In Chinese culture, being 忙 (máng) often carries a positive connotation, especially in a professional context. It implies that you are productive, in-demand, and contributing value. Saying “我最近很忙 (Wǒ zuìjìn hěn máng)” can be a humble way of indicating that your work or business is going well. This contrasts slightly with Western culture, where constantly being “busy” can sometimes be perceived as having poor time management or being overwhelmed. In China, it's more often seen as a sign of diligence and success. Furthermore, 忙 plays a unique role in social greetings. The question 你忙吗? (Nǐ máng ma?), literally “Are you busy?”, functions similarly to “How are you?” or “What's up?” in English. It's a low-pressure way to initiate conversation and show you care about the other person's well-being. The expected answer isn't a detailed schedule, but a general response like “挺忙的 (tǐng máng de - quite busy)” or “还行 (hái xíng - it's alright).”