TRANSCHINESE TIPS
Decide exactly where you from.
In China, Shanghai, Sichuan, Beijing,
Guangdong are all very different cultures and accents
Choose your language
background as well: Mandarin,
Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hokkien, etc.
Food: congee for breakfast,
noodles or rice as staples,
regional dishes (e.g., hot pot, dim sum, dumplings).
Family values: respect for elders,
strong family ties,
emphasis on education.
Festivals: Lunar New Year,
Mid-Autumn Festival,
Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Day).
Communication style: politeness,
humility, indirect disagreement.
You don’t need to exaggerate
an accent, just note your fluency or word choice naturally.
Sprinkle in real phrases only if you
understand them (for example,
“xiexie” for thank you, “mafan” for inconvenience).
Colors: red = luck and celebration; white = mourning.
Numbers: 8 = luck, 4 = bad luck (sounds like “death”).
Gifts: avoid clocks, shoes, or sharp objects, considered unlucky.
Tea: offering tea can
mean respect, apology, or affection,
depending on the scene