礼节美语 Business Etiquette 170 Saving Face (2)

　　Jerry要去中国出差，找同事Amy请教。
Jerry: My book on Chinese culture says that the idea of shame is a big part of how society works.
A: That's true. Chinese culture places more value on the group and less on the individual.
J: Pretty much the opposite of the U.S. huh?
A: Yeah. In China your actions at work reflect on your employer and your daily conduct reflects on your family.
J: So if you shame yourself you're also shaming your employer?
A: In some cases, yes.
集体的概念在中国文化里很重要。Amy说，Chinese culture places more value on the group and less on the individual. 相对个人而言，中国文化更重视集体，the opposite of the U.S.，跟美国正相反。你工作时的表现会影响到你公司的形象，你的日常举止行为能反映出你的家庭教养，to reflect on someone，是影响到某人形象的意思。
A: Chinese culture doesn't encourage showboating or aggressive self-promotion¹.
J: Ha! In America, we promote ourselves all the time! It's the only way to get noticed.
A: But in Chinese society, you might have a better chance at getting a promotion at work by being a real team player. The best advice I can give to a foreigner who wants to do business in China is this: be sincere, try not to offend and tone² down the volume.
中国文化不鼓励showboat，自我吹嘘，也不鼓励self-promotion，自我宣传。在美国，只有自我宣传才能得到上司的注意，然而在中国，最好的途径是be a real team player，做团队的一员。Amy说，她给外国人最好的建议是：be sincere，真诚；try not to offend，不要冒犯别人；以及tone down the volume，调低音量。
J: What do you mean when you say, "turn down the volume?"
S: Well, for one thing: don't talk so loud! Americans are loud and although China is a very noisy country, people don't like it when you draw attention to yourself.
J: Would that include how I dress as well?
A: Certainly. Try to blend in as much as possible. The locals will appreciate the effort.
J: Wow, Amy....I'm so glad I talked with you! You've been a great source of information.
A: Sure. Let me know if you need more specifics.
Amy建议Jerry讲话不要太大声，因为 People don't like it when you draw attention to yourself，大家不喜欢那些故意吸引别人注意的人。
另外，穿着打扮也不要太醒目，Try to blend in as much as possible，意思是融入周围的环境，也就是说，Jerry应该尽量设法跟周围的人打成一片。

1 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

2 tone   

n.语气，音调，气度，色调；vt.（up）增强

参考例句：

• There was a tone of mockery in his voice.他说话的语气含有嘲笑的意味。
• Holmes used an informal,chatty tone in his essays.霍姆斯在文章中语气轻松随便。