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It is common to run into casual acquaintances on a daily basis who in lieu of the general “How are you?” might instead ask “Where are you going?” or “Have you eaten yet?” Accept these questions with a smile to thank the person for caring to ask. While these questions might be thought of as being “nosy” in Western culture, they aren’t really, since the person usually expects a generic answer back, in the same way one asking “How are you?” in English usually doesn’t expect a detailed reply back.

Chinese people might be more prone to asking “taboo” questions such as “How old are you?” or “How much money do you make?” Remember that this is a different culture, so don’t take offense to such questions. If you aren’t comfortable answering such questions, you can come up with creative answers that don’t sound rude such as “how old do you think?” or “enough to get by.” Many Westerners make the mistake of applying standards from their home country when dealing with Chinese in a Chinese community. Keep an open mind and find ways to give respect without letting the speaker lose face, when managing your relationships.