Abstract：
As a universal phenomenon, politeness is observed in every society whose main functions are maintaining social order and friendly interpersonal relations, reducing conflicts and misunderstandings by means of polite speech acts so as to attain the aim of communication. In both Eastern and Western cultures, politeness has long been regarded as an indispensable part of language. Politeness has social functions in both English and Chinese cultures. Generally speaking polite language in these two cultures are the same, but they are different in practical use. These differences are often the source of pragmatic failures in intercultural communication. This paper discusses the cultural differences between Chinese and English courtesy language by analyzing examples in privacy and attitudinal warmth, modesty and self-denigration, addressing terms, ways to greet each other, ways to express farewells, ways to express thanks, ways to express apology, taboos and euphemisms and ways of compliments. The paper aims at helping Chinese people understand the cultural differences between Chinese and English courtesy language, to raise their awareness of making a good use of courtesy language and to avoid pragmatic failures when they communicate with native speakers.

Key words：courtesy language; values; differences; cross-cultural communication

摘  要：
礼貌是每一个社会所具有的普遍现象，其主要职能是维持社会秩序，保持友好的人际关系，通过语言行为，减少冲突和误解的行为，以达到沟通的目的。在东方与西方文化中，礼貌长期以来被认为是语言不可缺少的一部分。礼貌在中英文化中都具有社会功能。一般来说，这两种文化礼貌的语言是相同的，但它们在实际使用是不同的。 这些差异往往是跨文化交际语用失误的来源。本文通过举例方法从隐私与态度热情，谦虚与自贬，称呼语，招呼语，告别语，致谢语，致歉语，禁忌与委婉语和恭维语的方面来分析中英礼貌用语的文化差异。旨在帮助中国人了解中英礼貌语文化的差异，使其能更好的运用礼貌语，从而在与英语国家人民的交际中减少语用失误。

关键词：礼貌用语; 价值观; 差异; 跨文化交际

1 Introduction
    Language is the most important tool for communication, among which the polite language has been highly valued in each culture, community and group. It is known that not everyone has the same views on politeness and being polite is considered to show a person’s courtesy and consideration for other people. The use of polite language is also a polite behavior. Generally speaking, being polite means that we must take the feelings of others into account and polite people can make others feel comfortable and at the same time leave a good expression on others. In daily life, there are a lot of examples of politeness. For example, to ask others for help, you’d better say “Excuse me” first; to say “Thank you” to the person who has offered you some help is polite; to greet someone the first time you meet in the morning is polite; to address others with appropriate address terms is polite; to say “sorry” when you have done something bad is polite and to leave without saying anything is impolite. Being polite is a good way to achieve good interpersonal relationships. In most general terms, people act politely in order to show the wish to start or maintain a friendly relation with someone else.