20 Everyday Habits That Are Rude in One Country and Polite in Another

Key facts

• Tipping is expected in the U.S. (15-20%) but can insult servers in Japan, where omotenashi service is included in the price.
• Slurping noodles is a compliment in Japan but considered bad manners in the U.S. and U.K.
• Sustained eye contact is seen as confidence in the West but as a challenge in Japan, South Korea, and China.
• Pointing the sole of your foot at someone is a serious insult in the Middle East, South Asia, and Buddhist Southeast Asia.
• Using the left hand to eat or greet is considered unclean in India, the Middle East, and much of Africa.
• Blowing your nose at the table is rude in Japan and East Asia but acceptable in the West.
• Asking about age, salary, or marital status is common in China but intrusive in the U.S. and U.K.
• Arriving exactly on time is expected in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan, but in Latin America, guests often arrive later.
• Handing business cards with both hands is respectful in Japan and South Korea.
• Removing shoes indoors is customary in Japan, South Korea, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe.
• Leaving food on the plate in China signals the host provided enough, but in the U.S. it can imply the food was bad.
• Whistling indoors is considered bad luck in Russia.
• Keeping hands in pockets while talking is disrespectful in South Korea and Japan.
• Touching a child's head is disrespectful in Thailand and other Buddhist countries.
• A direct 'no' is avoided in Japan, but valued in the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands.
• Burping after a meal can be a compliment in parts of China and the Middle East, but is rude in the West.
• Haggling is expected in markets in Morocco, Turkey, and South Asia, but not in fixed-price stores in the U.S.
• Maintaining eye contact during a toast is required in Germany and Austria to avoid bad luck.
• Accepting the first offer of food or drink is presumptuous in Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures, where polite refusal is expected.
• The article notes that these differences can cause friction in international business and travel.