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The Chinese Have a Word for It : The Complete Guide to Chinese Thought and Culture
This is an ideal introduction to the Chinese language and culture for business people, students, and travelers. It sheds light on the character and personality of the Chinese by examining the meaning, historical significance, and use of more than 300 Chinese expressions. This practical guide will help readers anticipate Chinese behavior and avoid cultural faux pas.
528 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
8 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Boyé Lafayette De Mente
199 books26 followersBoyé Lafayette De Mente was an author, journalist, and adventurer. He wrote more than 100 books, most of them about the culture and language of Japan, East Asia, and Mexico.
De Mente joined the U.S. Navy and began his career as a cryptographer based in Washington, D.C. In 1948, he joined the U.S. Army Security Agency and was a decoding technician stationed in Tokyo. While there, he he founded and edited the agency's newspaper, The ASA Star.
De Mente wrote the first English guides to the Japanese way of doing business ("Japanese Etiquette and Ethics in Business" in 1959 and "How to Do Business in Japan" in 1962). His other books run the gamut from language learning to the night-time "pink" trades in Japan, the sensual nature of Oriental cultures, male-female relations, and understanding and coping with the Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Mexican mindset in business and social situations. He has also written extensively about Mexico and his home state of Arizona.
De Mente joined the U.S. Navy and began his career as a cryptographer based in Washington, D.C. In 1948, he joined the U.S. Army Security Agency and was a decoding technician stationed in Tokyo. While there, he he founded and edited the agency's newspaper, The ASA Star.
De Mente wrote the first English guides to the Japanese way of doing business ("Japanese Etiquette and Ethics in Business" in 1959 and "How to Do Business in Japan" in 1962). His other books run the gamut from language learning to the night-time "pink" trades in Japan, the sensual nature of Oriental cultures, male-female relations, and understanding and coping with the Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Mexican mindset in business and social situations. He has also written extensively about Mexico and his home state of Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 28, 2011
From the beginning, the subtitle made me suspicious (how could they claim completeness?), but I thought I'd give it a chance. Some of the words and phrases are good "cultural keys", but the explanations are anecdotal, often drawn from Classical Chinese (which has as close a relationship to modern Chinese as Old English does to modern English), and contain too many personal opinions of the author. I gave up in frustration.
March 28, 2020
Found this to be rather shallow... seemed more like a way to try and understand China from a businessman's perspective rather than a linguistic study. Disappointed so I stopped reading
June 20, 2017
Good idea for a book but execution could have been better. Some of the authors mini-essays contain attitudes that seem quite dated and not sure we needed to include so many I-Ching hexagrams, some of the more modern or historical themed Chinese words were of greater interest to me. Also didn't seem to have had a proofreader that knew Chinese: sometimes the pinyin for the word was wrong and a couple of times the Chinese characters for the word were the wrong ones.
August 13, 2018
This book was recommended; I read it for professional reasons. It's long and dense (506 pages). I was looking for deeper information regarding Chinese culture, as I have been working with international students from China for the past 8 years.
It definitely offers that deeper information. The book is organized by Chinese words or sayings, each intended to give the Western reader insight into Chinese thought, philosophy and culture. It fits the bill. However with this type of organization, there is quite a bit of repetition. The sections are fairly short, but at in alphabetical order, based on the Westernized spelling of the words. I wonder if more of a chapter approach would have made more sense.
There are 305 entries. They are pretty readable, and the author provides a guide to cultural themes. It is actually intended to be more of a reference book than a reader, I think. I ended up reading 5-6 "chapters" per day over the course of nearly two months.
The one problem is that the book is a little dated. The original copyright was 1996. The students I work with were born in the early 2000s. One thing I've learned is that China has gone through a huge cultural shift (or actually, several cultural shifts) in the last few decades, so some of the information does not apply. A lot does, though. It would be great if someone would update the book....
The author writes for Westerners, particularly business people, and seems to understand both cultures well. I am grateful to have read it (and glad I got through it).
It definitely offers that deeper information. The book is organized by Chinese words or sayings, each intended to give the Western reader insight into Chinese thought, philosophy and culture. It fits the bill. However with this type of organization, there is quite a bit of repetition. The sections are fairly short, but at in alphabetical order, based on the Westernized spelling of the words. I wonder if more of a chapter approach would have made more sense.
There are 305 entries. They are pretty readable, and the author provides a guide to cultural themes. It is actually intended to be more of a reference book than a reader, I think. I ended up reading 5-6 "chapters" per day over the course of nearly two months.
The one problem is that the book is a little dated. The original copyright was 1996. The students I work with were born in the early 2000s. One thing I've learned is that China has gone through a huge cultural shift (or actually, several cultural shifts) in the last few decades, so some of the information does not apply. A lot does, though. It would be great if someone would update the book....
The author writes for Westerners, particularly business people, and seems to understand both cultures well. I am grateful to have read it (and glad I got through it).
February 28, 2022
Ghastly. Having looked up the author (who passed away a few years ago), I understand that he was said to be knowledgeable about Japan, but please do not read this book if you're looking for insights into China or its language. For a book published first in 1996, it is not only anachronistic but also laden with errors. The essays are personal diatribes filled with bad advice; there are far too many erroneous characters (examples: bāng 帮 is transcribed as bao); miànzi 面子 as lian); translations are wrong (deng yi deng doesn't mean the judgmental "wait and wait" (p. 64) but rather is just another way of saying 'wait a bit').... Moral judgments are made right and left that I can only begin to guess when or from what sort of people the author formed his opinions, and some so horrific I won't do them the honour of giving them as examples. I am not a blue-eyed admirer of all things Chinese, but let's not be racist or sexist (examples of which abound in this volume). PLEASE do not read this book if you are looking for insights into China. I am not even giving this book away, nor throwing it out, in fear someone will find it and read it; I am going to tear it up page by page. If I had a fireplace, I would burn it.
January 12, 2025
I abandoned reading this for many of the reasons other reviewers have stated here. The Euro-centric bias underlies (and undermines) almost every other paragraph. The subtitle should be The Complete Guide to Western Thought about Chinese Thought and Culture.
November 16, 2007
Excellent introduction to Chinese culture for business or personal interests. De Mente contextualizes the key words/expressions he has found most relevant to a foreign visitor to China. He also explains the differences between Western and Eastern thinking that are involved in frequent misunderstandings between both cultures, particularly in business ventures.
I've found it very useful and will buy a copy since I already know I'll refer to it from time to time.
DeMente's clarity and perceptive understanding of both Western and Eastern cultures make this a valuable tool even if you're only going to China as a tourist.
I've found it very useful and will buy a copy since I already know I'll refer to it from time to time.
DeMente's clarity and perceptive understanding of both Western and Eastern cultures make this a valuable tool even if you're only going to China as a tourist.
September 6, 2012
Fascinating!
It's a book that can be read in one go or used as a reference. It has practical cultural tips about Chinese culture and language as well as some nuggets of universal wisdom. Some of it is also hilarious! Definitley read before or during a planned visit to China.
It's a book that can be read in one go or used as a reference. It has practical cultural tips about Chinese culture and language as well as some nuggets of universal wisdom. Some of it is also hilarious! Definitley read before or during a planned visit to China.
September 10, 2008
this is my cultural life raft. excellent resource.
September 25, 2013
Very useful and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews