my acknowledge is not to ask his/her private problems like age , salary or marriage status. In China or chinese world , such asking might stand for some friendly concern , however it is quite rude for some people who meed more privacy . I heard 1 girl asked another fashioned lady : how much is your purse? It seems very common for most Chinese to show their appreciation for her purse . yet, that fashioned lady was very unhappy to such impolite inquiry. I consider it is offensive to that foreign lady.