Japanese social customs can be summed up in these words:

Treating people with courtesy, greeting them with a smile and a joyful spirit;

Meeting people with a bow and a salute, modesty and politeness;

Language is civilized and polite, and conversations are softly and softly;

White and yellow are loved, green and purple are forbidden;

Turtles and cranes are lucky in life, and foxes and badgers are disliked by everyone.

White and yellow are loved by people, green and purple are taboo

Turtles and cranes live a long and lucky life, while foxes and badgers are disliked by everyone.

The details of life are characterized by the following:

Japanese people love to use self-effacing language in social activities and are good at putting themselves down. "Please take care of", "rough tea, poor care", etc., is their often used polite words. They attach great importance to the beauty of clothing and instrumentation, in public occasions, generally have to wear a dress, to suit suit more common. Their favorite clothing is kimono. They have worship, worship "7" custom, it is said that the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn to the earth to bring light, warmth and life. The Japanese have a habit of drinking tea and generally prefer warm tea. When pouring tea, their polite custom is to pour to 80% full as the most respectful guest. When they drink, like between the host and guest pouring each other, not used to self-pouring, i.e., the guest in the master for its pouring, and then immediately took the bottle to the master pouring. It is believed that such mutual pouring can show the equality and friendship between host and guest. The Japanese are not used to treating guests with cigarettes. When they smoke themselves, they generally do not honor their guests. Because smoking is harmful to health, can not be used to entertain friends and relatives. Japanese people have a very strong concept of hierarchy, between the upper and lower levels, between the eldest and the youngest generation is very clear. Women generally treat men with the utmost respect. They are best at giving gifts in social interactions, and pay attention to affordability and the color of the gifts. They often give some small gifts to people; generally in the case of good luck in the gift of yellow and white or red and white, in the case of misfortune, the gift of black, white or gray. They have deeper feelings for white, regarded as pure color; Japanese people also love yellow, think yellow is the color of sunshine, give people the joy of survival and sense of security. They like turtles and cranes and other animals. These animals give people the impression of good luck and longevity.

Sakura is the national flower of Japan, they love the pure, elegant and noble style of cherry blossoms; they love the cherry blossoms to bring people a beautiful spring; they love the bold character of cherry blossoms that bloom and fall without hesitation. They regard cherry blossom as the pride of Japanese nation, and take cherry blossom as the symbol of hard-working, brave and wise Japanese people.

Five, etiquette

Japanese people meet each other to bow as a gift. More familiar people meet each other bow to two or three seconds appropriate; if you meet a close friend, the time to bend a little longer; in the meeting of higher social status and elders, to wait for each other to look up after the head up, and sometimes even bow a few times. They also give handshakes on social occasions. Japan's countryside etiquette etiquette is also more, women in the send friends and relatives to say goodbye, generally more kneeling (i.e., kneeling down on bended knees); men's farewell ceremony is to shake the clogs (i.e., clogs in the air in the hands of shaking). The Japanese Ezo (Ainu) people meet with the ritual of hands together, then slowly raised to the forehead, palms outward, men pat the beard, women pat the upper lip, and then shake hands with each other.

General Etiquette

Shoes should be removed before entering a Japanese home, but this is not necessary for Western-style housing.

Applications and Greetings

The usual etiquette for meeting people is to bow y without shaking hands. Be prepared to exchange business cards.

Never address Japanese people by their first names. Only refer to family members and very close friends by their first names.

When addressing someone as "Mr. So-and-So," add "San" to their last name.

Appointments and Punctuality

Whether it's a business or social appointment, be on time.

Hospitality and Gifts

Japanese businessmen often invite their business associates to banquets, which are almost always set up in Japanese restaurants or nightclubs, and are very sumptuous, often lasting several hours.

Hosting guests in private homes is a rare occurrence. If you do go to a Japanese home as a guest, take off your hat and gloves and then your shoes as soon as you walk in the door. It is customary to bring the hostess a box of pastries or sweets, not flowers.

If a Japanese person gives you a gift, thank him or her, but wait until he or she insists on giving it to you. Receive gifts with both hands.

Japanese people like to be given gifts. Gifts should be well wrapped in pastel-colored paper, without the use of looped decorative knots. They especially like brandy wine and frozen steak. Gifts in pairs are considered a sign of good luck, so chainmail buttons for shirt cuffs and matching pens and pencils in pairs are especially popular. Don't get anything in fours, as the Japanese word for "four" is pronounced the same as the word for "death".

