In this post, we are sharing 5 things to not do in China.
Don’t talk about an uncomfortable topic
Don’t talk about an uncomfortable topic in front of Chinese people, for example, politics. They will approach you to talk about that topic like whether Japan is trying to own certain things or Taiwan. You should avoid these topics no matter if Chinese people approach you about it.
Don’t touch people if you don’t know them
Don’t touch people because Chinese people are not so touchy. You’ll see Chinese people walk around maybe doing the same with their friends. If you don’t know them very well, you won’t give them a hug like, ”Oh nice to meet you.”
They don’t do any of that huggy or kissy kind of stuff as they will feel like, if they don’t know you and you give them a hug or you give a kiss, that means you have something with them on your mind like some feelings for them.
Proper use of Chopsticks
Chopsticks are the primary eating utensil here in China and there are a couple of things you need to remember about what not to do with them. The first thing is don’t put chopsticks in a bowl of rice with them sticking up. When Chinese People visit their’s ancestors’ graves, there are three bowls of rice in front of them where they will stick the chopstick on top of it. So, if you’re eating with your Chinese friend, do not do that! They’re not gonna appreciate that. It’s kinda reminiscent of when you visit your dead relatives in the graves.
Also, you never want to take your chopsticks and point it at someone. In the West, it’s kinda rude to do that with your fork, but it’s much more serious here. You wouldn’t wanna point at anyone with your chopsticks. If you can’t use chopsticks you might have a difficult time here in China because they’re used everywhere. However, you are never to stab food with the chopsticks.
The whole point of chopsticks is that they were a non-violent alternative to other eating utensils in history, so if you’re staying your food with it because you can’t pick it up, that’s probably a no.
Don’t tip
Basically, in restaurant’s, the workers have a basic salary to cover everything, so don’t tip them. They don’t think it’s a tip or they don’t understand what it actually is. They simply think that’s the money. People will steal the tip off the table when you leave.
Another thing about restaurant bills is in China, you always offer to pay. And it sometimes turns into a fight. People are fighting each other at the cash register in order to get the chance to pay.
If you’re a foreigner and you’re invited out to a banquet, you’re never ever expected to pay. But, at a normal dinner with Chinese friends, at least make the effort.
Also if you can see there is a big fight crowd near there. No need to panic! No need to worry! Because actually, that’s Chinese sport.
Don’t make someone lose face
Don’t make someone lose face in China. This is a huge thing in China, it’s the culture of the face. We call it ‘面子 (miàn zi)’. Now, in China as a foreigner, you don’t have to be concerned with a face as much as a normal Chinese person would. The face is so important and so integral to Chinese society, particularly among men. You wanna avoid any situation where you could potentially embarrass someone in public.
Every Chinese Girl as a little kid, their parents always taught them, never embarrass your man. They need to brag about their man is their sky, in the sense that which is even if we don’t agree with that, but we gotta give them face.
One more thing is if you’re a foreigner, tourist, or living here in China, you want to avoid a situation where you cause a public disturbance. In China, it’s always ‘China versus the foreigners’, so you gotta keep that in mind. It’s not super-safe and it’s not really good to cause public disturbances there.
If you are a tourist, just try your best to keep everything low-profile.