Which part of the body is most sacred to many cultures and should not be touched?

Thai culture contains a myriad of customs – both acceptable behaviours and faux pas. Take a step in the right direction with these seven know-before-you-go tips

Don’t bad mouth royalty

Thai people greatly admire and look up to their royal family, to the point where you’ll see pictures of them everywhere, including in shops and people’s homes. To respect the Thai family is one of the most important pieces of cultural etiquette in Thailand – the country actually has a lese majeste law, whereby it’s illegal to insult the royal family.

This law is taken extremely seriously and the breaking of it has been known to result in lengthy prison time, even for foreigners. Never say anything, either in person, private messages, or on social media, to insult the Thai royal family.

Do cover up in temples

Temples in Thailand are extremely holy places, and should be treated as such when you’re visiting one. Even if you’re in a particularly touristy destination where it’s acceptable to walk around in beach gear, you should always cover up when you enter a temple.

This means throwing a top or shawl over your shoulders and chest, and covering your knees too if possible. Keep a big scarf in your bag at all times to make sure you’re prepared. It would be sad to not be able to visit a temple you stumble upon just because you didn’t have the appropriate clothing!

Do take your shoes off

When entering temples, private homes, or even some shops and offices, take your shoes off. You’ll know when it’s appropriate to do so because you’ll see lines and piles of shoes outside the front door. Feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body in Thailand, and shoes even more so. Therefore, it’s considered a big no-no to point at anything with your feet, put your feet up on the table, or touch anyone with your feet.

Don’t underestimate the Buddha symbol

Thailand is a primarily Buddhist country, and any statues and sites that include the image of the Buddha should be treated with the utmost respect. Don’t climb on Buddhas in temples as it is deemed offensive and in some cases this can even more a punishable offence by law.

While we’re on the subject of Buddhas, it is also technically illegal to take images of the Buddha out of the country without special permission. You will still see them being sold in shops and you may well get away with taking one with you, but err on the side of caution because it’s not worth getting caught and questioned for.

Don’t touch people’s heads

In Thailand, the head is considered sacred and the cleanest part of the body, so it’s deemed offensive to touch people’s heads or hair. If you slip up and do this accidently, apologise as soon as you can and you’ll find most Thais will quickly forgive you for it.

Be especially mindful of this custom if you’re volunteering with or teaching children in Thailand – it’s easy to forget and ruffle a child’s hair. You might see a Thai local touch a child’s head every now and then, but it’s not appropriate for Westerners to do so.

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Do respect monks

The monks you’ll encounter across Thailand are deeply religious people, and should be shown reverence. Crossing paths with one comes with its own set of rules: bow when you meet one, don’t ask any overly-personal questions about them, be cautious as they get to know you (they can be nervous of tourists), and never pass anything directly to them – put it down in front of them instead. If you’re a woman, be extra careful with monks; it’s strictly forbidden for monks to have physical contact with a woman, so don’t touch or even brush past them.

Do return the ‘wai’ greeting

Thailand’s wai greeting – where you bow your head and place your hands together in a prayer position – is a common way of saying hello and being friendly. To fit in with the local way of life, return this gesture when it’s directed at you, and smile while doing so. Thai people are warm and welcoming characters, and will appreciate the same attitude reciprocated back to them in this simple way.

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.

However, if you need documents to be translated from and into any language used in Asia, get in touch with our human translators at Day Translations, Inc.

You’ll get the fairest price, the fastest turnaround time and the most accurate translation possible. We operate 24/7 every day of the year. So, it does not matter if you are already in Asia enjoying your vacation or about to leave your home country. You can depend on Day Translations to deliver.

Give us a call at 1-800-969-6853 or send us an email at [email protected] for a quick quote. You can also install our app to reach us faster using your tablet or mobile. It is available from Google Play and iTunes.

Image Copyright: bugphai / 123RF Stock Photo

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Written By

Bernadine Racoma

Bernadine Racoma is a senior content writer at Day Translations, a human translation services company. After her long stint as an international civil servant and traveling the world for 22 years, she has aggressively pursued her interest in writing and research. Like her poetry, she writes everything from the heart, and she treats each written piece a work of art. She loves dogs!

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