Excuse me, among the EU member states, what are the personality characteristics of the nationals of several representative countries?

France is a nation with a strong sense of national pride. Because of wars in history, the French hate the Germans and the British the most, just like the Chinese don't like the Japanese.

The French people like to laugh at the Belgians the most. There are many jokes in France specifically designed to make people laugh at Belgians, who think they are always a little silly. However, to be honest, I actually don’t see anything wrong with Belgians. When it comes to Spaniards and Italians who belong to the Latin Quarter like them, they will feel that each other is too enthusiastic, especially for women who are too casual. The French believe that they treat women very moderately - they are gentle, considerate, romantic and affectionate but not too frivolous. "They are not like those Italians or Spaniards who casually slap women on the butt in the street."

When it comes to Americans, the French still look disdainful. They think that although Americans appear to be very open, they are not actually open. French people are required to give a kiss to each other when meeting, but this is absolutely forbidden in the United States. Americans only need to touch a woman's hand a little, It is possible to be accused of "sexual harassment". Moreover, the French consider themselves to be more tolerant of other people's private lives than Americans. When the American people learned that Clinton had a lover, they all criticized this behavior. However, the late French president Mitterrand gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, and the French did not express any dissatisfaction with this. A considerable proportion of French people believe that extramarital affairs are excusable.

Characteristics of the Germans

Be disciplined and tidy

Germans attach great importance to rules and discipline and take everything seriously. Germans will consciously abide by anything expressly stipulated; Germans will never touch anything explicitly prohibited. In the eyes of some people, in many cases, the Germans are almost dull, inflexible, and even a little unreasonable. But if you think about it carefully, this "inflexibility" is very beneficial. Without discipline, how can there be order? Without rules, how can we be serious?

Germans are very particular about cleanliness and tidiness. They not only pay attention to keeping their own small environment clean and tidy, but also attach great importance to the cleanliness and tidiness of the larger environment. In Germany, everything is kept clean and tidy, whether in parks, streets, theaters or other public places. Germans also attach great importance to clothing. Wear work clothes at work. Although you can dress more casually when you get home from work, you will always be neatly dressed whenever you have guests visiting or going out for activities. When going to the theater or opera, women should wear long skirts and men should wear formal wear, at least in dark colors. This is especially true when attending social events or formal banquets.

Be punctual and like quietness

Germans are very punctual and will never change the agreed time without special circumstances. When Germans are invited to someone's home or to visit friends, they will arrive on time and will not let the host waste time waiting or have to entertain the guests in advance. Otherwise, it would be rude. If you are unable to make the appointment on time for special reasons, you will apologize to your friends and ask for forgiveness.

Germans prefer a quiet life and don’t like to be noisy except on special occasions. For example, although many people work in the city, they set up their homes in the countryside or small towns near the city for the sake of peace and quiet. Even those who live in the city pay great attention to the noise-free surroundings of their homes. For example, you are not allowed to play musical instruments or make loud noises from 8 pm to 8 am the next morning. If you want to hold a party at night, explain the situation to your neighbors in advance and ask for their understanding. Try to arrange it on the weekend and make as little noise as possible. Otherwise, the disturbed neighbors will be very angry and may protest in person, and some may even ask the police to intervene.

Be sincere and pay attention to etiquette

Generally speaking, there is not much trouble in dealing with Germans. In most cases, they are relatively straightforward. Whatever they can do, they will immediately tell you "it can be done". If they can't do it, they will tell you "no" clearly, rarely putting on airs, or giving ambiguous answers. Of course, interpersonal relationships and the level of effort are by no means unimpacted.

Similar to many Western countries, Germans pay more attention to etiquette. When two people meet, whether they know each other or not, or on the road, or in offices, hotels, elevators, etc., they all greet each other and say "hello".

When eating in a restaurant, you should also nod and greet the customers who are already seated. It is really "gentle to polite, and it is not strange to be polite to many people." When friends meet, they shake hands as a courtesy, and the same is true when saying goodbye. Very good friends who have not seen each other for a long time can hug each other when they meet or are separated for a long time. In formal occasions, men still kiss women's hands as a gesture, but they do not have to kiss the back of the hand. In the process of communication, most people often use "you" and "Mr." or "Ms." (also called "Mrs.") before their last name as honorifics. Only friends, relatives and young people call each other "you" and by their first names. For women, regardless of whether they are married or how old they are, they can be called "Ms.", but married women should be called by their husband's surname.

