Chinese people do not usually say "hello" or "hi" to people they do not know. At a business introductory meeting, it is customary to give a business or personal card when being introduced to someone. The Chinese usually do not shake hands at the first meeting.
In traditional China
When addressing people, whether old or young, they should be addressed as if they were higher up in the hierarchy. It is also customary to use terms borrowed from the family domain when addressing people who are not relatives. If the person is one generation older, he will be addressed as "uncle" 大爷 (literally: father's older brother) or 叔叔 (literally: father's younger brother). A woman from an older generation will be called "aunty" 阿姨 (literally: maternal aunt). Children too, when addressing adults, use family terms. For example, they will address a policeman as "uncle policeman" 警察叔叔, and children from the upper grades as "big brother" 大哥哥 or "big sister" 大姐姐.
People who are familiar (not including relatives) are addressed by using the title "Mister" 先生, which is also the way to address a teacher or an expert.
During meetings held for the first time, the subjects of conversation are usually different from those customary in the West. Questions referring to work, wages, family status and age, are not considered impolite. Such questions are the most common. On the other hand, questions about the family are avoided and considered strange.
When meeting familiar people it is customary to express closeness by asking questions such as "How is your health recently?" 你最近身体怎么样? "Have you already eaten? 你吃饭了吗? or "Where are you going to?" 你上哪儿去?
In traditional China
When friends are leaving, the Chinese people usually express concern for their safety by saying "Have a safe trip" 一路平安, "Be careful on your way" 路上多加小心, or "Walk slowly" 慢走 .As a separation gift, a hand-held fan 扇子 would be given to the departing friend, hoping that he would use it on his way.
In many Chinese romances, it is described how a man who leaves his wife for a long time breaks a round mirror into two pieces, and each spouse keeps one piece. By matching the two pieces, they will thus recognize each other when they eventually meet again. If one of the spouses has been unfaithful, his or her piece of mirror will become a magpie. When the mirror becomes restored to a whole it will mean that the couple are back together.[1]
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牛郎织女
Cowherd [and] a weaving maid
A slender chance of meeting.
This is based on a popular legend,[2] associated with the Women's Festival, which was celebrated in traditional China
Today this phrase refers to a married couple who live separate lives.
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新婚不如远别
Or:
新婚不如久别
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毛豆烧豆腐碰上自家人
Green soybeans cooked with tofu – a person who meets with his own family member
Said of people who have much in common.
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癞蛤蟆瞪眼儿又想蹦跶了
A toad stares – wants to jump again
Said of a person who wants to make a comeback.
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.井水不犯河水南山不靠北山 — 各过各的
Well water does not invade river water – Nan (literally: south) Mountain does not lean on Bei (literally: north) Mountain – each one goes his own way
Said of people who have a disconnected relationship (often with family members).
This also means "everybody minds his own business".
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各走各的路
Each goes his own way
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两个“山“字重起写请"出"
Twice the character “山“ one above the other – please go!
The character 出 (literally: go) is comprised of twice the character 山(literally: mountain) placed one above the other.
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相见好同住难
Meeting each other is easy, living together is difficult
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好合不如好散
A good separation is more important than a good meeting
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