The Chinese seriousness (hard work)

[Jefferson]

Hi,

I'm Brazilian from São Paulo.

I would like to ask you how to learn the Chinese seriousness. Most Asians whom I met were serious people about to study, work, business. I think they like hard work and can work 27/4. Strong mind on their objectives.

 

So I want to learn to be like that.

 

Thanks

[Shelley]

Hello and welcome,

 

It is true that Chinese students have a reputation for being hardworking and studious, but not all

 

You need to meet more Chinese people , they are all different and there is just as much variety amongst Chinese people as anywhere else.

 

Hang around these forums and you might get a flavour of the diversity.

 

If you want to be more serious and hardworking in your studies then you have to get out the books and get studying, no one can teach you, you just have to do it.

 

There are many topics here about how to study well and how to improve your regime.

 

Hope you find what you need.

[Jefferson]

Shelley,

 

Thank you for your reply.

 

I was under the impression that Chinese culture has some thing about hard work/study (because I see most Chinese people working hard in São Paulo), but you are right, and I need just to study more.

 

Thank you

[Johnny20270]

I don't think its something you can learn, You just either are or aren't by nature. Environment / interest / discipline / colleagues / setting deadlines / time pressure all help. 

I think interest is the most important factor

[li3wei1]

The secret is . . . they speak Chinese. All you have to do is learn the language, memorise 5000+ characters and a wide range of chengyu and classical allusions, hone your accent so you can pass yourself off as a native, get your handwriting up to the point where you can whip off native-looking memos, and be able to understand several people talking rapidly at the same time on a noisy street in a variety of regional dialects  . . . and you will possess the secret of hard work and dedication.

[skylee]

Nobody can work 27/4. Some can work 24/7, though.

I think the factors that drive people to work hard include - (i) the desire to succeed and to improve one's situation for oneself and his family/offspring, because of poverty, poverty, poverty, (ii) a government/ ruling class so corrupt that one must work hard to get enough resources (knowledge and/or money and/or connections) to either fight them, or get away from them, or join them.

I think most people who are very poor or in a bad situation would want to work hard if they have the chance.

[oceancalligraphy]

These things aren't learned. They're the byproduct of upbringing. When the environment consists of an exam-based school system, demanding parents who desire better for their children, and plenty of competition, it's either work hard to be in the front or be left behind. Not everyone has the same work ethics, but those that make it have been significantly shaped by their environment.

[淨土極樂]

It's fear.

 

Fear of slipping back into poverty, fear of disappointing one's parents, fear of losing face.

[Lu]

Skylee and Yst said it well.

Not all Chinese are serious and hard-working, of course. But many of them are, and as I see it it's mainly a result of upbringing, circumstances (the threat of poverty), and a culture that places an emphasis on studying/working very hard. These things often shape one's character (to a certain extent, at least), so they can't really be replicated to turn yourself in a Chinese-style hard-working person. The good news is that you can try and train yourself to be more serious about studies and work, through other factors.

[Simon_CH]

I think the Chinese work ethos is largely goal-based and interest-driven. The average Chinese works really hard to go to a good University, land a well-paid job, impress their boss or just generally benefit themselves and their family. But they lack an inherent work ethos or pride in their work, unlike the Japanese for example who strive to do every task, no matter how mundane, as well as possible. 

 

When doing a task benefits them in a way they are incredibly driven, self-reliant and proactive, when it doesn't very little gets done. It is therefore very important to incentivize people accordingly. Grouping East Asians together as having the same work ethos in my opinion is missleading as the nature of that "seriousness" about work is very different.