What are the 7 rules of Chinese etiquette?

What is not acceptable in Chinese culture?

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.

Can you hug someone in China?

Westerners like to hug and kiss when they meet but again this is considered inappropriate by the Chinese. Such overwhelming friendliness can make us feel uncomfor table. It's best to avoid any body contact apart from a simple (soft) handshake, especially when meeting people for the first time.

How to show respect to Chinese people?

Unlike what many foreigners think, Chinese etiquette does not include bowing when greeting Chinese people. A simple, soft handshake, a smile, and a friendly 'hi' or 'ni hao' (or 'nin hao' to greet older Chinese people) will often suffice. When addressing Chinese people, address the eldest or most senior person first.

What are the dos and don'ts for Chinese greetings?

If seated, the Chinese will stand up out of respect when they are introduced to someone. Always greet those that are older than you first. Use a person's family name and appropriate title to address them unless they have indicated that you can move on to addressing them on a first-name basis.

Dos and Don'ts of Chinese Etiquette: Things You Should NEVER Do According to Chinese Tradition!

Do Chinese people hug friends?

In China, however, although shaking hands is becoming more common, people do not hug and kiss during greetings, even amongst good friends. A common greeting is a warm "Hello" and a nod, but nothing more physical than shaking hands, even among women.

What is disrespectful behavior in China?

Standing with your hands on your hips or with arms crossed conveys arrogance or defensiveness in Chinese culture. Watch out for your feet. Pointing your feet towards someone, or touching someone with your feet, is considered impolite in Chinese culture. The feet are seen as the lowest and dirtiest part of the body.

What is the best gift to give a Chinese person?

At a personal level, souvenirs from your country, books, wine, liquor or local specialties from your country or chocolates are considered good choices. In the business world, items with company's logo, pens, wine, liquor or special products of your country are appropriate.

How do Chinese show affection?

Acts of Service: In Asian culture, demonstrating love often entails carrying out acts of kindness for others like preparing a meal, taking care of household tasks or running errands. This serves as a means of expressing care and affection through actions rather than relying solely on verbal expressions.

What does it mean when a Chinese person bows to you?

In East Asia

In China and Vietnam, shaking hands or a slight bow have become more popular than a full bow. However, bowing is not reserved only for greetings; it can also be used as a gesture of respect, with different bows used for apologies and gratitude.

Is China friendly to foreigners?

Although Chinese society is welcoming and Chinese people are friendly to foreigners, regularly failing to understand the culture or language can make you feel isolated.

Does love exist in China?

A love relationship signifies severe and long-term commitment in Chinese traditional culture. It carries the entrustment of elders and the hope of relatives. Marriage is not only for individuals but also for parents and clans.

What gifts cannot be given to Chinese people?

What are the three forbidden TS in China?

Overview. The political status of Taiwan (particularly discussion of Taiwanese independence), the Tibetan sovereignty debate, and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre are considered extremely politically sensitive by the government of China.

What is unlucky in China?

Inauspicious Numbers (4, 5 and sometimes 7)

Because of its negative association with death, most people consider this number to be so unlucky that many buildings in China do not even have a “fourth” floor. The number 4 is also unlikely to appear on house/door numbers and car license plates.

How do you greet a Chinese person?

Greetings: Common greetings include a slight nod or a small bow. Handshakes are also common in urban areas but might vary in firmness. In more formal settings, it's common to address someone by their title followed by their last name.

Do Chinese people have feelings?

Emotions are construed as interpretations of physiological response to important social events with these interpretations guiding behavior. Concerning interpretation, the dimensions used by Chinese to understand emotion-eliciting events are the same as those found in many other cultures.

Why do most people hug to the left?

The research team speculates that the left shift happens due to interactions between motor and emotional networks in the brain. As previous research shows, emotion processing takes place in the brain's right hemisphere. Thus, hugging to the left makes sense when emotions are involved.

What's the difference between Mandarin and Cantonese?

Mandarin Chinese is characterized by its relatively simple syllable structure, consisting mainly of single consonants and vowels. Cantonese, on the other hand, has a more complex phonetic system with a greater variety of consonants and vowels.

What are the two words for Chinese greeting?

1. 你好 | Nĭhǎo | Hello! 你好, or “nĭhǎo” in pīnyīn, is the greeting most commonly taught in beginner Chinese textbooks. Composed of the characters for "you" (你 nĭ) and "good" (好 hǎo), it literally means “you good.” If you're a beginner, you can't go wrong with 你好 nĭhǎo for "hello."

How does a Chinese man show love?

Couples in China often express love by doing household chores together. Whether it's doing dishes, cleaning up after dinner, or vacuuming the living room, doing chores together creates a sense of closeness and unity within a relationship.

What is considered attractive in Chinese culture?

It is said that you are beautiful if your face meets the following criteria: egg shaped, narrow jaw, small mouth and lips, large round eyes with double eyelids, and a nose with high bridge.

What is the Chinese love gesture?

Creating a small heart shape using the thumb and index finger is a tender gesture of affection in China. This is a widely recognized symbol of love and fondness, and it has also become extremely popular in the West.