Yes , in many cases, you‘re right. American working ethic seems to be more individual-oriented. We often value the results and accomplishments of work more than its process. Central to American political, economic and social thought is the concept of individual moral autonomy. If I‘m not mistaken, traditional Chinese philosophical systems are based on
Confucianism, which sings high praises for individual to uplift themselves for the benefit of communal harmony. That is, communal harmony takes precedence over individual freedom.
你说得对，在很多情况下，确实如此。我们美国人的工作理念似乎更强调个人主义。我们一般重视的是结果和成就，而不是过程。美国的政治观、经济观以及社会观的核心就是个人道德自治观。如果我没理解错的话，中国传统的思想体系是以儒家学说为基础的，这种思想强调整体和谐，强调整体和谐高于个人自由。
You may say so. I should say you‘re partially correct on that. In spite of so many cultural differences, globalization has brought the world increasingly closer. Likewise, cultural exchanges have become more more extensive.
可以这样说，应该说是不分正确吧。尽管我们有如此多的文化差异，全球化浪潮正使世界变得越来越小，文化交流也随之变得越来越广泛。
Yes。 The global integration of economy and the speeding information revolution have brought the world closer than ever before. Chinese learn English, Americans learn Chinese; we drink tea, you drink coca-cola; we exercise Kung Fu, you go to bowling; we enjoy Peking Duck, you like KFC; Titanic sailed into China, The Peony Pavilion has been performed on
Broadway. Nowadays, easterners and westerners are walking side by side, talking face to face, living, working and studying in harmony. The whole world is becoming increasingly beautiful due to exchanges.
是的。全球经济一体化、不断加速信息革命，等等，都使世界的联系比以往更加紧密。中国人学习英语，美国人学习汉语；我们饮茶，你们喝可乐；我们练功夫，你们玩保龄球；我们品尝北京烤鸭，你们喜欢肯德基；泰坦尼克号驶进中国，牡丹亭也在百脑汇上演了。现在，东西方人肩并肩走，面对面交谈，和谐的生活、工作和学习。整个世界由于文化的交流而变得越来越美丽。
Yes, Chinese beauty and American beauty are walking together .I believe there‘s still much room for further discussion on this topic. As time is limited, we have to stop here today. We‘ll find some other time to continue our talk. Thank you . 是的，中国历任和美国丽人走到了一起。我想这个话题还有许多值得我们探讨的地方，由于时间关系，我们今天暂且谈到这里，以后我们再接着聊吧。谢谢。
My pleasure. Yes, we‘ll do it some other time. 不客气。是呀，我们另找时间再接着聊吧。
4， 经营之道
Hi, Mr. Jackson. You have been working in China for three years. Can you tell us how you feel about the differences in business communication style between Chinese and American businessmen?
您好，杰克逊先生。你在中国已连续工作了三年，您能否谈下中美两国生意人在商务沟通方式上有何不同之处？ With pleasure. I think there are at least two differences in the way of businesspeople communication between Chinese and American businesspeople. First, Chinese businessmen tend to have business negotiations in a rather indirect manner, as opposed to the more direct manner of American businesspeople. The Chinese take time to learn if their prospective business contacts are really reliable, for example, by inviting them to a party and socializing with them. In contrast, Americans usually act with the get-down-to-business-first mentality. Second, the decision-making process of Chinese companies is generally slow and time-consuming. This is because most Chinese companies keep to the ―bottom-up, then top-down and then bottom-up‖ decision-making principle which involves many people at different levels. American companies, on the other hand, usually operate with quick decisions made by the top management. I hope American businesspeople in China will understand these differences in business practices and adjust to the Chinese way.
我很乐意。我认为中美两国生意人在商务沟通方式上至少有两点不同。首先，中国人在商务谈判时倾向于一种迂回婉转的方式，而美国人则表现出一种直截了当的风格。中国人会花费时间来了解他们将要与之打交道的商人是否靠得住，例如邀请对方参加宴会，同时他们进行交流。与之相反，美国人则以公务为先的心态行事。第二，中国公司的决策过程耗时冗长。这是因为大部分中国公司遵循者一种“先自上而下、后自下而上、再自上而下”的决策原则，各个层次上的许多人士都会介入决策过程。而美国公司通常是由最高管理人士的快速决策运作。我希望在华的美国商人理解这些商务活动中的差异，适应中国人的经营之道。
The American way of doing business often strikes us Chinese as very aggressive. Were you aware of this in your collaboration With your Chinese colleagues?
美国式的经营之道在我们中国人看来往往显得咄咄逼人。您在与中国同事的合作中有没有注意到这一点？ Well, we are more direct and straightforward than most Chinese, I would say, due to our different cultural traditions. I notice that a lot of Chinese often avoid saying a clear ―no‖ just to be polite. Sometimes my Chinese colleagues say ―yes‖ not to express agreement, but only to show that they are listening.