Conversation

The taboo topic is World War II.

Sixth, belief taboos

Most Japanese believe in Shinto (Japan's inherent religion, that is, the worship of the Emperor's ancestral god, Amaterasu Omikami) and Mahayana Buddhism; there is a "no lunch" of the teaching of the view. They do not like purple, that purple is a sad color; the most taboo green, that green is an ominous color. Japanese people taboo "4", mainly "4" and "death" pronunciation is similar, very unlucky; they are particularly jealous of gift-giving "9 ", you will be mistaken for the master as a robber. Also taboo three people together "photo". They believe that the center is sandwiched between the left and right, which is an omen of misfortune.

Japanese people have a lot of taboos on flower delivery: taboo gift or arrangement of lotus; when visiting the sick taboo camellia, cyclamen and yellowish and white-colored flowers. Because the camellia withered when the whole flower head to the ground, inauspicious; cyclamen flowers in Japanese pronounced "Hibiki Ramen", and "Hibiki" with the Japanese pronunciation of "death" similar; yellowish and white-colored flowers, which is a traditional Japanese tradition, the Japanese people have a lot of taboos: avoid giving or decorating lotus flowers; when visiting the sick, avoid using camellias, cyclamen and light-yellow and white-colored flowers. White-colored flowers, which are traditionally disliked by the Japanese. They are wary of chrysanthemums or things decorated with floral motifs because it is a symbol of the imperial family, and generally do not dare and can not accept such gifts or courtesies.

The Japanese have a strong aversion to things decorated with foxes and badgers, believing that foxes are "greedy" and "cunning" and badgers are "deceitful". They also hate cats with gold or silver eyes. They think that seeing such cats will make them feel demoralized. They avoided touching other people's bodies, which was considered rude. They are taboo to give them the container that has held something to reuse again; taboo to wash the face in the water again to the hot water; taboo to cut nails at night; taboo to wash things at night to dry; taboo to sleep or lie down with the head towards the north (it is said that the mortuary only head towards the north). Japanese people to friends to buy things, generally unwilling to ask how much the price, because it is impolite, the same way if you comment on the other side to buy things cheap, but also rude. It is also rude to comment on the cheapness of something you bought, because the Japanese do not want the other person to think that they are economically weak and will only buy cheap goods. Japanese people use chopsticks have a lot of taboos:

Jealous of the chopsticks straight into the rice, that this has the meaning of the dead; avoid licking the chopsticks with your tongue, that this is extremely indecent; avoid using chopsticks to wear, inserted food to eat, that this should not be the table should move; avoid using chopsticks to eat from the dish pickled, that this is a bad habit, people regarded as a lack of etiquette; taboo chopsticks moving a dish does not eat, and then move another dish, that this is not a dish, that is not a dish. Do not use chopsticks to move a dish and not eat, and then move another dish, that this kind of fussy behavior will make people laugh; Do not put chopsticks across the top of the dishes, that will remind people of unfortunate things; Do not use chopsticks instead of toothpicks to pick teeth, that is, unhygienic, but also make people nauseous; Do not twist the chopsticks, lick the rice particles stuck in the chopsticks, that this is a kind of bad habits, no talent; Do not use chopsticks to swim around the table to look for food, that is, this kind of lack of education performance; Do not use the same pair of chopsticks, and use the same pair of chopsticks to eat food, that this kind of lack of education It is also taboo to use the same pair of chopsticks for everyone to pick up food in turn, as it is considered to be reminiscent of the Buddhist cremation ceremony where the bones of the deceased are passed around.

Japanese people in the diet of etiquette taboos are also quite a lot; entertaining guests taboo will be too full of rice too much, not a spoonful of a good bowl; taboo guests to eat a bowl is enough, the second bowl of symbolism should be added to the point, because only eat a bowl, they believe that it is a symbol of no destiny; taboo in the process of organizing the meal to organize their own clothes or hand strokes, hair, because this is unhygienic and impolite manners.

Japanese people generally do not eat fatty meats and pig offal; some do not eat lamb or duck.

Seven, eating habits

Japan's drinks are inherent in Japan's "Japanese cuisine"; from China to the "Chinese cuisine"; from Europe to the "Western cuisine

Japanese cuisine"; "Chinese cuisine" from China; "Western cuisine" from Europe.