Gift giving is also very important in Germany. When you are invited to someone's home, you usually bring gifts. Most people bring bouquets of flowers, some male guests bring bottles of wine, and some bring a meaningful book (or a book written by themselves) or a picture album, etc. Also send more flowers when welcoming guests (such as stations, airports, etc.) and visiting patients. When congratulating others on their birthdays, festivals, or weddings, you can send greeting cards. If you send congratulatory gifts, the principle is to be practical and meaningful, rather than based on price. All gifts must be wrapped in gift paper in advance. Many people often open and view the gifts immediately after receiving them and express their gratitude to the gift-giver.

In Germany and other Western countries, women are given priority in many situations, such as entering the door, entering the elevator, getting on the bus, etc. Women are given priority. Men should help women open car doors, hang clothes, and give up seats. A woman can just say "thank you" to this without feeling embarrassed or thinking that the other person has bad intentions. When talking to others, Germans pay great attention to respecting each other. Don’t ask about other people’s private matters (for example, don’t ask about the woman’s age, don’t ask about the other person’s income, etc.), and don’t make fun of those present. When dining and talking, do not talk to people sitting far away across the table for fear of affecting other people's emotions.

Note: Of course, with the progress of the times and changes in the surrounding environment, traditional German customs have also changed, and the younger generation lives in their own way. However, most Germans of the older generation still essentially follow these customs.

When everyone comes into contact with Germans, they will also come into contact with the differences between the typical Germans of the older generation and the current young Germans.

Germans are characterized by diligence and confidence. The strict self-disciplined Germans pay great attention to formality and punctuality. For public and private matters, time must be agreed upon and appointments must be attended on time. It is impossible to meet a German without prior agreement. If you need to postpone or cancel the appointment for any reason, you must call the other person to inform him. Otherwise, it is not only disrespectful, but also considered a huge insult. Germans pay attention to efficiency, discipline and meticulousness in their work.

There are many social activities in my spare time. There are receptions, cocktail parties, buffets, dances, etc. In addition, Germans love to travel, especially in winter and summer. After returning from travel, I like to gather at friends’ homes and hold a banquet to wash away the dust.

The Germans are a nation that values ??order. Everyone has his or her own "belonging", and even everything has its "proper" place. Foreigners traveling in Germany. The first feeling is that everything there is very organized. Signs and prohibition signs to maintain order can be seen everywhere. When Germans appear in public places and interact with others, they pay attention to behaving dignifiedly, respecting others appropriately, and following the rules in everything.

As the saying goes: Every place has its own customs, and Germany is certainly no exception. In the past, Germans divided "visits" into courtesy visits, farewell visits, thank you visits, return visits, inaugural visits, overnight visits, and fiancée visits, etc. Later, someone also discovered that there are two types of guests: Mr. Guests and Ms. Guests. For the first time as a guest, a quarter of an hour or half an hour is enough. The guests brought no gifts or bouquets, and the host did not entertain anything. The best time to be a guest is from 6pm to 6:30pm, or around 12pm. It is best to notify the interviewee in advance.

There are many rules when it comes to dining. A decent meal should always be preceded by an aperitif. Whether they are serving in a restaurant or at home, Germans always like to have some bitter aperitifs. After all the guests get to know each other, everyone first stands together and chats, talking about insignificant and light-hearted things, because of the good wine and delicious food. There needs to be a good atmosphere. When taking a seat, men cannot sit down before the hostess and other female guests sit down. The man must help the woman move the seat. Keep your body straight, relaxed, feet on the ground, and don't move too much. You can only eat when the hostess picks up the tableware.

Germans are more economical in giving gifts, and they give things for different reasons, such as birthdays, engagements, weddings, etc. Guests only bring something small, like a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine, or something they made themselves. It is known as "a small gift that nourishes friendship".

