【正文】 or…” and so on. But the ways to respond to apologies are different. When a person expresses apology: “Oh, I am sorry, I fet it.”, Englishspeaking people likely to respond “That’s all right!” And a Chinese people will say “it doesn’t matter” instead. “It doesn’t matter” is a mon pattern in china to respond to apologies, but to Englishspeaking people, he maybe will think the Chinese people is a sharp person who simply cannot five a very little wrong thing. . Thanks and Responses Thank you is widely used in English to show gratitude in such cases as being invited, helped, given a gift and so on. Cultural differences exist between Chinese and western in how to 5 express thanks and responses. In fact, Thank you is expressed in English for more than acknowledging favor or gratitude, and it is often a means to show politeness. On many occasions, the English use Thank you while the Chinese may do not say a word at all but just smile or nod. As a matter of fact, Thank you is used more widely by westerners than Chinese for minor favors like borrowing pencil , asking directions, requesting someone to pass on a message, receiving a telephone and so on. Thank you not only shows politeness but also carries a person39。s been nice to see you again. I do enjoy our talk and the lovely dinner, but I must be going soon. Thank you very much for asking me over. I hope we39。s all right. While Chinese people may say: “this is I should do”， which may convey to westerners the message that the Chinese did not really want to do it, or that he /she did it only because it wall his/her duty. This message is quite different from what the Chinese speaker intended to express. . Privacy 6 American places a high vale on privacy, such as their salary, age, marriage or family background. While in China, we do not regard age or salary as privacy. So when we talk to the Englishspeaking people, we must avoid asking some questions like this unless the Americans indicate clearly that they do not mind: How old are you?、 Are you married？ 、 How many children do you have？ 、 How much do you make？ 、 What39。s see how the westerners act when they meet with some of these number. Because it is impossible to appear homophonic between the number and the meaning in English, their reflection would not be probably similar with that of Chinese. However, there still exists some cultural customs in number. They avoid “13” in particular, the number viewed as taboo and has the saying of “black Friday” etc. In 1972, American Present Nicson once visited China, but when Premier Zhouenlai went to call on the delegation in Shanghai. He found that they were arranged 9 to settle down on floor thirteen, he was so surprised and serious to say “ Why were they arranged to this floor?” They take “ thirteen as taboo most!” When Premier Zhouenlai went into their room, they all stood up, but smiled uneasily, Premier Zhou explained in a suit chance “we39。s more, such discussions can reveal the relation between value systems and people39。可以說，語言反映一個民族的特征，它不僅包含著該民族的歷史和文化背景，而且蘊藏著該民族對人生的看法、生活方式和思維方式。最后，再從深層次的分析一下產生這種語言和文化不同的原因。理解語言必須了解文化，理解文化必須了解語言。 behavior and exchange their feelings about cultural differences with native speakers. While they attend classes given by foreign teachers, observation and exchange of feelings are of the same importance. Foreign language learners should not hesitate to ask foreigners questions concerning cultural differences, and foreigners may like to answer them since they equally eager to know such differences, which have much to do with their life in China. 12 4. Conclusion In a word, both the Chinese cultures and the western cultures have many things of their own, with special, connotations culture greatly impress on each aspect of the people39。t be treated lightly by every person inside or outside the certain culture. 3. How to Learn Cultural Differences . Establishing a right attitude Establish a right attitude toward cultural different Attitude is a manner of feeling and behaving. It can form a part of one39。t understand why Chinese think it to be “a happy thing” when someone passed away. In fact, in western culture, the connotation of “Red and White” is contrary with that of Chinese custom, westerners often associate Red with blood and death sometimes with radical action or rebellion, which carries a certain political color. Also, red can bring their minds to debts or deficits. There are some example: “He is in the red” means “He is in debt” “A red mother” refers to “the mother with deficits” “A red battle” means “a bloody battle” and “red ringence” means “bloody ringence” “A red revolution” refers to “ the proletarian revolution”. There is another fact to show this difference In 1905, a place in “Sichuan” call “the globe” was a famous brand and was tasty. But it had not a good market in western countries. The reason