, who arrived via the silk road trade route and still retain their distinct culture.

中華人民共和國，簡稱中國，位于東亞與14個國家或地區(qū)接壤。是世界人口最多的國家有13億人口而世界人口是68億，也就是說，世界人每5個人中就有一個是中國人。中國有56個民族漢族占總人口的92%。由中國共產黨一黨執(zhí)政執(zhí)政地位被寫入了憲法中。中國奉行無神論，其宗教文化扎根于儒教、佛教和道教，社會道德也多根源于此。中國也有大量的穆斯林，沿絲綢之路到達中國，保持著自己的傳統(tǒng)。

History歷史

China is one of the world oldest civilizations, dating back more than 5 million year and was ruled by successive dynasties until 1912. During these time, many great discoveries in fields of science and technology were made, including the inventions of printing, paper, gun powder and compass. This period also saw the construction of many landmarks, such as the Great Wall which stretches over 4,000 miles, equals to 30 return travels from London to Paris. the Communist Party of China led by Mao gained control of mainland China in 1949 and established People's Republic of China. The modern China of today is as much shaped by its past as its rapidly looking to the future, while many of its big cities are comparable to any in the west, the underlying culture is still vastly different. Traveling outside large urban areas also highlights the growing disparity between rich and poor.

中國是文明古國之一，有五千年文明，世襲的封建王朝終結于1912年。中國古代有許多重要的科技發(fā)明，包括印刷術、造紙術、火藥和指南針，也有很多著名的建筑比如綿延四千英里的長城?？箲?zhàn)和內戰(zhàn)結束后毛澤東領導共產黨于1949年奪取了中國大陸的政權，建立了中華人民共和國。中國歷史和未來塑造了當今的中國許多城市很像西方的大城市，但二者存在著巨大的文化差異走出城市就能看到不斷增大的城鄉(xiāng)貧富差距。

Language語言

Chinese which is the most widely spoken language in the world as well as one of the most impenetrable for foreigners. There are many regional dialects of Chinese although the most widely spoken is Mandarin and Cantonese. Chinese characters evolved over time from earlier forms of hieroglyphs. Chinese contains over 49,000 characters, but a well-educated person can recognize around 6,000 characters, some 3,000 are required to read a newspaper.

漢語是世界上使用最廣泛同時讓外國人最難搞懂的語言之一。漢語的方言很多，使用最多的是普通話和粵語，漢字發(fā)源于象形文字，有超過四萬個漢字，受過良好教育的人能認識大約六千個字，閱讀報紙需要認識三千字左右。

Chinese Calendar農歷

Chinese Zodiac's a scheme that relates each year to an animal, this is the year of rabbit. Chinese new year is the most important of traditional Chinese holidays, windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of happiness, wealth and longevity. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will meet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year and receive money in red paper envelopes. Chinese people love red color, which symbolizes prosperity and good luck. The period around Chinese new year is also the time of the largest human migration, and between 150 and 200 million migrant workers in China, bring home their earnings and go to have a unit dinner with their families on Chinese new year eve.

中國用十二生肖來代表年份，今年是免年。農歷新年是最重要的傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日，門窗會貼上紅色的剪紙和對聯(lián)，象征幸福、富裕和長壽。除夕夜，家人會一起吃年夜飯，過年時會放鞭炮。大年初一，小孩子會給長輩拜年，長輩則會發(fā)紅包。中國人喜歡紅色，紅色象征著繁榮和吉利。最大規(guī)模的人類遷徙也發(fā)生于春節(jié)期間，1.5億到兩億農民工，會帶回一年的收入，和家人一起吃團圓飯。

Youth青年

Most married couples in China are subjected to one child policy, which is introduced in 1979 to curb massive population growth. It is believed to have prevented more than 300 million births since then. Another consequence of the policy has been the emergence of so called "little emperors", a generation of self-centered consumes has developed, while Chinese education system has rapidly developed there remains a heavy emphasis on passing exams. The upshot of this is that exams dictate the curriculum, while Chinese students can master and memorize incredible amounts of knowledge and information. They often lack the ability to critically think, develop their own opinions, and engage in creative activities. Due to the propensity for preferring sons over daughters, China is facing a large population imbalance with currently around 120 boys born for every 100 girls. By 2020, there will be 30 million more men than women.