In the starry sky of human history, some great names are associated with a country located in the center of Europe - Germany. Beethoven said: I want to seize fate by the throat... Marx said: Proletarians of the world unite! Bismarck said: Germany's interests are above all else! Einstein said: E=MC2. Hegel said: Without passion, it is difficult to accomplish any great deeds.

In fact, the handwriting left by the Germans in world history is always so solemn and profound. This nation has a rigorous, calm and restrained national character. They take pride in their willingness to abide by the various rules and regulations they have established. In fact, precise and reasonable arrangements can always make German society move forward steadily and orderly. Even in the face of huge changes in the external environment, the Germans can still maintain an instinctive calmness. In Germany, people regard compliance with laws and regulations as the highest ethical principle. People generally have a mentality of seeking stability and fearing chaos, being content with the status quo, and being complacent. The formation of this psychology has certain historical origins and is directly related to the German classic philosophy and cultural tradition. Today, Marx's "Scientific Socialism", Hegel's "Absolute Spirit" and the "Wolf Pack Tactics" invented by German Admiral D?nitz during World War II are all constantly being applied in enterprises.

Germans seem mostly unsmiling, and people may think they are difficult to get along with and lack flexibility. In fact, the biggest difference between Germans and Chinese is that in their eyes, everything is either black or white, because German is a complex and precise language, and its grammar and vocabulary cannot be ambiguous. In the eyes of Chinese people, in addition to black and white, there are more levels of gray. British people handle all kinds of relationships at work like politicians; French people bring life into the office; Asian people work hard to death; and German people definitely have clear lines between work and life. The character traits of Germans are: serious, conservative, introspective, and cautious when doing business. German business managers are very similar to Chinese private entrepreneurs. They are both frugal and good at using resources. The difference is that they know how to enjoy life.

In contrast, many entrepreneurs in China are leaping like a spring-loaded leaping frog. Germans are famous for their rigid and conservative sales style. Anyone who has shopping experience in Germany knows that shop assistants there rarely follow customers step by step, nor do they proactively sell products with a smile on their face. In their view, things are there, and it is your personal right to buy them or not - this concept is quite similar to the Chinese view that "good wine is not afraid of deep alleys".

I don’t know whether it is the German philosophical tradition that has created many German philosophers, or these philosophical masters have created the German philosophical tradition. Anyway, the German philosophical tradition has deeply influenced the behavior of German companies: the pursuit of perfection. This philosophical pursuit of perfection consists of three parts: exploring the essence of things, determining long-term strategies, and adapting to the external environment. German companies responded very slowly to the Chinese market in the early 1990s. This was the stage when they were studying the "essence of China." Only by grasping the essence can we achieve complete victory. This is exactly the same as the Chinese saying of "Know yourself and the enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger." Before investing in China, German companies must conduct a detailed analysis of the business conditions, human resources and market prospects of potential partners, and will never get involved without a full grasp. But once they have a clear grasp and clear judgment of this market, they will be committed to establishing a long-term development strategy, which is fully reflected in the development history of German companies over the past 20 years.

German companies’ pursuit of technological perfection can also be traced back to their philosophical pursuit of perfection. The philosophical pursuit of perfection is reflected in the concept of eternal quality in products and services, and is reflected in the pursuit of technology supremacy in technology, and ensuring the high standards of professional technicians at all levels of technology. The result is MADE IN GERMANY (Made in Germany). Top reputation in global markets. The general products developed by German companies are world-leading, highly difficult products that cannot be developed by others at the moment. 30% of Germany's exports are exclusive products with no competitors in the international market. Currently, Germany has indisputable advantages in large-scale industrial equipment, refined chemical products, precision machine tools, and advanced optical instruments.

The first-class skilled workers owned and reserved by German enterprises participating in the vocational training system ensure the strong competitiveness of enterprises in the process of economic globalization.

As an example, there is a company in Stuttgart. In order to ensure that it remains invincible in the fierce international competition, they invest about US$300 million every year to implement technological transformation plans. This allows the company to update the equipment in the fastest possible time, and also invests more than 35 million US dollars in employee training every year, and 80% of the company's profits come from new products developed in the past three years.

