Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Identify basic differences
• Method 2 of 3: Understanding social signals
• Method 3 of 3: Recognize the differences in language

For Western eyes and ears, it can be difficult to tell Japanese and Chinese people and cultures apart. However, for an Asian, the two are just as different as American and Russian culture. Once you recognize the basic differences, it becomes easier to distinguish between the two. Having a little understanding of the languages ​​and social characteristics of each culture can help you better understand the profound differences between these two Asian cultures.

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Method 1 of 3: Identify basic differences

1. Notice the differences in value placed on politeness and social harmony. While both cultures are relatively polite compared to most Western cultures, the Japanese place much more emphasis on manners and social hierarchy than the Chinese. In Japanese society, you would never interact informally or familially with someone significantly older than you or someone of a higher social rank.
   • While both the Chinese and Japanese are more formal with older people, the Japanese are even more formal with people who are only a year or two older. For example, if you were in your freshman year at a Japanese university, you would be polite and formal with fellow students who are in their sophomore year.
   • The Japanese observe high levels of self-discipline and decorum in public. You will rarely see the Japanese arguing or expressing their anger in public towards each other, while the Chinese don't necessarily have a problem with that.
2. Learn to recognize the worldwide spread of Japanese popular culture. While the Chinese are not particularly motivated to take advantage of their popular culture, Japanese popular culture is a global commodity. Manga comic books, anime and Harajuku street fashion are all quite well known in Western cultures.
   • The difference in popular culture stems in large part from the difference between the governments of the two countries. China has a communist government and economy, which makes it a much less consumer-oriented society. Japan, on the other hand, has a thriving capitalist system that meets the desire of its citizens to take in information and be entertained.
   • Chinese films and music are often filled with government propaganda and a strong political agenda, meaning they are not very popular outside of the country.
3. Consider the role of religion in everyday life. Since China is a communist country, most of the Chinese adhere to atheism. Religious people in China are often persecuted, so that religious ceremonies and gatherings usually take place in private. Japanese people tend to be much more religious, with both Buddhist and Shinto belief systems.
   • Japanese temples and sacred gardens are located across the country, and elaborate formal ceremonies are public places.
   • Many Japanese also attend Christian churches, a practice much less common in China.
4. Understand the great differences in geography and demographics. China is slightly smaller than the United States, while Japan is slightly smaller than the state of California. The difference in land area means that Japan is much more urbanized than China. Chinese people mainly work in agriculture and industrial production, while most Japanese people work in services.
   • Due to the size of China, it is difficult to speak of a general Chinese culture. Different regions in China have their own customs, traditions and beliefs. China is more diverse, while Japan is more homogenized.
   • As an island, Japan has remained relatively isolated from outside influences throughout its history. This makes Japanese culture unique compared to many others. Chinese merchants, on the other hand, have long been exposed to many different cultures and nationalities and assimilated different styles, beliefs and customs.
5. Distinguish Chinese food from Japanese food. The Japanese often eat a lot of fresh and raw foods, especially seafood, while the Chinese are more likely to bake things. While rice and noodles are prominent in both Chinese and Japanese diets, they are prepared very differently and have different flavor profiles.
   • Rice in China is usually fried and mixed with vegetables, eggs and sauce. Japanese rice is more often sticky rice. While rice can serve as the basis for a Chinese meal, it is more commonly eaten as a side dish in Japan.
   • Japanese fresh vegetables are usually steamed and served separately, while Chinese vegetables are usually fried and mixed with the meat.

   Tip: While both cultures eat with chopsticks, the style is slightly different. Japanese chopsticks have rounded ends and are usually shorter than Chinese chopsticks.

