`礼貌` is a fundamental pillar of Chinese society, deeply rooted in Confucian philosophy. It's the practical application of concepts like `仁 (rén)` - benevolence, and `义 (yì)` - righteousness. The ultimate goal of `礼貌` is to maintain social order and harmony (`和谐, héxié`).
Comparison to Western “Politeness”: In the West, politeness is often a script of “magic words” like “please,” “thank you,” and “sorry,” used to smooth over transactions between individuals. While these exist in Chinese, `礼貌` is far more contextual and relational. It's less about a universal script and more about demonstrating respect for specific relationships and social roles.
For example, a Westerner might think it's polite to call their new, older boss by his first name to show friendliness. In China, this would be considered extremely `没礼貌` (rude), as it ignores the hierarchy. True `礼貌` would be to use his surname and title (e.g., `王经理, Wáng jīnglǐ` - Manager Wang) until explicitly invited to do otherwise. Similarly, showing `礼貌` at a dinner table involves actions like letting elders eat first, pouring tea for others before yourself, and using serving chopsticks, which go far beyond verbal pleasantries.