The British pay attention to clothing and dress differently depending on the time. They tend to judge people by their appearance, so pay special attention to appearance and attitude. The British are very particular about how they dress. As soon as they leave home, they must be well-dressed. Although the British no longer have the glory of the past, they are extremely conceited. Because people in the middle and upper classes live a comfortable life, they have developed a traditional "gentleman" and "lady" demeanor. But they are conservative and generally keen on sticking to the rules and being reserved and dignified. Most families like to show off old furniture, old furnishings, and old clocks passed down from previous generations. There are many "century-old stores" in London, the capital, and the more famous the store, the more intact it is in maintaining its original style or layout. Although the car engine has been replaced with a new model, the car model should try to remain the same as in the past. There are two post offices in London, which are open day and night, 365 days a year, and never take a break. It is said that this is preserved in accordance with the ancient British tradition.

British people are withdrawn, rigid in life, serious in doing things, not interested in external affairs, often taciturn, cautious about new things, and have a unique calm humor. They are conservative, indifferent, and don't reveal their emotions. Even if they have very sad things, they often don't show it. They rarely lose their temper, are patient, and are unwilling to have meaningless arguments with others. The British are very patient and never show any signs of anxiety under any circumstances.

The British are polite to others and speak very politely, always saying "thank you" and "please". You must also be polite when speaking to British people. No matter they are waiters or drivers, you must treat them politely. When you ask them to do things, you must speak tactfully and don't sound commanding. Otherwise, you may be treated coldly. The British respect women more. In the UK, the social atmosphere of "ladies first" is very strong. For example, when walking, let women go first. Let women go first in the elevator. When taking a bus or tram, let women get on first. When pouring wine, the female guest or hostess should pour it first. When walking on the street, men should walk on the outside to avoid danger and to protect women from harm. Husbands usually participate in various social activities with their wives, and they always introduce their wives to VIPs first. According to British business etiquette, it is appropriate to wear a three-piece suit and a traditional conservative tie at all times, but do not wear a striped tie, because the British will associate it with the old "legionary" or old school uniform tie. British people have a strong sense of time. When visiting or discussing business, you must make an appointment in advance. Punctuality is very important. It is best to arrive a few minutes in advance. The way they get along is to strictly keep time and keep their promises.

All ethnic groups in the UK still follow traditional habits and should avoid using the word "English" to mean "British". If you meet two businessmen, one of whom is Scottish or Welsh, you should say that they are If it is "British", then he will correct you and say that he is "Scottish" or "Welsh", using the word "British".

You must be conservative and cautious when talking about business. Shakes hands only when meeting for the first time or on special occasions, or when expressing approval and congratulations. In the UK, it is not popular to invite someone to breakfast to discuss business. Generally speaking, their lunch is relatively simple, and they pay more attention to dinner, which is regarded as a formal meal.

Therefore, major banquets are held during dinner. When you go to a British home as a guest, it is best to bring some gifts of lower value, because the cost is not much and there will be no suspicion of bribery. Gifts generally include: high-end chocolates, famous wines, flowers, especially my country's folk arts and crafts with national characteristics, which they particularly appreciate. We are not interested in souvenirs marked by the guest company. In the UK, clothing, soap and other items are too involved in one's private life, so they are generally not given away. Chrysanthemums are only used for Halloween or funerals in any European country and are generally not suitable to be given away. White lilies symbolize death in the UK and should not be given away. All other flowers can be given away. Potted plants are usually delivered after the banquet.

If you are invited to someone's home, you need to pay attention. If it is a social occasion, not a business matter, it is impolite to arrive early. The hostess must prepare for you. If you go early, she is not ready, which will make her Embarrassing. It's best to arrive 10 minutes late. In terms of accepting gifts, the habits of the British and ours are very different. They often open gifts in front of guests. No matter how valuable the gift is or whether it is useful, the host will express his gratitude with enthusiastic praise. Scotch whiskey is a popular gift, but hard whiskey is not.