   
   

Method 2 of 3: Understanding social signals

1. Notice a bow to accompany a greeting. Both Chinese and Japanese people tend to bow when they first greet people. However, the Japanese are much stricter about this, with whole protocols based on the age and age difference of the person you are greeting.
   • In China, a bow is usually replaced with a Western handshake, unless you're greeting an elder Chinese can nod their heads to show respect while shaking hands. In Japan, on the other hand, a short nod of the head would be considered rude unless greeting a close friend about the same age or younger.
2. Listen to the volume of people's voices as they speak. The Japanese are usually quiet in public. In public transport, the Japanese will often turn off the ringers on their phones and tend not to have conversations. When people speak in public, it is in hushed tones.
   • The Chinese, on the other hand, do not have a cultural prohibition against speaking or using the telephone loudly in public places. So if you see a group of Asian people laughing and talking loudly, they are more Chinese than Japanese.

   Tip:' Volume may not be the best indicator of nationality when listening to someone in a Western country. Depending on how long they have been living there, they may have adopted the local customs.

   
   
3. Pay attention to gestures and non-verbal communication. Both Chinese and Japanese culture rely heavily on non-verbal communication. Japan in particular places more emphasis on strict social hierarchies. You can distinguish between Japanese and Chinese cultures by looking at how close people are when they talk to each other and how respectful and submissive their body language is.
   • For example: In China, silence is often seen as an agreement to do something. If the person disagrees, he or she is more likely to talk around the negative and emphasize the similarities before telling you what he or she prefers to do.
   • Since the Chinese language is tonal, Chinese people cannot rely on their voice to convey their meaning. This makes gestures and body language much more important than they would be elsewhere.
   • For the Japanese, non-verbal communication is more a sign of respect and courtesy. The depth of your bow and the distance you have from someone when you talk all indicate their relationship to you.

Method 3 of 3: Recognize the differences in language

1. Look at Japanese characters in a piece of text. While both the Chinese and Japanese writing languages ​​use Chinese characters (known as hànzì in Chinese and kanji in Japanese), Japanese also uses a phonetic script that hiragana hot. When you see hiragana figures in a piece of text, you are looking at something Japanese.
   • Hiragana characters are curved and light, and some of them are actually quite cute. They are usually quite easy to distinguish apart from the angular, complex kanji. One character, in particular, to look for is の.it is relatively common and is unlike anything in the Chinese script. when you see this sign, you can be sure you are looking at something Japanese.
   • The Japanese have a more angular script, katakana, which is used for loanwords that are transliterated from another language, such as English.

   Tip: Although Japanese can be written in three different ways, there is only one Japanese language. Chinese, on the other hand, has only one script, but there are many different languages ​​that use the same script (just as there are many languages ​​that use the Latin alphabet).

   
   
2. Watch for changes in pitch when a person speaks. All Chinese languages ​​are tonal languages, meaning that the rise or fall in the tone of a person's voice changes word by word. Spoken Chinese often has something singular for Western ears.
   • In contrast, Japanese is a relatively monotonous language. Japanese speakers can modulate the tone of their voice to express emotion or intention, as you would in English if you raised your tone at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.
3. Pay attention to vowels. The Japanese language has only five vowels (less than English) and about 100 different syllables that can be arranged in a limited way. If you hear few vowel sounds or variations between words, you are probably listening to a Japanese person.
   • Chinese, on the other hand, has multiple vowels, depending on the position of a vowel in a word and the tone in which it is said. If you hear a lot of variation in vowel sounds, you are probably listening to someone who speaks Chinese.
4. Note the end of a word. Chinese words can end in any letter, and many Chinese words end in consonants. A Japanese word, on the other hand, can only end with a vowel or the letter "n".
   • If you listen to someone speak in a relatively monotonous voice and all words end in a vowel, you can be pretty sure they speak Japanese.
5. Determine a person's nationality based on their name. There are many more Japanese surnames than there are Chinese surnames. A Japanese surname can be two or three syllables long and almost always ends in a vowel. A Chinese surname, on the other hand, is usually only one syllable long and ends in a consonant.
   • Remember, if someone was born in a Western country, he or she can have a common first name in that country, instead of a traditional Japanese or Chinese name. You can still be able to determine his or her nationality by looking at the person's last name.