Episode Details

How do Chinese people show their politeness?

We have a diversity of ways to do that. The most common way is that during a meal traditional Chinese people keep giving you food and encouraging you to eat more. Being in China for the first time, many foreigners have no idea that these people are just being polite, so, in order not to offend the host, most foreigners just eat however much is given to them and end up stuffed. Such a manner gained its popularity in the years when China suffered from famines. The guests knew that there was not enough food so they tried not to eat too much, while the hosts did not want their guests to starve. After all, it all stemmed from good intention.