Conceptualizations of friendship between Chinese international students and U.S. nationals

The purpose of this qualitative study is to add to the understanding of intercultural friendships between Chinese students and United States nationals. The following research questions are posed: 1) How do Chinese international students and U.S. nationals conceptualize friendship, 2) how do these conceptualizations of friendship impact their intercultural relationships, 3) what types of communicative challenges do Chinese students face in developing friendship with U.S. nationals, and vice versa, and 4) what factors hinder Chinese international students from making friends with U.S. nationals, and vice versa? 22 Chinese international students and U.S. nationals participated in in-depth interviews. The results revealed friendship conceptualizations in both Chinese and U.S. cultures from three main aspects: level of friendship, function of friendship, and quality of friendship. The study also explores future directions for research in the areas of intercultural friendship.