Abstract: Family endowment model is popular to solve the old caring problem in China as social endowment model is in America, which is resulted from the differences of two countries’ economy and cultural connotations. In order to understand the two endowment models deeply, this thesis first analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of Chinese and American endowment models and then analyzes the different cultural connotations associated with economy, family relationships, values and ethics. The aim of this paper is to make a good communication between Chinese and American endowment models. Therefore a healthy old caring environment can be built through learning Chinese and American endowment model.

Key words: family endowment; social endowment; endowment model; cultural connotation  

摘要：家庭养老和社会养老分别是中美两国处理养老问题的两种不同模式。中美两国的经济和文化内涵的不同是导致两国养老模式不同的原因。为了更深刻的了解两国的养老模式，本文先分析了两种养老模式各自的优缺点，再从两种养老模式的文化内涵与两国经济，亲子关系，价值观以及伦理文化的关系出发，讨论了两种模式的不同的原因。其目的在于探讨两国养老模式，希望能寻求一种既能发扬我国的尊老爱幼的优良传统；又能吸取美国的相互尊重，彼此平等的观念的模式，为老年人建立一个健康、健全的养老环境。

关键词：家庭养老；社会养老；养老模式；文化内涵