Different views on friendship
In some cultures friendship means a strong life-long bond between two people. In these cultures friendships develop slowly, since they are built to last. But in other cultures friendship develop quickly and they may change just as quickly.
American friendships are absolutely among the changeable ones.But this phenomenon is not strange because American society is one of rapid change.Studies show that one out of five American families moves every year. That is why the Americans are always ready to make new friends. They often drop a visit to their new neighbors. And friendship will be established during chatting, taking an interested sports and small family parties. Americans use the word \in a very general way. They may call both casual acquaintances and close companions “friends.” These friendships are based on common interests. When the shared activity ends, the friendship may fade. People from the United States may at first seem friendly. Americans often chat easily with strangers. They exchange information about their families, hobbies and work. They may smile warmly and say , “Have a nice day” or “See you later.” And schoolmates may say “let’s get together sometimes.” But remember American friendliness is not always an offer of true friendship.
Here are some tips given by Americans to non-Americans who want to make friends with Americans:
1. Visit places Americans enjoy: parties, churches, western
restaurants, parks, sports clubs.
2. Be willing to take the first step.Don’t wait for them to approach you.
Americans may not know if you speak English or not. They may feel embarrassed if they can’t speak your language.
3. Use small talk to start the conversation.Ask them where they are
from.Why they came to certain places,etc. Remember: Be careful to avoid personal questions about ages, salary, maritial status and apperance.
4. Show an interest in their culture , their country or their
jobs.( Americans like to talk about themselves.)
5. Invite them to join you for dinner or just for coffee or tea. Try to set
a specific time. Americans sometimes make general invitations like “ let’s get together sometimes.” Often this is just a way to be friendly. It is not always a real invitation.
6. Don't expect too much at first. Maybe they are just being friendly.
But maybe they do want be your good friends. It will take time to tell.
For most of the Chinese Friendship is a kind of human relations. It is a human instinct to make friends.When in trouble, we need friends to offer us help, support and encouragement. With success achieved, we also need friends to share our joys. Friendship is also one of the greatest pleasures that
we can enjoy. It implies loyalty, cordiality, sympathy, affection,and readiness to help. No man can make the most of his life without carefully and conscientiously striving to win the right kind of friends as he goes along.
Here let’s share some sayings which express Chinese views on friendship:
1、A life without a friend is a life without a sun. 人生没有朋友，犹如生活没有了太阳。
2、A man who has friends must show himself friendly. 要有朋友，必须以友谊待人。
3、No road is long with good company. 与良友为伴，路遥不觉远。
4、A good friend is my nearest relation. 好友即至亲。
5、When a friend asks, there is no “tomorrow”. 朋友之求不可怠。
We all know the story about Yuboya and Zhongziqi ,it’s a typical example of friendship in China.Yuboya was good at playing guzheng and only Zhongziqi could understand what yuboya expressed in his music. And after Zhongziqi died , Yuboya was depressed and he destoried his guzheng and never played it any more, because he thought no one in the world could know him.And we thus have the Chinese saying:高山流水觅知音。From this story we can know that Chinese friendship implies loyalty, cordiality, sympathy&affection.
Generally，in the aspect of friendship，Americans tend to care about their frineds as well as leave room for them. If you want help, he is obsolutely willing to help you but at the same time he maintains some distance so that it will not interfere with your inner thought and decisions, let alone to inquire about your pirvacy. However, if you want to borrow some money from your friends, it is probaby impossible. And he will recommend you to borrow it from bank. The Americans have been characterized by being straightfoward.
On the other side, the Chinese seem to show much concern for their friends so as always intervene other’s pirvacy. And it even sometimes interfere with other’s decisions. Besides, the Chinese care too much about their face. If a friend asks to borrrow some money, he is probably thinking that he has no choice but to lend even if he does not mean to it.
\is a type of companionship, that a human towards another human being or an organism can have. It's a bond in which one has a feeling towards another one. Friendship is the cooperative and supportive relationship between people, or animals. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other.Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as the exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Anyway we should learn more about culture differences.
Different views on friendship
