（二） 中西方生活習慣和禮節的差異，同樣反映在語言上

這方面的例子可以說俯拾皆是。例如：“Where are you going?” 這句話在我們中國是常說的一句話，在路上碰到熟人，閑著沒事隨便一問。可是美國人聽了，他們會感到迷惑不解，因為“going to some place” is quite a private business of their own.在他們的國家里，只有警察才有權利這樣問。還有“Have you had your meal?”，在中國已成為最常用的問候語了。但在美國的大街上，你這樣說意味著，你要請朋友吃飯去。

入鄉隨俗，這話不假。英國人喜歡談論天氣，假若你到了倫敦，見面就談天氣沒錯。而且你千萬不要與對方的觀點相抵觸，即使大雨傾盆，雷雨交加，英國人說“天氣真好”(Nice day, isn't it?)，你不能說不好：Yes, it is a lovely day!這里有文為證：

Every Country Has Its Own Customs

“Where are you going?” This question is often asked by Chinese when two friends meet in the street. But if you ask Americans the same question, they will be puzzled because they think that “going to some place” is quite a private business of their own. It has nothing to do with other people. In their eyes, only a policeman will ask such a question in the street.

The same thing will happen to Americans if you ask, “Have you had your meal?” In fact, to us Chinese, such questions do not mean anything but a greeting.

In America when two friends meet in the street, they will say, “Hello!” or “How are you?” instead of asking him the questions mentioned above. If two friends meet at meal time and one asks the other, “Have you had your meal?” that means he wants to invite his friends to have a meal with him. It's quite different from what it means in Chinese.

In England people like to talk about weather when they meet. As the weather changes very often in England, it becomes the most important topic among people. If you go to England, you must be good at discussing the weather, or you will find yourself stilted. There is a very important rule in discussing the weather: You must never contradict anybody when talking about weather. Should it rain and snow, should hurricanes uproot the trees from sides of the road, and should someone remark to you, “Nice day, isn't it?”--- answer without hesitation: “Isn't it lovely?”

So, you see, different countries have different customs.

還有在餐桌上，我們的主人總是力勸客人多吃，盤子還沒干凈就又加上了飯菜(always putting more food onto your plate as soon as you have emptied it)。這在中國似乎是很禮貌的事情，但美國人感覺會很不舒服，他如果沒有吃飽就直接向主人要了。然而，中國的客人則相反：A Chinese guest very often refuses the offer of food or drink though he's in fact still hungry or thirsty. 這里有文為證：

Good Manners in China Are Good in America?

The customs in different countries are rather different. If you have dinner with a Chinese host, he always puts more food onto your plate as soon as you have emptied it. That often discomforts you greatly. You have to eat the food even if you do not want any more. You have also noticed that when a Chinese sits at an American's dinner party, he very often refuses the offer of food or drink though he's in fact still hungry or thirsty. This might be a good manner in China, but it is not in the West at all.

In the United States, it is impolite to keep asking someone again and again or in­sist on his accepting something. Americans have a direct way of speaking. If they want something, they will ask for it. If not, they will say, "No, thanks". When an American is served with beer by the host, for example, he might say, "No, thanks. I'll take some orange juice if you have it." That is what an American will do. So when you go to the United States, you'd better remember the famous saying: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

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