Traditionally a Chinese says “thank you” only when a favor has been done for him. His thanks goes, for example, to a person who returns him a lost item, or someone who offers him a seat on the bus or in the subway. Unlike westerners, Chinese people don’t often verbalize their thanks for complimentary remarks. Chinese consumers do thank waiters for their service, but the latter seldom return their thankfulness. Similarly, a Chinese person of high authority doesn’t often acknowledge a favor, however impressive it may be, to his/her junior partner.