Japan's special geographical environment determines their unique eating habits, "Japanese cuisine" is characterized by fish, shrimp, shellfish and other seafood as the main ingredients for cooking, or hot, or cold, or raw, or cooked. Their staple food is rice, other major grains are wheat, barley, millet, corn, buckwheat, glutinous rice, soybeans, small beans, sweet potatoes and so on. Some of these main grains are made into steamed rice, boiled rice; thin porridge, chowder porridge, fried rice, bean paste rice balls, brown rice, etc.; some are made into rice flour balls, rice cakes, bread, baked cakes, noodles, steamed bread, etc. as noodles to eat. They always like to eat red beans and rice on their birthdays for good luck. They are very fond of miso and miso soup because it contains a lot of protein and iron and is easy to digest, suitable for the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled, but also one of the indispensable recipes in Japanese families.

Japanese people in the dietary preferences have the following characteristics:

①Focus on the quality of the dish is small, pay attention to the nutritional value of the dish.

② taste General taste does not like too salty, love sweet, sour and slightly spicy flavor.

③ Staple food used to rice as the main food. Interested in fried rice, adzuki bean rice, assorted fried rice, eight treasures rice, steamed dumplings, dumplings, soup noodles, chow mein and so on.

4 Side Diets They love fish, especially sashimi; they like beef, wild birds, eggs, shrimp, crab, kelp, lean pork; they also love purple cabbage, bok choy, eggplant, cabbage, cucumber, radish, bamboo shoots, celery, tomatoes, spinach, bean sprouts, green peppers, cauliflower, bok choy, mushrooms, fungus, tofu, etc.; and they like to season with seaweed, ginger, sugar, sesame seeds, and soya sauce.

5 Preparation Methods Favor dishes made by cold mix, frying, stir-frying, steaming, deep-frying, skewering and grilling, and other cooking methods.

6 Chinese food Favor Chinese Beijing, Shanghai, Cantonese and not too spicy Sichuan cuisine.

7 Recipes Appreciate jellyfish in cold sauce, mushroom soup, stir-fried grass head, sliced fish in bad sauce, winter melon cup, crab meat with mushrooms, shredded pork with bamboo shoots, chicken breast in hibiscus sauce, stir-fried sliced chicken, beef in oyster sauce, shrimp with green beans, dry-boiled pompomfret, soft-fried chicken, Peking duck, and goulash.

8 water and wine to China's Shaoxing wine, Maotai wine is extremely interested in; the general public love to drink green tea, black tea and fragrant slices of flower tea.

9 Fruits Prefer cantaloupe, watermelon, watermelon, oranges, apples, pears, grapes, bananas, pineapples, peaches, apricots, strawberries, etc.; dry fruits like walnuts, almonds, cashews and so on.