大多數(shù)夫妻都需要遵守一胎化政策，這是1979年制定的控制人口增長的政策據信，該政策避免了3億人口的出生。政策的另一個結果是造就了一代“小皇帝”，以自我為中心的一代人。中國的教育在快速發(fā)展，但仍然以應試為主，課程學習都以考試為中心，中國的學生能記住大量的知識和信息，但卻缺乏批判性思維、獨立思考和創(chuàng)新的能力。由于更加偏愛男孩，中國失衡的男女性別比達到了120比100，到2020年，男性將比女性多三千萬。

Economy經濟

Since economic opening up and reform policy began in 1978, China's economy has grown 90 times bigger and is the fastest growing major economy in the world. China's annual average GDP growth is predicted to be 9.5 percent for the period of 2011 to 2015. It is the world's largest exporter, and the second largest importer of goods. It is also known as the world's second biggest consumer of luxury goods. It now has the world's second largest GDP at about 6 trillion US dollars, 40 percent of the United States. Although its per capita income of 4300 US dollar is still low, and puts China behind roughly a hundred countries. China's growth has been uneven when comparing different geographic regions and rural and urban areas. Development has also been mainly concentrated in the eastern coastal regions, while the remainder of this country are left behind. In the past decade, China's cities expanded at an average rate of 10 percent annually, a scale unprecedented in human history.

自1978年改革開放以來，中國經濟增長了90倍，是增長最快的主要經濟體。預測2011年到2015年，平均GDP增長會保持9.5%。中國是世界最大的出口國，第二大進口國，也是世界第二大奢侈品消費國。目前的GDP位于世界第二，大約6萬億美元，相當于美國的四成，但人均只有4300美元，排名一百位開外

不同地區(qū)、城鄉(xiāng)之間發(fā)展也不均衡，發(fā)達地區(qū)集中在東南沿海，其余地方則普遍落后。過去十年，城市以年均10%的速度擴張，這是人類歷史上前所未有的規(guī)模。

China is a country crazy for skyscrapers to show its economic booming. More than 200 skyscrapers are being built now. Within next three years, there will be one skyscrapers completed every five days in China, which will make the total 800 in five years time, 4 times as many in the States. China is the world's factory. One out of every three household appliances/three toys/two pairs of shoes/two shirts are made in China. It has now become the world's largest energy consumer, but relies on coal to supply about 70 percent of energy needs. Leading Chinese environmental campaigners have warned that water pollution is one of the most serious threats facing China now. Yet with 34.6 billion US dollars invested in clean technology in 2009, China is the world's leading investor in renewable energy technologies. China produces more wind turbines and solar panels each year than any other country in the world.

中國喜歡用摩天大樓來顯示經濟實力，現(xiàn)在有超過200幢在建，未來三年，每五天就會有一幢摩天大樓竣工，五年內總共達到800幢，比美國多四倍。中國是世界工廠，每三件家電、三件玩具，兩雙鞋子、兩件衣服中，就有一件是由中國制造，是世界最大的能源消費國，但七成能源由煤炭提供。環(huán)保人士警告說，水污染是中國最嚴重的環(huán)境問題，但2009年中國就向清潔能源投資了346億美元，成為世界最大的可再生能源投資國，是風力發(fā)電機和太陽能電池板最大的生產國。

Food飲食

Being such a large and ethnically diverse country, each region has its own local specialties which the Chinese are often keen to try and introduce to others.

由于幅員遼闊和民族眾多，每個地方都有自己的特色，中國人也樂于向外人推薦

Generally you will find hot and spicy food in the western and central China and cooler food in the south and north.

總的來說西南和中部的味道偏辣而南方和北方清淡

A Chinese dining table is usually round allowing everyone to engage equally in conversation.

餐桌一般是圓形的，大家能平等交談

It will be set with empty bowls, plates, and chopsticks for each person.

會擺放空碗、盤子和筷子

Food dishes are placed in the center of the table to be shared between everyone.

菜肴放在中間，一起分享

Don't be put off if you see people spitting bones/seeds onto the plate, this is perfectly normal.

看到有人把骨頭吐在桌子上也別驚訝，這簡直太正常了

Contrary to what you might find in your local China Town,

跟你在唐人街看到的不同

Chinese food is generally healthy and often beautifully presented. Texture, flavor, color, and aroma are key considerations for all Chinese cooks, even above nutritional contents.

中國的食物基本都很健康并且擺放美觀，廚師注重菜肴的質、色、香、味，甚至比營養(yǎng)更重要

Chinese dining is about showing respect and hospitality for the guests and is often used as an extension of the boardroom.

請客吃飯是顯示對客人的尊重和熱情，家里的客廳就連著飯廳

Heaving drinking is often a part of doing business and it is expected that you'll keep up with others.

喝酒是做生意的一部分，你需要喝的跟別人一樣多

If you do not want to drink alcohol, make it clear before you start.

