Cultural Observations

Quick Observation: Fubai – It’s Not Just For Corrupt Government Officials Anymore

“咱们今晚去腐败,好不好?” My co-worker asks me if I want to go fubai (腐败)with him tonight. I am utterly confused, because as a Chinese student I learned that the word fubai is generally used to describe corrupt government officials. There is a … Continue reading

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

Online Gaming in China – An Escape From Reality

Looking through my last post on a Chinese perspective of Kaixin, Erica’s comment about Xiaonei being too much like real life really jumped out at me. Through my own observations I have found that there is a fairly large number … Continue reading

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

Observer ABC: Making Sense of the Message

Many of you may have been curious about the meaning of the SMS message in my previous post covering the bulk SMS phenomenon in China. The content is not the most relevant to the Chinese marketplace, but it is still … Continue reading

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

SMS & IM: Communication Tools For “Indirect Directness”

How much money do you make? How much did you pay for your apartment? These are just a few of the typical questions that you may be asked the first time you meet a new Chinese friend or coworker. Why … Continue reading

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

Open Your Eyes…WIDER

China’s upper/middle class are consuming more than just luxury goods The delicious smell of Beijing roast duck mixed with the spicy scent of mapo tofu fills my nose. After our waitress finishes cleaning away the previous customers’ exce

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

Spread the message, China Mobile’s cashing in

3…2…1 RINGGGGGGGGG! When the clock strikes midnight on the eve of Chinese New Year fireworks are not the only cacophonous sound in the air. Millions of people’s mobile phones start ringing simultaneously as their friends and fa

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

Marketing For A Different Standard Of Beauty (Part II)

China’s cosmetic industry is currently maintaining annual sales revenue in excess of RMB 50 billion. This ranks China second place in Asia, and eighth place overall. Since 2001, the cosmetic industry has been in synch with China’s G

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

Marketing For A Different Standard Of Beauty (Part I)

About two years ago, when I first arrived in Taiwan, I had the following conversation with a female Taiwanese colleague: Me: “What did you do yesterday after work?” Colleague: “I played basketball with my sister and lost so

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare

Cultural Observations

Cultural Observations posts provide you with a basic understanding of important cultural factors that influence business in China. Outside Observers should be knowledgeable about these factors; however, you should not over exaggerate the impact of cu

TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailShare