Etiquette is one of the important forms of human association. China's ancient great educator Confucius said that as early as 2000 years ago: Don’t learn ceremony, not to stand . Etiquette is especially important in all ages. Development at Renmin University of China has issued the following interpretation, Jin Zhengkun professor of business etiquette puts forward to that it’s essential to give the correct definition of business etiquette and it is necessary to clear the basic meaning of business etiquette. Etiquette, is a general designation of courtesy and ceremony. It points to that in interpersonal process, people show their strict with themselves and respect for the standardization of the others from beginning to end in certain established procedures . It is obvious that politeness is the foundation of etiquette, courtesy is the basic part of etiquette. Etiquette, is actually made up of a series of concrete, performance of polite manners. [ Jin Zhengkun Business Etiquette [M] Beijing University Press, 2004] 

Nowadays, the United States has the most high-speed economic development, along with the first national comprehensive strength. What’s more,its foreign development is also the world's first,  having the considerable number of wholly owned or joint venture company in China. So this article which introduces the cross-cultural business activities mainly refers to the development of China's enterprises with the United States, from China's specific business contacts with the United States to reflect the business contacts of China and the rest of the world. Among them, the United States is the most typical country. 

2. Literate Review

Presently, there is a large number of people have realized the importance of business etiquette, therefore a lot of scholars engage in studying in this field. Since this thesis studies the difference of business etiquette, a review on the theories of predecessors as follows.

2.1 Definition of Business Definition 

Before briefly discussing the definition of business etiquette ,we should try to understand the meaning of this word,etiquette.Etiquette refers to a kind of standardized behavior in human’s  communications and contacts which means more than politeness and courtesy .Here is one definition of etiquette as follows: Etiquette means formal rules of correct and polite behavior in society or among members of a profession.(Hornby,1997:491) In addition, from the point of Ma ,he defines the business etiquette as follows: Business etiquette is the norms and criteria along with language ,expression and behaviors, in different situation abided by two or more business parties, by which they express their recognition, show their respects to each other and exchange each opinion ,in order to establish a friendly and harmonious business relationship.(Ma.2004;411)文献综述

2.2 Root of Chinese and American Eiquette 

China, as a cradle of oriental culture, no doubt enjoying a reputation of the etiquette country. In old China, etiquette is equal to courtesy and ceremony. As early as in Han dynasty, there were three great works,  called ”three li’’  nowadays, Yi-li, Chou-li and Li-ji, which together had a great influence in Chinese society.

However, American history is short, so is its etiquette history. The word etiquette was originated from French “etiquette”, whose originated meaning people found not only in court, but in social community. They should abide by some norms and regulations. So etiquette became the laissez-passer of personal intercourse nowadays.(Zhu.2006:3-6)

In that way, American etiquette is not as Chinese etiquette. That’s why Americans don’t care so much about etiquette as Chinese people do.