French business customs

France **** and the country (The French Republic), referred to as France or France (France). It is appropriate to wear conservative suits for business activities in France, and it is absolutely necessary to make an appointment to visit public or private organizations. In France, etiquette requires you to list your identity on your business card, and guests always like to send flowers to their hosts on the eve of visiting and attending a dinner party. French businessmen are conservative and formal, especially in smaller cities such as Lyon (Lyon) or Bordeaux, you have to behave extraordinarily formal, everywhere do not forget to shake hands, more shake a few times is better, do not ask each other about family matters. The French are also very sensitive to "trade secrets". French culinary reputation around the world, the French are very concerned about eating, dining is a great pleasure of the French, generally like dinner, do not like lunch talks. When it comes to hospitality, the host's intentions are meticulous. For example, it is common sense that a couple should be entertained at dinner. If you are invited to the other party's home for dinner, you should first ask the florist to send some flowers. When eating, the French are very sensitive to flavor, so whenever a guest compliments a dish as being delicious, he or she will be very happy. As a result, when the guest finishes the complimented dish, he will surely bring a new one up. There is a saying that the French "praise the skill of the chef to eat", the English "pay attention to the etiquette to eat", the Germans "take into account the nutrition to eat", while the Italians are "eat with pleasure". Indeed, this phrase expresses the French character to the fullest. There is a French proverb that says, "As soon as the wine is taken out, it must be drunk." Decisions are made slower in business negotiations. In France, pay attention to business etiquette, the French taboo "13", they do not live in the room 13, not on the 13th day of travel, do not sit on the 13th seat, not allowed to 13 people **** dinner. French people love flowers, life can not be separated from the flowers, especially when visiting friends and relatives, should go to the meeting, always bring a bouquet of beautiful flowers, people in the eve of visiting or attending a dinner party, always send flowers to the host. Chrysanthemum appreciation is a kind of elegance of our people, but the French are different, remember not to send chrysanthemums, because in France (or other French-speaking areas), chrysanthemums represent mourning, and only send chrysanthemums at funerals. Other yellow flowers, symbolizing the unfaithfulness of the couple, do not send. Also avoid chrysanthemums, peonies and paper flowers, in France, carnations are regarded as ominous flowers, if you are confused to buy a large handful of carnations, given to the French, encountered a temper, not to be beaten up it, France is a country rich in flowers, the French people will be iris iris as the national flower of their own people (the Europeans call the iris "lily"). "The French love roses.) The French love roses and cultivate more than 7,000 kinds of roses, which indicate love. In France, a man who gives perfume to a woman is suspected of being overly affectionate and of "mischievous intentions". Don't give knives, swords, forks, cutlery and the like. If you do, it means that the relationship will be severed. Flowers are usually sent in the singular, but don't send the unlucky "13". Luxury goods produced in France, such as champagne, brandy, perfume, sugar chestnuts, etc., are also good gifts. Artistic and aesthetic gifts such as records, paintings or books such as biographies, histories, commentaries and memoirs of famous people are very popular in France. The French do not usually give gifts to each other unless they are on good terms. France's consumption of cheese is the highest in the world. Former French President Charles de Gaulle said, "365 days a year, we have 365 kinds of cheese in France". There are at least 400 kinds of French cheeses, and it is a world-famous cheese country. If you are a guest in a French home, the host will not only bring out a variety of wines to entertain the guests, but also bring out a variety of cheeses for the guests to taste. French people's clothes are generally very sophisticated, especially the Parisian people to dress beautiful and gorgeous and exquisite and world-renowned. French women are the world's most dressed up women, its fashionable clothing, the use of cosmetics is also particularly large, just lipstick on a variety of types, morning, afternoon and evening with a different, so the French high-level clothing, cosmetics and luxury goods are also famous in the world. The French have always loved alcohol, they love to drink wine, cider, brandy, whiskey, gin and so on. Don't smoke unless there is an ashtray on the table. French people not only in the meal, but also in the usual habit of favorite coffee. They usually love to use large cups of flavored espresso. As a result, lively outdoor cafes abound, especially along the spacious boulevards of Paris. French people in trade negotiations are considered to have some of the following characteristics: 1. extremely firm position; 2. insist on the use of French in the negotiations; 3. a clear preference for lateral negotiations. That is to say, they like to sketch out an outline for an agreement, then reach an agreement in principle, and finally finalize all aspects of the agreement. They all have a de Gaulle-like knack for getting what they want with a firm "no". Business should be kept to a strict schedule and a few words of conversational French should be learned in order to be able to move freely. The French people are bright, enthusiastic, relatively humorous, witty, like to talk, especially love music, dance. They love music and dancing. Even if they are going to the battlefield tomorrow, they still want to go to a dance party today to have fun. It is not advisable to visit the country for business at Christmas and two weeks before or after Easter; July 15 to September 15 is the vacation period for the locals. Drinking water is safe. The law states that water that is not drinkable is labeled: "Eau Non Portable". You may bring 400 cigarettes or 100 cigarettes before snow, or 500 grams of tobacco, 2 bottles of wine, and less than 5,000 francs out of the country. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that can be taken out of the country. France prohibits the mailing of contraceptive pills and supplies.　

South Korea business etiquette

South Korea is located in northeastern Asia, the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, an area of 9.89 million square kilometers. It has a population of 42.3 million, and 35.3% of its inhabitants are Buddhists; in 1976, the Buddha's Birthday was declared a national holiday. Korean is the official language. The currency system is Won.

Korea is a country of etiquette, especially when shaking hands with elders, the left hand is placed lightly on top of the right hand. The words "yes" and "no" are clearly expressed. On sunny days, a ceremony is held in the evening to lower the national flag, and people in the streets and offices stand at attention and sing the national anthem.

