和老外交往容易犯的六个错误：不要假装客气

　　Situation3

　　中国人结伴出游的时候，如果买什么东西，去买的人一般都会按照人头购买，即便有人客气地说不要；和外国人结伴出游，如果你客气地推说不需要某样东西，那么对方真的就不会给你买。

　　Interactions: offering refreshments or drinks

　　Conventions: politeness, individual decision

　　Chinese Conventions: When a Chinese offers refreshments or drinks to his colleague, his colleague often declines the offer politely, because he doesn't want to trouble the person who offers and it also shows his politeness. Normally the person who offers still prepares or buys refreshments or drinks, and this will be expected by his colleague. Sharing food and drink when going out together is common among colleagues and friends.

　　British and American Conventions: Respect one's own decision, 'yes' means one wants it, 'no' means one doesn't, politeness is usually shown by the expression 'thank you' or 'please'.

　　Situation4

　　当外国人听到中国人称呼他们为“老外”的时候，他们心里是不高兴的，因为他们觉得自己并不老，且很健康。而当他们听到中国人管外国小孩也叫“老外”的时候，他们才明白“老”其实是对某个人的尊称，比如老张，老王。

　　Interactions: using 'Lao' to address someone

　　Conventions: politeness, respect, directness, intimacy

　　Chinese Conventions: 'Lao ' is a commonly used term by Chinese people to address someone who is older than the speaker to show his politeness, respect and closeness, e.g. 'Lao Zhang', 'Lao Wang '. The term does not necessarily mean old age. 'Lao Wai ' is a colloquial term of address for foreigners.

　　British and American Conventions: Dislike being labelled as 'old', being young valued above being old.