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Why whether you had lunch has relevance to a simple salutation
By Emy John |
March 28, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
I often find it difficult to greet Chinese people where "Have you had meals?" appears to be a conventional greeting. People in other countries will use "Hello" or "How do you do?" instead. It is said that Chinese people were rather impoverished and always felt starving in the past. Therefore, it turned out to be the most important thing to ask others whether they were satiated or not when greeting them.
Foreigners will find it much easier to understand the special greetings by learning the reasons behind them. However, I still don't know how to respond. I haven't had a direct answer after consulting quite a lot of people. I believe that Chinese people abide by very strict dietary habits. They seem to have lunch almost at the same time every day and punctuality is quite important.
It doesn't matter in Western countries. Most people have lunch at midday; some may have lunch at 1pm or later and some could even skip their lunch. Even my dietary habit is special enough. I will only have meals when I feel hungry. The dining schedule depends. Whenever you meet other people in the afternoon in China, they will always ask: "Have you had meals?" As I never have meals in the daytime, I will always offer them a negative answer. The people who ask the question will feel confused and try to find out why I haven't had meals yet. I'll explain that I eat little in the day. They will continue to ask if I feel hungry. I respond to them that I'll have a sandwich or drink chocolate milk later in the afternoon.
Apparently, they can't agree with my answer and say "no way" at once. Then I laugh about it as I know they are going to teach me a lesson on how important a role a reasonable diet plays. I'd like to tell them that I'm almost 40 years old and live quite well, but I never say those words as I believe they are correct. I'm not quite sure about how to answer that age-old and traditional Chinese way of greetings.
The ways Chinese greet each other are much different from what many Westerners are familiar with. We are used to asking one or two more questions such as "How are you?", "How's everything going?" or "What's going on?" after saying "Hello." The questions show concern for the responders in many fields such as their jobs, human relations and hobbies. I asked several Chinese people what they will say next after sending their regards to others. They will tell me that they merely say hello without any further words. I may consider it to be too abrupt. Some suggest that I might say "What are you busy with?" or "Are you still alive?" in humorous tone. I prefer the latter, it's a smart and funny way of greeting in my opinion.
Foreigners will find it much easier to understand the special greetings by learning the reasons behind them. However, I still don't know how to respond. I haven't had a direct answer after consulting quite a lot of people. I believe that Chinese people abide by very strict dietary habits. They seem to have lunch almost at the same time every day and punctuality is quite important.
It doesn't matter in Western countries. Most people have lunch at midday; some may have lunch at 1pm or later and some could even skip their lunch. Even my dietary habit is special enough. I will only have meals when I feel hungry. The dining schedule depends. Whenever you meet other people in the afternoon in China, they will always ask: "Have you had meals?" As I never have meals in the daytime, I will always offer them a negative answer. The people who ask the question will feel confused and try to find out why I haven't had meals yet. I'll explain that I eat little in the day. They will continue to ask if I feel hungry. I respond to them that I'll have a sandwich or drink chocolate milk later in the afternoon.
Apparently, they can't agree with my answer and say "no way" at once. Then I laugh about it as I know they are going to teach me a lesson on how important a role a reasonable diet plays. I'd like to tell them that I'm almost 40 years old and live quite well, but I never say those words as I believe they are correct. I'm not quite sure about how to answer that age-old and traditional Chinese way of greetings.
The ways Chinese greet each other are much different from what many Westerners are familiar with. We are used to asking one or two more questions such as "How are you?", "How's everything going?" or "What's going on?" after saying "Hello." The questions show concern for the responders in many fields such as their jobs, human relations and hobbies. I asked several Chinese people what they will say next after sending their regards to others. They will tell me that they merely say hello without any further words. I may consider it to be too abrupt. Some suggest that I might say "What are you busy with?" or "Are you still alive?" in humorous tone. I prefer the latter, it's a smart and funny way of greeting in my opinion.
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