A quick check-list about how to fully commit into Chinese culture
Have you ever wondered: “Why do I have to say this sentence in Chinese to make it work?”, or: “How can I connect with Chinese people more properly?”.
Well, if you did at least one time, it means that you are ready to level up your studies!
You see, learning Chinese not only means studying the language itself, but also to understand how locals behave and what they do in their daily life.
In a certain sense, not only you learn the language, but also the habits and culture itself!
Here are some useful points for fully immerse in the learning process!
Becoming Chinese by heart || Preface: what is 华人文化
Becoming Chinese by heart || Watch and learn from them
Becoming Chinese by heart || How do they look
Becoming Chinese by heart || Which media do they consume
Becoming Chinese by heart || Eating and drinking like them
Becoming Chinese by heart || Remember to speak
Becoming Chinese by heart || Quick note: it ain’t easy
Becoming Chinese by heart || FAQs
Becoming Chinese by heart || Preface: what is 华人文化
First of all, we need to specify what do we mean by “Chinese”: there is 中国文化 (zhong guo wen hua) which inticates Chinese as a country, and 华人文化 (hua ren wen hua), which stands for Chinese as an ethnicity, so that includes Overseas Chinese (for example ABCs, Malaysian Chinese, etc.).
Like that, “Chinese” becomes an umbrella term, and that’s what we’re referring to here.
Becoming Chinese by heart || Watch and learn from them
When at home, at work, at school, when we don’t know what to do, people with more experience will always say:
Watch, and Learn!
(Check picture)
Well, it works here too! Let’s assume you arrived in China, you are completely new here, you don’t know how things work, how people go through their day, etc.
The best way to do it is to sit in the back and observe: what do they say? How do they say it? Do I need to be direct here? Should I be more subtle? What’s their body language here? What are they thinking right now?
Once you gathered all these informations, the only thing that’s left is to copy them.
This is the best way to be called Chinese! And it is a quick way to learn about their habits too!
Becoming Chinese by heart || How do they look
It might seems hard, but you might wanna look like them.
Which does not mean you need to completely change yourself: the best part of you is your uniqueness!
By looking like them, we mean dress like them: dive into their fashion, their accessories, their hairstyles and find what you might want to try on.
By all means, you’ll get a deeper immersion in the modern society, and a new set of outfits as well!
Becoming Chinese by heart || Which media do they consume
There is this famous quote:
We are what we eat.
Not sure who said that, but we indeed become what we consume and assimilate, which means it’s time to select the medias that you watch (all setted in Chinese, of course).
Our suggestions:
- Electronic devices setted in Chinese
- Chinese apps, such as RedNote/小红书, BiliBili/哔哩哔哩, TikTok/抖音, or also DCard if you are a college student who wants to explore traditional characters
- Chinese content on Instagram, YouTube, etc. provided also with subtitles or translations
- If you want a real challenge, you can check some Chinese news (you can try 百度 for research, or trying to directly search recent news using Chinese keywords)
- Chinese books, for a more traditional media consumption
Note: if you aim for Mainland Chinese/simplified charachters you may wanna download the apps above, since global medias mostly have content from Taiwan or Hong Kong/Macau and in traditional characters.
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Becoming Chinese by heart || Eating and drinking like them
Remeber the quotes citated before?
Watch, and Learn!
We are what we eat.
Let’s take it more directly, shall we?
Watch were locals go to eat and go for it! It might not look like a refined restaurant (as a matter of fact, people tend to say: “越脏越好吃 yue zang yue hao chi” which means “the dirtier the tastier”, meaning that a restaurant doesn’t necessary have to be spot-on for serving good food), but still, don’t be afraid of trying, at the very worst you just try something new that is not exactly your cuppa tea.
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Becoming Chinese by heart || Remember to speak
Remeber: all the tips above won’t have a great success if you speak in English once arrived!
It may sound obvious, but you need to rely on English as least as possible; especially in really international cities such as Shanghai or Taipei, local people really value learning English, and they will do all the possible efforts to speak in English with you, especially if you are not Asian!
Now, if your mother tongue is English, then it is up to you which language should you pick according to who you have in front of you.
But if your mother tongue it’s not English, then don’t use your time here by speaking another foreign language, you worked so hard to obtain your level and to be here, so do not be afraid of claiming your achievements!
And also remember: with no speaking up there is no room for further improvement, some knowledge you’ll only learn it by living the moment, especially if you are learning new habits and culture.
Becoming Chinese by heart || Quick note: it ain’t easy!
Keep in mind: it is not an easy process.
You will encounter a lot of difficulties, a lot of awkward moments, especially at the beginning; there will be cultural shocks and clashes with locals, and a lot of times you will feel a little lonely and helpless.
But please never give up, that’s all part of the process.
And we can assure you that you will definietely meet people who will notice your value and what you’re worth, and will be shocked of how invested and dedicated you are on appreciating and integrating into their culture.
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Becoming Chinese by heart || FAQs
Can I make friends from my own country or foreign friends?
Of course you can, you have to make as many friends as you wish, no matter where they’re from! But still, when you have the chance to speak Chinese, try to avoid using English.
And also a lot of foreigners speak chinese as well, so it is a practice for both of you.
What if I don’t understand what they say?
You can ask them to say it one more time, or you can say “我听不到 (wo ting bu dao) I didn’t catch it” to let them repeat again.
If you struggle a lot, or the other person is a stranger, then you may give in with English.
A little suggestion, if it happens with someone you are comfortable with, then afterwards you can ask them which words they used that you didn’t quite get.
Remember, you are still learning!
What if locals don’t want to interact with me?
It happens to the best of us, in every country and in every language we have people who don’t really get along with, and it is okay, although frustrating as well.
Maybe it is the envorinment around you, or maybe your personalities don’t match, but a heartly suggestion is to not stick with someone that you don’t quite like only because they are locals.
You will find your people, never give up!
How can I keep up with the speed of medias?
First of all, make sure to select the media that best suit your level.
Usually Asian medias all add subtitles regardless, so you can stop the video or slow it down and write down what you dn’t understand; then translate and go through the video one more time, you can already see the improvement!
For text content is more slow-phased, but if you chose it is because you may like reading long text, so it shouldn’t be a big of an issue.
Can it work for other languages as well?
Of course it can! It may sound related to chinese-only, but it can be with every culture you are interested into, as long as you do it with dedication and respect!
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