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Once, sojourn several Chinese to a quite wealthy American family in.The master makes them to visit own residence, the Chinese visitor saidthat, "Your house good, is extremely attractive." The master listenedto be extremely happy, smiled the reply according to the Americancustom to say: "Thanks." Some Chinese visitors are surprised to herreply. Afterwards, conversed when the dinner table, the master to theuniversity graduates soon female translator to say: "Your English verygood, is very fluent." Female translator modestly said that, "Not! No!My English is not good." The master had not thought she can replylike this, felt somewhat 迷惑不解. Whether that Americanhousewife's reply does like such which some Chinese thought"insufficiently to be modest"?
Whether that young Chinese female translator's reply does sound suchlike the American master "insufficiently to be sincere"?
The American housewife's reply by no means is actually immodest, theChinese female translator's reply is not is insincere. Speaks Englishthe person hears to the others to praise, generally said "thanks",indicates accepts, explained oneself thought opposite party praise issincerely, the matter which praises is worth praising. Thereforeshould not "disguise to feel inferior" or "does intentionallymodestly". But, said to the Chinese, when hears to the others praise,usually must express 受之有愧, does very much insufficiently;Either said own achievement only are because is lucky, either said isthe detachment condition creates, and so on, but accepts the praise tomean has arrogants and complacent the mood or lacks the education.Therefore, the above two kind of replies causes the different responseis because the bilateral language custom is different. They accordingto own custom to understand the others said the speech.