Nonverbal Communication Differences

As far as I am concerned, nonverbal communication differs a lot between China and the United States.
First is the difference in gestures. Chinese make their little fingers down to demonstrate no good. However, Americans often put their thumbs down to illustrate that feeling. Also, teenage men in America usually do friendly punch when they meet. On the contrary, Chinese teenagers do not do that at all. They just greet each other with a simple ‘HI’. In addition, people in China never use the gesture of quotation. But in the USA, I can always see people use that gesture to indicate that they are quoting something.
Secondly, differences also appear in body space. People in China often stand closer by each other than in the United States, because American people pay more attention to individual privacy. But Chinese are more enthusiastic towards their close friends.
The reason why there are so many differences is that Chinese people are shyer than Americans in some aspects. In the United States, people greet each other on the road even they are strangers, which will never happen in China. The Chinese culture teaches us to be respect to others and be passive. In contrast, Americans are more open and aggressive.
Although a huge number of differences in nonverbal communications are between the two counties, the two countries still have some expressions in common. For instance, people all make their thumbs up to demonstrate their good feelings. Besides, the ‘V’ for ‘victory’ is used all over the world. So we can feel this world as a whole.