When the weather gets cooler in western countries, people search for warmer places with plenty of activities and sights to visit, including beaches. One of the favorite destinations for locals from western countries is Asia that offers plenty of excellent sights, a variety of activities and plenty of sun and surf. But are you clued up on the basics of Asian body language? There are many cultural differences that you’ll need to keep in mind as a tourist in Asia.
Asian countries are steeped in traditions, different cultures, age-old beliefs and customs, many of which are not known to foreigners. Every country in the world has its own set of customs and traditions, just like most countries have their own official or common languages. Things like facial expressions, eye contact, and hand gestures are fundamental aspects of communication in any language.
It is important for travelers to understand cultural differences, including Asian body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures. The gestures they are very familiar with and which they accept as normal, may have different meanings in different cultures. In many cases, a foreigner could be labeled rude. In some countries, tourists can get entangled with the law due to what could be deemed as an innocuous gesture.
The best thing to do is to learn them to avoid committing an embarrassing mistake.
So if you are planning to travel to any part of Asia to have a much-needed R&R, here are some things to avoid. Mind your body language and your hand gestures whenever you are outside and among local people in Asian countries.
Some of the common postures and hand gestures are harmless and universally accepted. Others will label you as a rude or uncultured.
Asian Body Language Basics
Body language is more powerful than words. And in Asian countries, unlike Western countries, they have so many expressive ways to convey how they feel. This is why it is important to learn which hand gestures and postures are accepted and which are not across different cultures. Here are the main cultural differences that come into play when it comes to non-verbal communication.
Pointing Fingers
When you are in China, see to it that you do not point your finger at anything and at people as this is offensive. In China, this gesture is only done to dogs. If you want someone to come to you, beckon them by extending your hand, palm down and angled towards you. Move your hand like an up and down wave, which is a signal to the person that you are calling him or her.
However, do not be offended when you see Chinese people point at things using their middle finger. That is a common gesture that Asian cultures tend to use and does not mean anything, contrary to what it means in western countries and some Middle Eastern cultures and Countries.
Another thing you must not do in China is to stick out your pinky finger. This means that something does not make you happy. For the Chinese, the hand gesture is like giving a thumbs down sign.
The V Sign
One thing you should get used to seeing is the younger generation who make the “V” sign when taking pictures. The V sign is made with the palms facing forward. Young people, especially young girls from Asian cultures tend to make this sign as a trick to make their faces look cuter and smaller. It’s a part of the kawaii aesthetics promoted by Japanese girls as a sign of cuteness.
Hands Inside Your Pockets
If you are visiting Japan or South Korea, be sure to keep your hands out of your pants pockets. In some countries this is considered cool. But in these two neighboring countries, this body language gesture makes you rude and arrogant.
Handing Over Business Cards
If you are doing business in Japan or in South Korea, remember that showing respect to persons of authority or people older than you is very important. When handing out your business card, you should use both hands when presenting the card. At the same time you should bow your head slightly. This is standard etiquette for people doing business in the country. It also means that you respect the person. And by showing it through the correct use of body language, you’re setting the stage for success.
Eye Contact
There is a saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Some people believe that you should look a person in the eyes when you are talking to them and maintain eye contact. They also say that facial expressions and other aspects of body language speak volumes in nonverbal communication. In some Asian countries, it is impolite to look at or maintain eye contact with the person you are talking to, especially if the person is older or higher in position or status than you. For them, prolonged eye contact it is a sign of politeness.
However, you have to contend with long stares (not necessarily direct eye contact) from Asian people if you clearly look “foreign.” They do not mean to stare. They are only curious about you.
Handshakes
While it is very common among several Western cultures to exchange handshakes as a form of greeting, in different cultures in Asia, there are different ways to greet someone. In Japan, it is more polite to make a deep bow instead of shaking someone’s hand. This is all about respecting the person’s personal space and showcasing it through the use of proper body language.
Fiji is not in Asia but in the West South Pacific. But if you going to spend your vacation in this island, bear in mind that when a Fijian shakes your hand, he will hold on to your hand for the entire time that you are exchanging greetings. It is considered rude if you pull away.
If you are in India, you put your hands together instead of shaking a person’s hand. When your palms are together as it in prayer, tilt your head down slightly and greet the person with “Namaste” with your hands are close to your chest. Again, it’s all about respecting personal space and showing it through correct body language.
Thumbs Up
In many countries in the West and in some parts of Asia, giving the ”thumbs up” sign is an indication that you agree or approve something. It’s a common body language gesture most of us use daily. But it is not the case in Bangladesh. In this country, this is used as an insult.
Touching Heads
Many parts of Asia, such as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and China, have large populations of Buddhists. For this religious sect, the head, being the highest body part, is sacred, while the feet are significantly dirty. When you are in these places dealing with other cultures, remember not to touch the head of someone as it is considered invasive. In the same manner, it is considered offensive to show the bottoms of your feet or point your feet at another person.
Conclusion
These are some of the most important reminders about body language and hand gestures when you are visiting Asia.
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