A word/phrase to describe implicit expectations between people

Question

I was talking with a chinese friend about the concept of renqing (人情) and the idea that when two people know each other they may develop implicit expectations that they are obligated to help each other (人情在) based on that relationship, even if it isn't a deep friendship. She was saying that there may not be a word or phrase for this in english because of the difference in our cultures - that we are more individualistic, but I think the idea is fairly universal even if the degree is different. My closest approximation is "strings attached" but I'm not sure if there was something better.

*Also is there a word to describe the idea of looking for the right word/phrase to encapsulate a large concept like above?

Thanks!

Answer 1

The word good-neighbourliness exists, but neighbourliness is a synonym that's a bit less of a mouthful. Almost certainly there are widely-perceived connotations (an obligation to help someone in need - an obligation to help anyone in need) from the 'parable of the Good Samaritan' given by Jesus (94 million Google hits for who is my neighbor).

Answer 2

I guess the word by trying to think back in my own mother tongue (Thai). With a bit of help of some dictionaries, I believe this word might be what you're looking for:

confidant
a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others.

Some other words that come close, in my opinion, are acquaintance, intimate, and a common term such as close friend.

The reason that I prefer these terms over Samaritan and neighbourliness is that though they are quite close, they emphasize the sense of helping (each other) out, which might be correct, according to your suggestion. However, considering that the word renqing (人情) hints the sense of human or humane (I'm not very sure on this), and 在 hints the sense of "in", I would like offer the word confidant. (But I might be totally wrong, since I'm guessing Chinese words.)

Answer 3

It is one of the biggest differences in culture that most Western dwellers are unaware of.

I'm not sure if I'm answering the question, but to understand this concept you should try to understand:

• Guanxi (noun)

(in China) The system of social networks and influential relationships which facilitate business and other dealings.

Here is a Wikipedia article about Guanxi which also mentions renqing, and alludes to it being part of the wider concept of Guanxi.

Answer 4

goodwill

noun 1 friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude:
the plan is dependent on goodwill between the two sides

noun friendliness, favour, friendship, benevolence, amity, kindliness
I invited them to dinner as a gesture of goodwill. (Collins)

Answer 5

Social contract is similar.

an implicit agreement among the members of a society

Answer 6

Reciprocity is the name of a type of social interaction where everyone is expected to put in their fair share but nobody keeps exact score. Think of how family or friends might alternate buying lunch on different days without calculating the price, but if the friend orders the most expensive item each time on your day to pay you might eventually get upset.

Answer 7

I would suggest mutuality or shared humanity for 人情.

For 人情在, I would suggest the ties that bind us together or we are all bound together in common humanity. Or something roughly like give and take.

I don't think there's an exact conceptual parallel in English-speaking cultures. Looking at the other answers suggested, several concepts that result in similar attitudes towards others are built on different conceptual schemes, e.g. Good Samaritan -- built on a concept of obedience to a command to "love the neighbor as oneself", social contract - built on an idea that society is something we enter into through a choice, camaraderie -- built on friendship

Answer 8

The word camaraderie comes to mind. It's not uncommon, and can encapsulate your theme in certain contexts, but it leans towards the implied trust between all people falling into a group (nationality, culture, language, etc.) rather that just between two acquaintances.

camaraderie (ˌkæməˈrɑːdərɪ)

noun

• Goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship.
• a spirit of familiarity and trust existing between friends
• comradeship; good-fellowship.

I have also seen the word sodality used to describe this concept, where it was the sodality between two people rather than sodality as a group, which is its correct usage.