这个嘛，我我认为，由于我们有着不同的文化传统，所以我们同大部分中国人相比，显得较为直截了当、开门见山。我注意到许多中国人出于礼貌而经常不明确的说一声“不”。有时我的中国同事道一声“是”，这可布什表示赞同，只是表明他们在注意对方说话而已。
It is important for all of us to acknowledge and respect these cultural differences in order to avoid misunderstandings, isn‘t it?
我们都应该承认这些文化差异，尊重这些差异，以免产生误解，这很重要，不是吗？
Yes, understanding these differences, I believe, will be a first step toward establishing affirm business relationship between American and Chinese companies.
是的，我认为，理解这些差异是朝着在没够公司和中国公司之间建立稳固商务关系的方向迈出的第一步。 You mentioned the Chinese type of decision-making process earlier. Do you see any strength with this type of management and how do you compare it with the American type of management、
刚才您提到了中国式的决策过程，您认为这种管理模式有无优点？将其与美国式的管理模式相比，你有何看法？ I would say the American-type, or the top-down, management emphasizes efficiency, and competition among workers, while the Chinese-type management gives priority to careful planning and encourages cooperation among workers, and between workers and the management. Thus, while the American-type management often frustrates many workers, the Chinese-type management gives workers a joy of participation and fulfillment, and a sense of pride in their work. 我感到美国式的自上而下的管理方式注重效率，注重员工间的竞争。而中国式的管理方式的特点就是，优先考虑周密的计划，鼓励员工间的合作，鼓励员工与管理层之间的合作。因此，美国是的管理方式常常使许多员工感到沮丧，而中国式的管理方式能使员工有一种喜悦的参与感和成就感，对自己的工作抱一种自豪感。 Talking about worker‘s attitude toward their work, how do the Chinese and the American differ in this respect? 谈到员工的工作态度，中国人和美国人在这方面有何不同?
I think most Chinese view work as essential for having membership in a community. They believe that work allows them to have the sense of belonging in a community. In other words, work is necessary for them to gain social acceptance in the society. That is why many Chinese managers and employees work so hard to maintain their positions in their companies. Also, they see work as the most important thing in life. That is, they have tried to find the meaning of life through their jobs. While the Chinese work ethic is based on social pressure and community belonging, the American work ethic seems to be more individual oriented. Traditionally, we work because it is the will of the God, and we often value the results and
accomplishments of work more than its process. By the way, I‘m very impressed by the obvious strong sense of dedication of the jobs among the older Chinese employees.
我认为，大多数中国人将工作视为能使自己成为整个团体中的一分子的必不可缺的条件。中国人相信，工作是自己有了团体归属感。换言之，中国人为了得到社会的认可，必须工作。这就是为何许多中国经历和员工会努力工作以保住自己在公司的职位的原因。中国人还将工作视为生活中最重要的大事。也就是说，他们想从工作中找到生活的意义。中国人的工作观建筑在社会压力和团体归属感的基础上，而美国人的工作观则有更强的个体取向性。我们一向认为，我们工作是秉承了上帝的意志，我们对工作成果的重视常常高于对工作过程的重视。复发is，年龄较大的中国员工对自己的工作有一种明显的奉献精神，我对此有很深的印象。
Returning to where we started, how do you comment on the merits and demerits of the two different approaches to business management?
回到我们一开始的话题，您如何评价中美两种不同经营之道的利弊呢?
It is difficult to decide which is better than which, because there are some merits and demerits to both types of management. My suggestion is that people of both countries should learn from each other. I will say that in recent years, the merits of the Chinese way, or rather , the Oriental way, of management are beginning to be recognized by an Oriental way of our American industries.
很难判断孰优孰劣，因为这两种经营方式各有自己的长处与短处。我希望两国人民应该相互学习，取长补短。应该说近年来中国人的经营方式，更确切的说是东方人的经营方式，开始为越来越多的西方人所认识。东方人的这种人情味更浓的经营方式似乎给我们美国差业界的管理人士以颇多的启迪。 谢谢！谢谢您接受我的采访。 Thank you for sharing your time with me.
5， 共创未来
词汇部分 午餐会 luncheon
全国贸易委员会 business council 召唤 beckon 承认 acknowledge 意识形态 ideology 制度 institution 轻视 minimize 回顾 well on 截然不同地 distinctly 传统 heritage 信仰 faith
尊敬长辈 revere elders 潜力 potential 黎明中的曙光 dawning Your Excellency Mr. President, Ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to attend this luncheon, meeting all the friends, old and new. I would also like to take this
opportunity to thank the National Committee on US-China Relations and the US- China Business Council, as well as others present here, for your dedicated efforts over the years to increase the understanding and friendship between the two peoples and to promote the relations between the two countries.
我很高兴出席今天的午餐会，与新老朋友欢聚一堂。我愿借此机会感谢美中关系全国委员会、美中贸易全国委员会以及在座的诸位，感谢你们多年来为增进美中两国人民的相互了解与友谊、促进美中关系的发展所做的积极努力。
History beckons again. We have been to write a new chapter for peace and progress in our histories, with American and China going forward hand-in-hand.
