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. But Chinese people don't gesture very much and most consider hand gestures to be unnecessary and annoying.
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.
Sticking up the pinky finger in China is considered rude though, as it's meant to belittle or emasculate the viewer.
In China, sticking the pinkie at someone is also a rude gesture; it's a gesture of belittling the other party, indicating the other party as useless or if it's a guy, the gesture is also used to belittle he's manhood.
In Russia, the middle finger is used to simply point (usually at the speaker themselves) and to communicate emphasis.
It might seem like a rude gesture to us - but giving someone 'the finger' simply means 'brother' when you put it into the context of Japanese Sign Language. Sticking up one middle finger is translated as 'ani' or 兄 which means 'older brother'.
China. In China, burping is treated as any other bodily process, and after a meal, it can indeed serve as a compliment to the chef. It's probably China that originated the pervasive myth about complimentary burping abroad. Sometimes, this rule is conflated with a Japanese one that has to do with slurping.
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.
The tapping of the fingers is a way to say thank you if you are in the middle of a conversation.
Touchiness and physical affection are not common in Chinese culture. Don't try to hug or kiss strangers, slap their backs or reach out and touch them. Even handshakes are seen as too touchy, although this is changing thanks to business relations with the West.
Chinese people are generally very warm and welcoming towards foreigners. This often leads to a lot of preferential treatment.
“F***” (the verb) can be directly translated into Chinese as 操 (cào), but honestly that's only for the most extreme of circumstances. A slightly more polite term to use instead is 他妈的 (tā mā de), literally "his mother."
Eye Contact: Direct eye contact is generally favoured over indirect eye contact. It is considered a sign of politeness . When conversing with an unfamiliar elder, one may lower their head to lower their gaze. This is a sign of respect.
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. There, you might get unappreciative glances – the kind you get when you talk too loudly in a quiet train carriage.
The most likely cause of early hunger after a Chinese meal is the glycemic load. Chinese dishes tend to be loaded with added sugars (we all love that orange sauce) and simple carbohydrates such as white rice and white flour.
Excess gas in your stomach can point to different medical issues, with conditions as wide ranging as gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach ulcers to depression and anxiety possibly causing more frequent burps.
Japan is a country where everyone slurps especially while eating certain delicious food, such as soba noodles and other bowls of noodles, including ramen and udon. According to the Japanese, slurping improves the taste of the food and you could eat it faster especially if it is very hot.
It's considered both rude and crude — something you simply shouldn't do around other people. The act goes by many names — cutting the cheese, blowing a raspberry, letting it rip, passing gas, breaking wind and tooting.
In China and Taiwan, burping is the highest form of flattery—it means you like the food! “The host considers the noise a compliment,” says Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick, founder and president of the Etiquette School of New York. Slurping your noodles pays the same respect.
Crossing your legs is considered very casual and improper even if you do your best to cross them tightly and stylishly. Instead, experience the “seiza,” an excruciating form of traditional Japanese sitting (on your knees), invented especially to torture foreigners.
Another colorful Japanese gesture is the raising of your pinkie finger to indicate another man's wife, girlfriend or mistress — or possibly all three, depending on the man. (Note: When yakuza raise their pinkie finger, the gesture means roughly the same, except that the woman has been decapitated.
Because we try to draw the attention of deities. Shinto deities are mobile. Some people say that people try to activate the power of deities by clapping their hands. Clapping hands at the shrine is called "Kashiwade".