A friend asks me “Why Chinese don't go Dutch?” So I want to (regard) this question as the topic and write an article. As everyone knows, Occidental will go Dutch while having a meal in the restaurant. But Chinese don't go Dutch. Chinese will pay the (bill) and check out generously. Occidental don't often entertain guests; but Chinese often (invite) friend to dinner. A lot of Occidentals feel puzzled to this question.
Why exists such a difference? Because of the East and West culture and (custom) are different on the surface. I will analyze this question concretely.
First of all, food systems between China and Occident are different. Chinese put into (practice) Gather Dining System; Occidentals put into practice Individual Dining System. Everybody can share the delicious food of all over the table when eating Chinese food. Please note it is (sharing); but Occidentals just eat the food in one's own plate, if you eat beef, he eats chicken. It is impossible that you taste the flavor of his chicken. The result of the (Individual) Dining System is that you can only eat the food in your plate. It is unable to share. Ha-ha! What I said is right!
So to eat Chinese food is (happier) than to eat Western-style food. And I want to ask you a question. Do you like the free thing? I think nobody don't like the free thing. Ok! Suppose I invite you to eat the delicious Chinese food, then I pay the bill. This is equivalent to that you have enjoyed a delicious Chinese food free. So you will be very glad. Have (strengthened) the relation between us in the happy atmosphere.
Secondly, Occidentals eat for the health; Chinese eat for the (friendship). Occidental advocate individualism and independence is strong. So Occidental express that respect for each other's independence through the way go Dutch. Chinese like making friends and (solidarity). Chinese value the interpersonal relationships and friendship very much. There are a lot of folk adages in China, for example “Depend on parents at home, leave home and (depend on) the friend!”,“Handle affairs is easy if you have many friends!”, another sentence is the more violent: “Insert the knife into both sides of the (rib) for friend!!!”.
Questions)
1. Do you agree with the writer's opinion?
2. How do you think of the dinning culture in China?
