General speaking, cross-cultural communication can usually be divided into two forms: verbal and nonverbal communication. Among them, verbal communication is also divided into oral and written language communication. Nonverbal communication is mainly through body language, including people's expressions, eyes, gestures, eye contact, standing posture, sitting posture and so on. Clothing is also one of the nonverbal ways which shows people communicate information.

And all of these are external forms of communication in which individuals communicate ideas, information and emotions with each other. Usually, both sides hope that communication can be smooth and successful, however, in many cases, due to the differences in language and non-language habits, there are many obstacles in the communication between both sides, and even the misunderstanding caused by the differences in cultural backgrounds from both sides.

People from different cultural backgrounds, ranging from the world view, values and ways of thinking, to every word and action, will have difficulty in communication if they cannot understand the differences between the two sides.

In the 1980s, an American professor visited China. After three months of lecturing in China, it came to be concluded that "Chinese people do not respect knowledge and scholarship". The reason is that during his three months in China, many Chinese called him "Mr Davis". The scholar, a scientist, has been called Dr. Davis, or professor Davis, in the decades since he received his doctorate as a young man. He also said to the Chinese, "you can formally call me a professor, or affectionately call me a doctor, or treat me as a friend and call me by my name, but not Sir." But when it comes to Chinese strangers, nine out of ten people call him Mr. Davis. He felt very uncomfortable and thought that the Chinese were deliberately belittling him.

After three months of frustration, he came to the conclusion that the Chinese did not respect knowledge and scholarship. But, from the perspective of the Chinese people, "Mr" in Chinese traditional culture is the term used for a senior scholar known, began as early as the spring and autumn period and the warring states era, "Mr" this title is the great educator, thinker and scholars addressed, such as "Mr Qu Yuan", "Lu Xun", "Mr Cai Yuanpei" and so on. Chinese people call him "Mr. Davis". They do not treat him as an ordinary man, but actually respect him. This is a misunderstanding caused by cultural differences. Fortunately, Mr Davis had not yet heard the Chinese call him "Dai Lao" - in China, "Lao" means great respect, and americans sounded like they were insulting him and disapproving of his age.