如果你不能喝酒，一開始就需要表明

Core Concepts要點

Face (Mianzi)面子

The concept of "face" can be loosely described as someone's social status or reputation in the eyes of others.

面子是某個人在他人眼中的社會地位和名聲

Throughout a Chinese person's life, it must be maintained and enhanced through giving to and receiving from others in both words and actions.

中國人的一生都必須用語言和行動相互維護和提升面子

It may be something as small as who gets in the lift first to the awarding of multi-million dollar contracts.

可以小到誰先上電梯，也可以大到百萬美元的合同授予

But without it you will have very little power or influence.

沒有面子也就沒有影響力

To make someone lose face or even unknowingly is a huge dishonor and could mean the end of a relationship.

即使是無意中讓別人沒面子，也是極其嚴重的冒犯，可能意味著斷絕關系

Connections (Guanxi)關系

Guanxi literally means "connections" or "relationship" as it essentially boils down to exchanging favors.

關系本質上就是個人利益的聯(lián)系

"You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours".

互相幫忙，互相恩惠

It can loosely be compared with the idea of networking in the west,

跟西方社會的人際網絡類似

but usually goes much further in terms of developing and nurturing the relationship through social exchanges and favors which must be repaid at greater value in time.

但是在培養(yǎng)關系的利益交換過程中，你需要在適當時間給對方足夠的好處

Relationships between family, friends and business associates are often closely interwoven.

家人、朋友和商業(yè)伙伴的關系經常緊密交織

In such an environment, issues of corruption are not uncommon when guanxi obligations take precedence over normal rules or laws.

這樣的環(huán)境中腐敗從來都不是新鮮事，因為關系人情往往比規(guī)則甚至法律更重要

The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhong Yong)中庸

Known as the Doctrine of the Mean or Golden Mean, this concept involves balancing one's position among a group to maintain conformity and a sense of harmony. To do this while still achieving one's personal objectives is considered by the Chinese people the ideal way of living. This can be applied to the workplace, where one should behave in a way which is seen to be neither ambitious nor lazy at the same time. Chinese people never openly criticize, ignore or make fun of a person in front of others, even jokingly. When discussing individual performance, they always emphasize good points before bad ones.

中庸之道，是指個人保持跟群體的一致與和諧。中國人最理想的生活狀態(tài)就是既中庸又能實現(xiàn)個人目標，工作中也是如此。員工要做到既不野心勃勃，又不懶惰懈怠。中國人不會公開批評、忽視或者取笑他人，即使是開玩笑，點評個人的成績時，也總是先說優(yōu)點、再講不足

Differences差異

Chinese may ask you personal questions or make observations about your age, income, religion or appearance,

中國人可能會問你的私事，或者探尋你的年齡、收入、信仰和外貌

don't take it personally.

別往心里去

Likewise, Chinese rarely say "please" or "thank you" as this is seen as unnecessary formality between friends or family.

就像中國的朋友和家人之間也不會說“請”或者“謝謝”，覺得沒必要

In a Chinese meeting, often only the most senior attendees will talk and all questions should be directed to those people.

開會時，通常是資格最老的與會者發(fā)言，有問題也問他

Silence is not a sign of weakness in China,

沉默并不意味著軟弱

often the unsaid message is more important than what is being said verbally.

通常潛臺詞比明說的話更重要

To be successful in China requires different ways of thinking.

在中國要取得成功，需要另外的思維方式

A Chinese historian professor puts this way. The Chinese people are frank yet tactful,

有位中國的歷史學教授總結說，中國人是這樣的，耿直卻又圓滑

honest yet sophisticated,

坦誠卻又世故

suspicious yet gullible,

多疑卻又輕信

unscrupulous yet loyal,

講實惠卻又重義氣

advocate etiquette yet often appear unmannered,

尚禮儀卻又少公德

stand for the golden mean yet are extreme,

主中庸卻又走極端

value the quality of being thrifty yet like to parade their wealth,

美節(jié)儉卻又喜排場

maintain traditions when convenient yet love to chase modern fashion,

守古法卻又趕時髦

believe contentment brings happiness yet often daydream about becoming overnight millionaires,

知足常樂卻又夢想暴發(fā)

believe the word of fortune teller yet lack affiliation to any religion.

燒香算命卻又無宗教感

This is China, one big contradiction which refuses to be placed in a box.

這就是中國，矛盾復雜，很難歸納成一個模式

In China, you will find all extremes but that's all part of the challenge and adventure of doing business here.

在這里遇到的所有挑戰(zhàn)和冒險都是做生意的一部分

Be patient and have fun.

耐心等待，玩得開心