ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of Chinese (im)politeness research and highlights the impact of context on the uses of linguistic/non-linguistic forms and communicative acts in Chinese from theoretical, historical, and contemporary perspectives. It reviews previous research findings based on various data sources, such as historical texts, field observations, spontaneous conversations, discussion forums, questionnaires, DCTs, interviews, diaries, and ritual practices. It demonstrates the influence of sociocultural, personal, and interactional contextual factors on the practice and perception of Chinese (im)politeness. The discussion can improve our understanding of contextualized practice and perception of Chinese (im)politeness from varying perspectives.
