When i say "Chinese", you say...?

Question

I'm asking this question to see how easy exactly it is to generalize.

I am a Hong Kong Chinese, and whenever I travel somewhere, people assume I'm a Japanese simply because i don't yell/spit/talk loudly/act uncivilised (funny thing is that i need to make sure they know i'm not Japanese so they won't overcharge me, especially in SE Asian countries :P); or even if i tell them i'm indeed a Chinese, they would ask if i grew up in the states etc.

I'm just wondering if (foreign) people usually see Chinese people as rude, uncivilised barbarians? What would the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Chinese people? (and be honest)

a funny fact is that in Hong Kong, the HK Chinese sometimes look down on mainland Chinese too, thinking their culture as weird and barbarian; but IMO, i don't really appreciate some of the local culture either...what makes them think they're so great anyways...but anyways, I want to know what the others would think about Chinese.

Answer 1

no thanks ive just had me dinner so not hungry enough for a chinese ta

Answer 2

Well... Chinese people are only courteous to close friends and family. Things like fighting over a lunch tab, or bringing a box of dim sum over to the house when visiting friends... are all done after a relationship has been made. The Chinese will often make an extra effort to extend the hand of friendship when they know you. How about "lucky money red envelopes" for the children of friends during New Years or a box of "moon cakes" usually cost like $20 US for only 4 cookies during the Mid Autumn Festival.

But if Chinese people don't know you... they cut in front of you while standing in line. They aren't friendly or nice... Chinese use rude, indifferent behavior to distance them selves from other people as they think others only wish to take advantage of them or their family. Bigotry and prejudice only encourage the chinese to further this behavior (like a quote "Ching Chong Chang"... Rosie O'Donnell) Why would anyone want to know me unless they wanted something... It's a defensive, self protection type of behavior. If they ever allow you to enter their inner-inner circle of friends, you'll have a friend for life. The problem is not very many foreigners ever get a chance to see this inner-circle.

Answer 3

My son had a two year relationship with a lovely lady from Hong Kong.
She was always very ladylike in her behavior and manners.She treated my husband and I like an honered aunt and uncle.
Whatever reasons they split-up, she was still nice to me.
She did always take me out to eat Real Hong Kong food, she liked to see me try it. It was good.