5665857
| Question | Answer |
| Present at a conversation between two Vietnamese colleagues, you notice that no “thank you” was said even though one colleague gave the other a very expensive gift. You, should take this to mean: A. The colleagues are embarrassed because they do not have a gift for you. B. The receiver takes it as a casual act between friends, hence no politeness is needed. C. The Vietnamese do not always say “thank you.” | C. Việt Nam is a high-context culture where not everything has to be spelled out explicitly. One feels grateful for any gift but being grateful should be read in the eyes, the smile, behaviors, and especially later in reciprocity. |
| Phép vua thua lệ làng. -Vietnamese saying- | "The Village’s rules are higher than the King’s rules." (Custom rules over law.) |
| Nước chảy đá mòn. Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim. -Vietnamese saying- | "Constant dripping water wears away the stone." "With great effort one can make a needle from an iron stick." |
| Risk -: Your family adopts a homeless cat. You tell this to your Vietnamese colleagues and they praise you for your generosity. One day, on the way from the vet, you drop by your office to show them the cat, totally unaware that Vietnamese may welcome a strange dog but avoid letting in a strange cat. This habit is probably just superstition, as a dog’s bark resembles a Vietnamese word meaning "rich", while a cat’s meow sounds like a word meaning "poor". | Risk +: One of the middle managers in your company made a completely unacceptable mistake, which would normally lead to dismissal. He was, however, the nephew of someone in the company so you decided not to fire him. To save his face and to maintain a good relationship network and harmony, he was transferred to another position. |
| Chết vinh còn hơn sống nhục. | "I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees." ("Better a glorious death than a shameful life.") |
| Đi hỏi già về nhà hỏi trẻ. | "Going out ask the old; coming home ask the young." |
| Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp. Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn. | "Quality beats beauty. Good wood is better than good paint." |
Want to create your own Flashcards for free with GoConqr? Learn more.