Learning Chinese: culture — Unit 8

The Unit 8 text is a personal self-introduction: Gao Xiaoyu (高小雨 Gāo Xiǎoyǔ) introduces himself to his classmates. It's an opportunity to explore how Chinese people introduce themselves, the prestige of certain universities, and the place of pets in China.

1. The order of self-introduction in China

In the text, 高小雨 Gāo Xiǎoyǔ introduces himself following an order that is very revealing of Chinese culture:

  1. His name and nickname : 我是高小雨。大家叫我小雨。 Wǒ shì Gāo Xiǎoyǔ. Dàjiā jiào wǒ Xiǎoyǔ.
  2. His age : 我二十岁了。 Wǒ èrshí suì le.
  3. His physical appearance : 我很高。 Wǒ hěn gāo.
  4. His university : 我是北京大学的大学生。 Wǒ shì Běijīng Dàxué de dàxuéshēng.
  5. His field of study : 我学中文。 Wǒ xué Zhōngwén.
  6. His nationality : 我是中国人。 Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.

This order is not trivial. In China, the university is a major social marker. For a young Chinese person, saying that he is a student at 北京大学 Běijīng Dàxué is more than mere information — it is a social identity card. The university largely defines a person's professional path and network of relationships.

2. 北京大学 Běijīng Dàxué : Peking University

Peking University, commonly known as Beida (北大 Běidà, short for 北京大学), is one of the most prestigious universities in China. Founded in 1898 under the name 京师大学堂 Jīngshī Dàxuétáng, it is one of the country's first modern universities.

Along with Tsinghua University (清华大学 Qīnghuá Dàxué), Beida forms the pair of the most renowned universities in China. Getting into one of these two universities is the ultimate goal of the 高考 gāokǎo, the dreaded national university entrance examination.

3. Pets in China

The text tells us that Xiaoyu's family has a dog (狗 gǒu) and two cats (猫 māo). Attachment to pets is a phenomenon that has grown considerably in China in recent decades, especially in big cities.

Historically, animals were above all utilitarian in Chinese society: dogs guarded the house, cats hunted mice. Today, with urbanization and the rise in living standards, pets have become true members of the family. Pet shops, veterinary clinics and cat cafés (猫咖 māo kā) have multiplied in China's big cities.

Do Chinese people eat dog or cat?

It's a frequently asked question, and the answer deserves nuance. The consumption of dog meat exists historically in certain regions of southern China, notably during the Yulin festival (玉林 Yùlín). However, this practice is clearly declining and is the subject of growing controversy within Chinese society itself.

The vast majority of Chinese people — particularly the younger generations and city dwellers — do not eat dog or cat. Since 2020, several Chinese cities have banned the consumption of dog and cat meat. The city of Shenzhen was the first to classify dogs and cats as "pets" rather than "livestock."