Chinese people talk loudly. They do it on trains and buses, in restaurants and stores, to friends and strangers. I’ve heard many explanations, but here are my theories:

  • Language. When you speak Chinese, the tone you use can change the meaning of the word. To emphasize their tone, I think many people speak louder than necessary.
  • Population. China is the world’s most populous country, which means you’re usually talking in a crowd. Without a megaphone, the only way to guarantee that someone hears you is to raise your voice.
  • Culture. Privacy isn’t valued in China’s communal culture, so shouting in public isn’t considered a nuisance.

Here are some other reasons I’ve read or heard about:

  • Farming. Before its rapid industrialization, China was an agricultural country where most people lived on farms. Because they were separated by great distances in the fields, people had to shout to communicate. Also, animals make a lot of noise, so farmers had to holler to be heard over the din of clucking chickens and bleating sheep.
  • Power. Speaking loudly is a sign of authority in China.
  • Loudspeakers. They’re commonly used in Chinese schools, stores and other public places, which makes people accustomed to the high volume.

***

While traveling from Beijing to Zhengzhou on a packed train Sunday, the noise in my car was so deafening I could barely hear the loudspeaker announcements. Much of the clamor came from cell-phone conversations. At least half the passengers were talking on their phones, most in very excited voices. There are no quiet cars on Chinese trains, and nobody thinks twice about talking on their phone for hours with someone seated next to them. Screaming children made the problem even worse. Chinese parents seem to find it amusing when their kids run through the aisles shouting at the top of their lungs. I tried to use earplugs, but they didn’t do much good: It was like trying to drown out the roar of a jet engine. So I walked to the dining car, which was almost empty, sat at a table and read a book. Blissfully, the only sounds I heard were a couple of diners slurping their soup.