Li: The Chinese Art of Making Other People Feel Properly Respected

礼 (lǐ) is more than a list of manners. It points to conduct that makes roles, consideration, and social order visible. In practice, respect often appears in small choices: how you greet, interrupt, host, thank, and disagree.

• Use the name or title the person prefers.
• Give the host or senior participant room to open a formal exchange.
• Handle corrections without turning them into a public contest.
• Thank people for specific help rather than offering only a vague compliment.

What counts as respectful changes with age, profession, region, family, and familiarity. The point is not to perform a stereotype; it is to notice what the particular relationship requires.