why do Chinese people like that ...see this difference

    In China we often avoid being "complete" or "too full" ,  my Western friends find it extremely hard to understand . For example , when receiving  compliments like "You're amazing." “你太棒了。” (Nǐ tài bàng le) . "You did it perfectly."  “你做得很完美。” ( Nǐ zuò dé hěn wánměi.)  , we Chinese people are likely to respond with "Mei you mei you." “没有没有。”, "Have not, have not, have".  "No no no." “不,不,不。Bù, bù, bù”." Nin guo jiang le." “您过奖了。” "You've overpraised me.".  "You flatter me."

Whereas, my British friends would probably just say ,"Thank you!" "You're very kind." 

You can also see this difference in Western paintings and Chinese paintings. If you look at paintings from  oil paintings from the western Renaissance period or the Baroque periods , The School of Athens by Raphael. You'll find the art canvas is filled.   Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, You'll find objects, light, people, flowers , the canvas is filled. 

Whereas Chinese paintings you often find empty spaces left intentionally . Art piece , Fishing Village at Sunset by Muxi, Southern Song Dynasty 《渔村夕照图》作者:牧溪(南宋) Yúcūn xìzhào tú” zuòzhě: Mù xī (nánsòng) ; You may see a river, on a single boat and a lot of empty spaces.

Fishing Alone on a Cold River by Ma Yuan, Song Dynasty 《寒江独钓图》作者:马远(宋) Hán jiāng dú diào tú” zuòzhě: Mǎ yuǎn (sòng)

Now these differences point to one simple idea in Chinese philosophy , 

man zhao sun  满招损 ;

qian shou yi 谦受益.

Complacency invites loss; Humility brings benefit.

Completeness triggers declining 满招损 ; and humility invites progress 谦受益.

That's why when you go to a Chinese host's hosting a dinner , the Chinese hosts would say, "Oh sorry sorry the food isn't very good tonight." “哦，不好意思哈， 都是些普通菜。“Ó, bù hǎoyìsi hā, dōu shì xiē pǔtōng cài. "Oh, I'm sorry, these are just ordinary dishes." 

"My reception isn't very nice." “招待不周啊。” “Zhāodài bù zhōu a.” "I apologize for the poor hospitality."

"There are not enough dishes." “没有什么菜哈。” “Méiyǒu shé me cài hā.” "There aren't many dishes."; even when the table is packed with wonderful food 

My English friends often ask me, or they used to ask me , "Friend , why do you keep rejecting compliments?" "Why do you keep saying your reception isn't good enough?" 

That's because we, Chinese people, avoid "excess" . When the moon reaches its full, it starts to wane. When the cup of tea is full, it starts to spill. 

月亮圆满之时，便开始变亏。茶杯盛满之时，便开始溢出。Yuèliàng yuánmǎn zhī shí, biàn kāishǐ biàn kuī. Chábēi shèng mǎn zhī shí, biàn kāishǐ yìchū.

And when power reaches its peak, it starts to decline. 当电力达到峰值后，就开始下降。Dāng diànlì dádào fēngzhí hòu, jiù kāishǐ xiàjiàng.

In Chinese solar terms , there's one called "小满" Xiǎomǎn - Small Fullness. There isn't "Daman" - Big Fullness "大满" Dà mǎn, there isn't something like that but there's "Xiaoman" - Small Fullness. It marks a time when grains are just about to fill but not fully ripe , or fully full yet. 

Water is rising, rainfall increasing. Everything is approaching abundance but not yet reaching its extreme. This is a sort of balance or status that Chinese people pursue. And that's why a cup of Chinese tea is never full .

"What I hold dear in my heart , I would pursue without regret 

“亦余心之所善兮