U5 Good Manners
课文2
Apologizing in the East
Apologizing is common throughout the world,but the way people apologize varies from culture to culture. Generally speaking,in the west,apologizing is expected and those who apologize are forgiven and respected.In the east,people have a different idea about how to apologize.
In Japan, apologizing is one of the most important but difficult skill that non-Japanese can learn.What makes the apology different in daily life in Japan is that it is used before as often as after an event.The apology is like a signal that some inconvenience is about to happen.In other words, get ready for an inconvenient situation if someone apologizes for no apparent reasons.So the advice for foreigners is to apologize often or whenever you are in doubt.In fact,it never hurts to apologize in all situations.
In Japan, the boss shouts at the employees,at his wife and at the children.This is recognized as normal.He never apologizes to them.Similarly, in China, children are taught to apologize to teachers, parents and elders when they are thought to have made mistakes.We often hear parents telling their children “say you're sorry.” Seldom do we hear the father say“I'm sorry”to his son or the boss say “It's my fault.”to his employees.
Now more and more people have a better understanding of apologizing and its role at work and in the family. Furthermore,thanks to the frequent exchanges among different cultures, apology is becoming a way of daily life in China. Apologizing is no longer regarded as a shame.Instead, the apology is used to remove barrier to communication and strengthen a mutual relationship.
东方人的道歉
道歉在世界上是很普遍的，但人们道歉的方式因文化的差异而不同。一般来说，在西方，人们期望道歉，道歉的人会得到原谅和尊重。而在东方，人们对怎样道歉有不同的理解。
在日本，道歉是最重要的而又是非日本人最难掌握的一种技能。日本人在日常生活中的道歉方式之所以与众不同是因为他们事前事后都频频道歉。道歉像是一个信号，意味着有什么不便就要发生。换句话说，如果有人没有什么明显的原因就向你道歉，你就得做好会遇上什么不便的思想准备。所以对外国人的建议是，经常道歉或当你不知如何办的时候就道歉。事实上，在任何情况下道歉都不会给人带来害处。
在日本，老板会对雇员、妻子和儿子大叫大嚷，这被视为正常的事情。他从来不向他们道歉。同样，在中国，孩子被教导当他们被认为犯了错误时，要向老师、父母和长者道歉。我们经常听见父母告诉他们的孩子“说对不起”。我们很少听见父亲向儿子说“对不起”，或者老板向雇员说“这是我的错”。
现在越来越多的人对道歉和道歉在工作和家庭中所起的作用有了更深的了解。 此外，由于不同文化间的频繁交流，在中国，道歉已经成为日常生活的一种方式。道歉不再被认为是件羞耻的事情。相反，道歉被用来消除交流障碍和加强双方的友谊。
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