今天，历史又在召唤。美中两国携手并进，已开始在我们的历史上为和平和进步谱写新的篇章。
We must always be realistic about our relationship, frankly acknowledge the fundamental differences in ideology and institutions between our two societies. Yes, let us never minimize them; but let us not be dominated by them. I have not come to China to hold forth on what divides us, but to build on what binds us. I have not come to dwell on a closed-door past, but to urge that Americans and Chinese look to the beautiful future. I‘m firmly convinced that, together, we can and will make tomorrow a better day.
勤劳的 industrious 节俭的 frugal 突飞猛进的 crackle
日新月异 dynamics of change 高度 horizon 致敬 salute 活力 vitality 乐观精神 optimism
伟大事业 in a mighty enterprise 打破障碍 break down barriers 猜疑 suspicion 结合 bond
树立共有的乐观精神 shared optimism 同胞 countrymen
我们必须始终现实地看待我们的关系，坦率地承认我们两个社会在意识形态和制度上存在着的根本分歧。是的，让我们承认这些差异，让我们永远不要轻视这些差异，但是我们不要被这些差异所压倒。我来中国不是为了评说那些将我们分隔开来的东西，而是为了强化那些将我们维系在一起的做法；不是为了回顾封闭的过去，而是为了推动我们两国人民去展望美好的未来。我坚信，我们能够而且也一定会共同建设美好的未来。
We may live at nearly opposite ends of the world. We may be different in languages, customs, and political beliefs; but on many vital questions of our time there is little distance between the American and Chinese people.
我们可以生活在近乎世界的两端，我们可以有两种截然不同的语言、习俗和政治信仰，但是在我们这个时代的许多至关重要的问题上，我们两国人民之间几乎没有距离。
Indeed, I believe if we were to ask citizen all over this world what they desire most for their children, and for their
children‘s children, their answer, in English, Chinese, or any other language, would likely be the same: we want peace. We want freedom. We want a better life. Their dreams, so simply stated, represent humanity‘s deepest aspirations for security and personal fulfillment. And helping them make their dreams come true is what our jibs are all about.
我的确相信，假若我们询问世界上所有铺的公民，他们最希望留下什么东西给他们的孩子，给他们孩子的孩子，那么他们的回答无论是用英语、汉语还是其他语言来表达，都可能是一致的：我们要和平，我们要自由，我们要更美好的生活。他们这些言简意赅的愿望代表着人类对安全以及满足个人意愿的最深切要求。他们所要做的是去帮助他们实现自己的愿望。
We have always believed the heritage of our past is the seed that brings forth the harvest of our future. And from our roots, we have drawn tremendous power from faith and freedom. Our passion for freedom led to the American Revolution. We know each of us could not enjoy liberty for ourselves unless we are willing to share it with everyone else. And we knew our freedom could not be truly safe, unless all of us were protected by a body of laws that treated us equally.
我们一向认为，我们的历史传统是未来丰收的种子。我们一开始便从信仰和自由中汲取巨大的力量。我们对自由的渴望导致了美国革命。我们明白，除非我们愿意同其他人一起分享自由，否则我们自己便无法享受自由。我们明白，除非我们大家都受到在其面前人人平等的法律的保护，否则我们的自由便不可能有真正的保障。 Trust the people – these three words are not only the heart and soul of American history, but the most powerful force for human progress in the world today.
相信人民——这四个字不仅是美国历史的精髓，同时也是今日世界人类进步的最强大的动力。
Like China, our people see the future in the eyes of our children. And, like China, we revere our elders. To be as good as our fathers and mothers, we must be better.
同中国人一样，我国人民是从下一代的角度来审视未来的。同中国人一样，我们也尊敬长辈。若要做的向前辈那样出色，我们就必须做的更出色。
Over a century ago, Grant, who was then a former president, visited your country and saw China‘s great potential. ―I see dawning ...‖ Grant wrote, ―the beginning of a change. When it does come, China will rapidly become a powerful and rich nation … The population is industrious, frugal, intelligent, and quick to learn.‖
一个世纪前，当时已经卸任的美国前总统格兰他访问了贵国。他看到中国蕴藏着巨大的潜力。“我看到了黎明的曙光，”格兰特写道。“我看到了变革的端倪。变革一旦出现，中国将迅速成为一个强盛而富有的国家…中国人民勤劳、借鉴、聪颖、接受你能力强。”
Today, China‘s economy crackles with the dynamics of change. Unlike some governments, which fear change and fear the future, China is beginning to reach out toward new horizons, and we salute your courage.
今天，中国经济突飞猛进，日新月异。与一些惧怕变革、惧怕未来的国家不同，中国开始迈向新的高度，我们向你们表现出的这种勇气致敬。
We Americans have always considered ourselves pioneers, so we appreciate such vitality and optimism. Today, I bring you a message from my countrymen: As China moves forward on this new path, America welcomes the opportunity to walk by your side.
我们美国人一向视自己为开拓者，所以我们赞赏你们的活力和乐观精神。今天，我给你们带来了我们同胞的口信：中国在这条新的道路上向前迈进，我们美国很高兴有机会同中国并肩前进。