The word "four" in Korean is pronounced and pronounced exactly the same as the word "death" and is considered unlucky, so there is no fourth building in a building, no fourth floor in a hotel, no fourth table in a banquet, no fourth ward in a hospital, no fourth division in the army, and no fourth plate in a restaurant. The army does not have four divisions and regiments, do not eat four plates and four bowls, and never drink four glasses of wine. In North Korea, there is the name Lee, but never say "eighteen children" Lee, because in the Korean language "eighteen children" and a lewd word similar, never say this in front of the woman, otherwise it will be regarded as intentionally insulting people.

According to Korean business etiquette, it is appropriate to wear conservative suits. Business events and visits must be pre-arranged. Koreans are punctual when dealing with foreigners. It is advisable to have business cards in English and Korean, which can be printed locally and quickly. Business people tend to be fluent in English, and the elderly tend to be fluent in Chinese. Decisions are made at the highest level. Shoes should be removed when entering the host's house or restaurant. They attach great importance to the reception of business contacts, banquets are usually held in restaurants or bars, and their wives are seldom present. Banquets and hospitality are very frequent. All the food is served at once. When visiting a Korean home, it is better to bring some flowers or some small gifts and hand them to the host with both hands. The host does not open the gifts in front of the guests.

The taste is light, not like greasy, but especially like to eat spicy dishes. They usually eat grilled, steamed, fried, deep-fried, stir-fried, soup type of Lai, favorite Lai dishes are dry roasted cinnamon fish, bean fish, shredded meat scrambled eggs, shredded pork with fine noodles, dried mung bean sprouts, four raw hot pot, fried shrimp balls, diced chicken with chili, shredded beef with dry frying, red fish dumplings and so on. Spicy full of vegetables and soup, these two foods are indispensable. Local souvenirs of Seoul include wall decorations and shim rae (Korean kimchi type of dip).

Koreans have strict rules that must be observed for the elderly. They show respect to their elders in social interactions and daily life (in the family) and do not dare to treat them with disrespect. For example: with the elders of the same seat, they always maintain a certain posture, never dare to take it lightly; if you want to smoke, must first get the elders of the permission; dining, never than the older first chopsticks; children will never eat faster than their parents, or earlier than their parents to leave the seat. Koreans never speak ill of their elders, nor do they criticize them behind their backs.

Some people are accustomed to saluting once when they say a word, and often salute 5 to 6 times before breaking up to show their affection. Men meet and greet each other bow and shake hands, either with both hands or with the right hand, off only limited to one nod. Women generally do not shake hands with people.

No matter what the occasion, Koreans do not laugh or talk loudly. Women cover their mouths with their hands when they laugh. Korea does not talk about women's liberation; men walk in front of them when they enter a house, and women help men take off their coats. Koreans take everyday manners quite seriously. When several people are together, they are seated according to status and age. Those with high status, position, and age are seated at the top of the row, while the others sit diagonally at a lower level. When men and women sit together, the men must be on top and the women on the bottom. When they want to smoke, they always ask the person in the upper seat, "Can I smoke?"

The Koreans attach great importance to the impression of the person they are dealing with, and if you observe their way of life when engaging in business negotiations, they will be more favorable to you. When you eat, you must not fade while eating. They believe that you should not make a sound while eating. Failure to observe this etiquette of eating is likely to cause offense, so be careful.

The Koreans are proud of their long history of culture, and they must take off their shoes to enter their residences or restaurants, and when they get along, they should talk less about local politics and more about Korean culture and art. For example, the 11th-century gray-green ceramics, the 13th-century movable iron molds, Daegu preserved a precious full set of the Daesangjing mahogany original, and so on.

Visiting Korea, the best choice in February to June, November to December, October too many holidays, two weeks before and after Christmas are not to visit. Don't drink raw water (except in restaurants). Polly tea (tea made from wheat) is preferable to other beverages. Foreign cigarettes and alcohol are the most popular gifts.

South Korea allows travelers to bring 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars, or half a bladder of tobacco) and two bottles of alcohol per entry. Korean currency is not allowed to be taken out of the country. Foreign currencies are not limited, but the amount must be declared at the time of entry, and can be taken out of the country. Taxis are the most convenient, but it is difficult to get a taxi when it rains or snows, or between late afternoon and 11:00 midnight. Taxis charge a 10% gratuity, and hotels add a 10% gratuity to the bill. For other services, 200 to 300 yen per trip is sufficient. Public transportation is widely available, but it is difficult to buy a ticket without knowing the Korean language.