
What are common topics for professional small talk in China
Common topics for professional small talk in China typically include safe and neutral subjects such as family, weather, work-related experiences, and local culture or cuisine. People also talk about lifestyle and hobbies, which help build rapport without offending social or professional sensibilities. It is customary to avoid overly personal questions or controversial topics such as politics or income. Compliments about the host country, company, or city are appreciated and often serve as good conversation starters. Discussing business matters usually comes after establishing some personal connection based on these topics. Respectfulness and politeness remain key in all conversations.
In short, suitable small talk themes in professional contexts in China include family, weather, work, local culture, hobbies, and light compliments, while avoiding sensitive issues. 9, 10
References
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Educating the Reflective Online Teachers of Chinese as a Foreign Language
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Reflections on Mental Health Education of Left - behind Children in Rural Primary Schools
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NaturalConv: A Chinese Dialogue Dataset Towards Multi-turn Topic-driven Conversation
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Cultural Expectations and Perceptions of Politeness: The “Rude Chinese”?