Don't whistle. Whistling at home feels charming and all-American. In China it's considered a nuisance. At nighttime, it's said to attract spirits.
Do not touch, hug, lock arms, back slap or make any body contact. Clicking fingers or whistling is considered very rude. Never put your feet on a desk or a chair. Never gesture or pass an object with your feet.
A: A thumb placed between the middle and index fingers is an offensive gesture in some parts of China and its meaning is similar to giving the middle finger in Western countries.
Burping is polite
In China, burping isn't considered rude. In fact, it's actually a sign of gratitude to the cook and satisfaction with the meal. It's a great compliment, so don't be surprised when you hear a burp or two at the dining table.
Growing up in China, chewing with mouth open doesn't cause any frowning-upon. It's even sometimes expected because it is perceived that eaters are enjoying the food.
Slurping your noodles loudly is considered a compliment to the chef throughout Japan and China – a sign of deep appreciation for your one-bowl meal. In South Korea and Singapore, however, not so much.
Making eye contact in China is a sure-fire way to make enemies, not friends. The Chinese people view eye contact as a necessary tool, but not in the same way that other cultures do. In China, people make eye contact when they are angry. It is meant to challenge the other person and is a sign of disrespect.
1. 操你妈 – Cào nǐ mā Of all the bad words in Chinese Mandarin, 操你妈 is probably one of the most classic and insulting swears you can use to take someone down a notch. These negative meaning words consist of the three simple characters: 操 (f*ck) 你 (your) 妈 (mom).
Every culture has its own taboos, and it is important to remain aware of them when traveling or encountering another culture to ensure you don't commit a social faux-pas. In Chinese culture, some of the most common taboos involve gift-giving, birthdays, and weddings.
The tapping of the fingers is a way to say thank you if you are in the middle of a conversation.
China. Extending the middle finger is a rude gesture in China. The Chinese see it as a sign of boredom and disrespect because they use one finger when pointing at animals. However, the context of using this gesture can define its meaning.
Chinese couples tend not to show verbal affection, preferring instead to cuddle or hold hands. Reasons for this include a fear of rejection or loss of face, awkwardness and cultural traditions. Expressing love is an important gesture in any relationship.
Guizi (鬼子; pinyin: guǐzi) is a Mandarin Chinese slang term for foreigners, and has a long history of being used as a racially deprecating insult.
According to Chinese custom, public displays of affection (PDA) are not the norm and are generally considered taboo.
The China automatic block of sexting is a reminder that such protection is tenuous. All it takes is the consent of telecom companies and the acceptance of citizens to strip away anonymity and effectively use technology to restrict your freedom.
Breasts. mīmī (咪咪; literally cat's purring "meow meow") is a euphemism for breast. mántóu (Chinese: 饅頭; literally "steamed bun") also refers to a woman's breasts; as mantou is typical of northern Chinese cuisine this term is used primarily in northern China.
Without curse words, the Japanese language managed to articulate its way across hundreds of years of evolution, though with some limitations to apply. Looking into another language and its special traits, even just the smallest aspects like profanity, is truly inspiring.
Chinese smile for more reasons than Americans. A smile can mean the person is embarrassed, trying to be helpful, curious, happy or friendly. In the middle of an argument, smiling means that the speaker doesn't want this to become personal. When all else fails, smile in China.
In formal situations, people bow slightly or nod politely to greet one another formally. The bow is from the shoulders and should be greater if the person you are greeting has a higher status than you. If seated, the Chinese will stand up out of respect when they are introduced to someone.
In China, giving the pinky finger isn't equivalent to giving the middle finger. However, giving the pinky finger is a form of offence, albeit a small offence . If there was a scale, giving the pink finger would be a 1 and the middle finger a 10.
If sat at a table, the proper manner to drink tea is to raise the tea cup, leaving the saucer on the table, and to place the cup back on the saucer between sips. It's considered rude to look anywhere but into the cup whilst sipping tea, and absolutely no slurping!
One of the first things you'll hear in any discussion of Japanese table manners is that it's customary, and even polite, to audibly slurp your noodles as you eat them. It doesn't matter if it's ramen, soba, or udon. Japanese-style noodles are meant to be slurped, with the sound showing that you're enjoying the meal.
Making noise is not considered impolite, rather it is considered a compliment and an expression of enjoying the food. In some situations, a particularly loud slurp means you've finished eating.