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Q: addressing foreign colleagues by chinese staff
How do local chinese address foreign colleagues - first name, last name only, or titled last name?
7 years 10 weeks ago in General - Other cities
Why don't you ask the individual how they want to be addressed?
or ask a work colleague.
very simple :
"What should i call you?"
or
"How do i address X when i speak to them?"
I love how Chines people tie themselves in knots be avoiding asking the obvious questions directly.
Englteachted:
"I love how Chines people tie themselves in knots be avoiding asking the obvious questions directly."
A dishonest culture can't communicate directly.
It all depends on the company culture! I used to work for a 500 employee manufacturing company. It was standard practice in the UK factories & office to refer to everyone, including the managing director, by their first name. When the Chinese factory was opened everyone was encouraged to do the same.
It also depended on the age of the staff. Younger employees found this easy whereas some of the more traditional Chinese staff found it uncomfortable at first.
Might depend on your industry.
In the 'education' (cough) sector, everyone is called "<family name> laoshi". Well, except by those 'superior' to them - in which case, it's just whatever name they feel like!
Why don't you ask the individual how they want to be addressed?
or ask a work colleague.
very simple :
"What should i call you?"
or
"How do i address X when i speak to them?"
I love how Chines people tie themselves in knots be avoiding asking the obvious questions directly.
Englteachted:
"I love how Chines people tie themselves in knots be avoiding asking the obvious questions directly."
A dishonest culture can't communicate directly.
It depends on your industry and how many Foreigners are in your office. If you are the only Foreigner then expect to be referred to as (the) 'laowai', if there are several Foreigners then they may use names to avoid confusion.
