Chinese mentality and cultural codes

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Chinese mentality and cultural codes

Городской двор в Китае, где соседи разных поколений проводят время вместе
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

Collectivism in China: How It Shows Up at Work, in the Family, and in Society

Collectivism in China is not an innate character trait but a shifting system of coordinates: it works differently in the family, at work, and in the urban community, and varies noticeably across generations and regions.

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Традиционный китайский двор с чайным столом и красным конвертом, символизирующий доверие и взаимные обязательства
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

The Chinese Understanding of Trust: Why It Is Built Differently Than in the West

Trust in China is often built through relationships, reputation, and mutual obligations, not only through formal rules. We examine the concepts of xin, guanxi, and renqing, the role of institutions, and practical implications for negotiations.

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Чайный стол с двумя чашками и подарком в традиционном китайском дворике, символизирующий гуаньси
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

What is guanxi (关系) and why it is more than useful connections

Guanxi is not "Chinese corruption" and not just a list of useful contacts, but a system of personal mutual obligations embedded in China's business and everyday life. We break down how it works, how it differs from Western networking, where the line with corruption lies, and how to work with it without stereotypes.

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Деловая встреча в современном китайском офисе: участники за столом соблюдают иерархию и обмениваются визитками двумя руками
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

What is 面子 (mianzi): how the concept of "face" works in contemporary China

面子 is not politeness and not "Oriental cunning," but a publicly measured social credit of trust. We break down how 面子 differs from 脸, how it relates to 关系, where the rules apply strictly and where they barely work, and what megacities and the digital environment are changing.

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Деловая встреча: китайский менеджер вежливо кивает во время переговоров
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

Why Chinese people may agree out loud even when they disagree internally

A public "yes" in Chinese communication often means agreement with the situation and preservation of the relationship, rather than acceptance of a commitment. We examine how face, hierarchy, and high-context communication shape this strategy, and how to distinguish politeness from a real agreement.

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Деловая встреча: собеседники за столом, один говорит, другой слушает с нейтральным выражением лица
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

Why Chinese people rarely say a direct "no": the logic of indirect refusal

Why in Chinese communication a direct "no" is often replaced by formulas like "it's complicated" or "we'll see," and how a Russian-speaking interlocutor should read such a refusal without mistaking politeness for agreement.

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Деловая встреча в Китае: сдержанные улыбки и вежливость как способ избежать открытого конфликта
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

Why Chinese people try to avoid open conflict

We examine why in Chinese culture open conflict is often perceived as undesirable and costly: the role of "face," the values of harmony, long-term relationships, and informal intermediaries. With caveats about diversity and exceptions.

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Две чашки чая на столе в переговорной с видом на китайский город — метафора неторопливого выстраивания деловых отношений
Chinese mentality and cultural codes

Why Personal Relationships in China Often Come Before Business Ones

Guanxi is not an exotic trick, but a rational way to reduce risks and costs where formal institutions work differently. We examine the reasons, the mechanics, and the limits of this rule.

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