The Chinese communication approach values harmony and indirectness, often avoiding direct “no” responses to preserve social equilibrium and individual dignity. This can manifest as vague replies, changes in subject, or expressions of difficulty, all serving as subtle indicators of disagreement or refusal. Such reliance on unspoken cues and contextual information means that a literal translation of words may miss the actual intent, leading to significant misunderstandings if not properly interpreted through a cultural lens.
https://translate.hicom-asia.com/question/how-do-high-context-communication-patterns-affect-interpreting-chinese-commercial-agreements/