A Brief Comparison between Chinese and American characters：Based on Power Distance

【Abstract】In this paper，the author explores the differences between Chinese and American characters based on Geert Hofsteds power distance.The method used is literature survey.This paper aims to provide guidance for people working in international companies.

【Key Words】power distance；American character；Chinese character；cross-culture communication

I.Introduction

Nowadays，all human beings live in a global village.Globalization indicates increasing communication and frequent trade with other counties or with other cultures.Skills in cross-cultural communication with other countries are necessary for successful international trade.Therefore，every man who works in a foreign trade company should have a good command of cross-cultural communication knowledge.Cross-culture organizational value dimension is a concept that is put forward by Geert Hofsted.It mainly explains the value differences of different counties and cultures.The five cross-culture organizational value dimensions are composed of individualism and collectivism，power distance，uncertainty avoidance，masculinity and femininity，and Confucian dynamism.In this paper，the author is going to expound on power distance.

II.Body

Geert Hofsted，the founder of cultural dimensions theory，is a Dutch social psychologist and famous business anthropologist.His theories are widely accepted and quite influential to managers when they are making decisions.

According to Wikipedia，Power distance，a concept primarily used in psychological and sociological field，refers to the extent to which the lower ranking individuals of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.In countries with low power distance，people tend to express their ideas freely and advise to their superiors，and in countries with high power distance，people tend to restrain themselves from free expression of ideas and obey their superiors.As a result，the countries with high power distance are more autocratic while the countries with low power distance are more democratic.According to statistics，the country with the highest power distance is Malaysia，and the country with the lowest power distance is Austria，with the index respectively being 104 and 11.China is a typical high power distance country，with the index being 80，and America is a typical low power distance country，with the index being 40.In the following paragraphs，China and America will be taken as examples to elaborate on the differences of low and high power distance countries.

In China，respect is an indication of ones politeness and even quality.When Chinese are kids，they are taught to be polite and obedient.Chinese are forbid to addressing their elders and superiors by directly calling their names.For example，when there is a general manager whose name is Li Ming in Chinese company，the staff are supposed to call him “Li总”.Here，“总” means general manager which is the title.Calling elders and superiors with the combination of their last name and their titles is a manifestation of respect in China，and calling elders and superiors with their full names is viewed as rude.Chinese companies always work in the way that the superiors make decisions and give orders and the subordinates obey and carry them out.When the disagreement occurs，the subordinates are supposed to obey without any question and condition.And after work，the employees are often asked to work for extra hours without any extra payment.

In America，respect is not manifested by the way that you address people.People can call others by directly calling their first names regardless of his social status.It is not viewed as rude.On the contrary，too much obedience is measured as a loss of personality and flattering.In American companies，the subordinates are involved in the process of decision-making.The subordinates and superiors share a casual relationship.The subordinates are supposed to express their own opinions when there is a disagreement between themselves and their superiors.In a word，they can express themselves at ease.

III.Conclusion

In conclusion，in high power distance countries，the subordinates are usually subject to their superiors while in low power distance countries，the subordinates and superiors are to some extent equal.Being aware of the differences between high and low power distance countries can help people in dealing with different cultures.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[1]Larry A.S.，Richard E.P.& Edwin R.M（2008）Communication Between Cultures.Beijing：Peking University Press.

[2]Zhan Xiao-hai，Zhang Ruo-chen（2015）.An Analysis on Cultural Values of Companies from China and the United States——Based on Hofstedes Cultural Dimension Theory.Overseas English，（23），205-210.

作者簡介

刘颖（1994.06-今），女，汉族，四川成都，硕士研究生，研究方向：商务英语。

（作者单位：西南财经大学经贸外语学院）