In everyday conversations among peers, normal eye contact is expected and not considered unusual. However, traditional Confucian values around hierarchy mean that holding an intense, fixed gaze at someone older or of higher status can read as challenging or disrespectful — a brief, natural glance away is often the more deferential choice. Younger, urban Chinese people tend to follow similar norms to what you'd find in most Western contexts, so the hierarchy-related nuance matters more in formal or intergenerational settings than in casual city life. This is not a hard universal rule, and many people will simply not think much about a foreigner's eye contact habits.
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Try the Local Etiquette & Taboos Checker →Most likely not, especially in urban areas and with people accustomed to international visitors. Chinese people generally don't expect foreigners to follow every local social nuance perfectly. That said, softening your gaze slightly in formal or hierarchical situations is a small, easy adjustment that signals cultural awareness.
Not in the same way it might in some Western cultures. Looking down or away briefly in the presence of an elder or superior is traditionally a sign of modesty and respect, not deception. Complete avoidance of any eye contact in a peer-to-peer conversation, however, could feel awkward or disengaged.
Yes, formal business meetings — particularly with senior executives or government officials — are the setting where the hierarchy-related norms are most relevant. A respectful, engaged expression matters more than the precise amount of eye contact; being attentive and nodding appropriately generally reads better than worrying too much about exactly where to look.