British businessmen generally do not like to invite people to their homes for banquets, and most gatherings are held in hotels and restaurants. British banquets, in a sense, are mainly frugal. They hate wasteful people. For example, if you want to make tea for guests, if there are three guests, you must boil only three parts of water. The British are very particular about drinking tea. People from all walks of life like to drink tea, especially women. The British also have the habit of drinking afternoon tea, that is, putting down their work at 3-4 o'clock in the afternoon. , drink a cup of black tea, sometimes eat a snack, and rest for a quarter of an hour, which is called "tea break". The host often invites you to have afternoon tea with you. If this happens, there is no need to refuse. Smoking is generally not allowed at formal banquets. Smoking while eating is considered impolite.

In the UK, inviting someone to lunch, dinner, drinking in a bar, watching a play or ballet, etc. will be considered the equivalent of a gift. It is advisable for the guest to drink no more than 3 cups of the drinks provided by the host. If you feel that you have had enough, you can quickly turn the empty cup and give it to the host. This means that you have had enough and thank you. The opening hours of the pub are generally from 11 am to 3 pm, and from 5:30 pm to 11 pm. There are usually many thirsty people in pubs. During peak hours, latecomers don’t have seats, so they buy zero drinks and drink while standing.

British businessmen responded positively to constructive suggestions. They are well-dressed and show off their style. When attending banquets or evening parties, they are accustomed to wearing black dresses and their pants must be pressed and pressed straight. When visiting the UK, pay attention to some of their taboos: avoid talking about personal matters, family affairs, weddings and funerals, age, occupation, income, and religious issues. Due to religious reasons, they are very taboo with the number "13", thinking it is an unlucky number. Try to avoid the number "13" in your daily life. When dining, 13 people are not allowed to sit at the same table. If the 13th falls on a Friday, it is considered doubly unlucky. Do not turn the back of your hand outward and use your fingers to express "two". This "V"-shaped gesture is a hostile way of showing contempt for others. When walking on the street, be sure to pay attention to traffic safety. All vehicles drive on the left.

British people have a great sense of humor, and sometimes they may look serious when they are joking. They are good at laughing at themselves, but they will never gloat about other people's misfortunes.

Privacy is very important to British people. Personal issues such as marriage, romantic relationships, finances, health and other topics should be avoided.

When talking about business, I like to go directly to the topic and express my opinions rather than beating around the bush. When the British say "no", they mean exactly that, not a bargain. People in different parts of the UK may have different accents. Some accents can be strong and difficult for Chinese students who are accustomed to standard English back home to understand. Some students may find it more difficult to communicate on the phone than in person. The way to achieve effective communication is: when you have questions, don’t be afraid to interrupt the other person and ask questions. Ask for spelling when necessary, especially for names of people and places.

People may use colloquialisms in everyday conversations. Chinese students are not familiar with or even understand these sayings. For example, "Loo" refers to the toilet (WC), "Tube" refers to the subway (metro), "Tea" refers to the meal in some cases, and "Pants" refers to underwear. People say "flat" instead of "apartment". "To let" means "for rent". In informal situations, "Cheers" is often used instead of "Thank you". When people say "lovely", "brilliant", "magnificent", they mean "yes".

The British consciously abide by public order. You will queue up consciously when you need to wait. At ATMs, people will consciously keep a reasonable distance from those who are using the machines. In crowded places, people are accustomed to keeping distance as much as possible to avoid collisions.

When on an escalator, you will consciously stand to the right so that people who are in a hurry can pass from the left.

The British are polite and say "please" when making requests and "thank you" after accepting help or services, no matter how trivial it is.

Inform your friends in advance before visiting them. Uninvited guests can be annoying. Avoid calling people's homes after 10 p.m.

British people who like to read

In British public places, British people reading books and newspapers can be seen almost everywhere. When I walked into a London Underground station, I saw that the passengers waiting on the platform were all immersed in reading. When I squeezed into the carriage, I found that about half of the passengers, whether sitting or standing, were also immersed in reading. If you observe carefully, you will find that some people are reading English novels and recreational newspapers and periodicals, but most of them are reading very professional books, covering finance, architecture, astronomy, physics, chemistry and other aspects. Readers often forget to get off the bus and miss the station.