中西方时间观念的差异比较.docx

A comparison of Time Concept between China and the WestAbstract:As is known to all, time concept in China is inclined to deviate from the original rule so that many Chinese are used to paying little attention to promptness, while it is the other way around in the West that one could be thought of as irresponsible or unrespectable if he is not prompt or punctual. Probably, because of different time orientations and time systems based on different histories and cultures, most people from these two worlds have their own opinions on the time conception, more or less personally correct. Living in a past-oriented society, Chinese hold the view of time as a circle and can do more than one thing at a time. Due to inexact calculation of time, promptness is not valued so highly in traditional China even in modern China, whose people are preoccupied with leisurely life and respect for the past. On the contrary, in the West, future-oriented society, people tend to look upon the time as a line, which naturally means they have a strong sense of the shortage of time, the practice of doing one thing at a time and habitually look ahead. Therefore, time is treated as if it were a perishable material by Westerners who plan their future more effectively than Easterners. Apart from the misunderstanding caused by different time concept, Chinese are supposed to learn a lot from Westerners such as promptness to better own characters and enrich own culture.Key words:the Easterners; the Westerners; time orientation; time system; promptnessA comparison of Time Concept between China and the WestIntroductionWhat does time mean to you? A Chinese may say “An inch of time is worth an inch of gold”, while the English proverbs state that “Tomorrow never come” and “One cannot put back the clock”. From this part, we all find time precious and dear in our daily life, but probably speaking, Chinese are not fettered by the concept that time is money, according to what Ming Enbo said in the book named The