In Chinese cinema and television, small talk scenes typically reflect culturally ingrained communication styles emphasizing politeness, indirectness, and relationship-building. Characters often open conversations with safe, non-controversial topics such as greetings, weather, family, food, or hometown, which serve as social lubricants before any deeper or business-related discussion. These interactions highlight respect, face-saving, and social harmony, often using culturally specific expressions like “Have you eaten?” (你吃了吗?) as a form of caring small talk.
Dramatic dialogues often show characters engaging in indirect responses, encouraging conversation gently, or using humor as a way to ease social tension. Small talk is portrayed as a ritual to build trust or check the social atmosphere, consistent with real-life Chinese behavioral patterns. Such scenes also reinforce hierarchy and social roles by showing formal address and subtle cues about familiarity or distance. This careful orchestration of small talk in screenplays educates viewers about appropriate social behavior and relationship management.