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Choose Your Culture

 Korea
Japan
China

Japanese culture

  • Do say "Itadakimasu" before eating.
  • Do wait for the taxi door until it automatically opens
  • Do say "Ojamashimasu" when entering a house

    • Ojamashimasu directly means "Sorry for disturbing you"

  • Do use "san" after someone's name

    • "San" is similar to "Mrs", "Mr" but can be used for both men and women, and with either surname or given names.

  • Don't stick chopsticks in rice.
  • Don't talk or use phone in the train
  • Don't pour soy sauce directly over sushi or sashimi

    • A small plate for soy sauce is always provided

  • Don't open a gift until you leave, unless you are encouraged to do so.

Korean Culture

  • Do wait until elders start eating their food.
  • Do use two hands for handshakes.
  • Do learn some basic Korean

    • 정(Jeong) meaning the country’s putatively real and unique form of social relational bonding, 답정너(Dab jeong neo) defined as a situation in which someone asks a question but has already decided the answer they want to hear.

  • Don't write names in red

    • Traditional Korean culture uses red to write the names of the dead therefore it's considered very unlucky and potentially life threatening

  • Don't blow your nose in public areas.
  • Don't tip

Chinese culture

  • Do take off your hat when entering temples.
  • Do present and receive things with two hands
  • Do greet the eldest person first as a sign of respect
  • Do learn some basic chinese

    • E.g. 4 (sì) sounds similar to Chinese word for death therefore represents bad luck, face (Mian Zi) represents person's honour and good reputation.

  • Don't say "Ni hao" to elderly

    • Use "Nin hao" instead, it is more polite.

  • Don't use your own chopsticks to pick food from the central dishes
  • Don't give symbolic presents e.g. clock, handkerchiefs