Are there any cultural differences between Malaysia and the United States?

As a Southeast Asian country, Malaysia is deeply influenced by China culture. Is a multicultural country, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions coexist, forming a rich and colorful cultural characteristics of Malaysia.

Malays meet and shake hands, and then touch their chests with both hands to show sincerity. Malay men generally don't take the initiative to shake hands with women unless women take the initiative to shake hands. The left hand is considered dirty by Malays, so you should use your right hand when receiving and handing things. Malays are used to pointing their thumbs at people or giving directions. They are forbidden to use their forefinger, don't cross their legs and don't touch the child's head with their hands. Malays don't eat pork and wine, and they don't like items with animals or portraits.

American cultural characteristics

First, pragmatic first.

The United States is a typical melting pot of immigrant countries and nations. Generation after generation of immigrants from all over the world came to the new world with the most direct purpose of pursuing a better material life. For immigrants, in this strange region, money is the most intuitive thing to ensure their survival and show their personal status. This directly leads to the national character that Americans always take "interests first" as the starting point. Before you do something, first look at whether it conforms to the principle of "favorable, effective and useful", then do it profitably, and then look at the result after you do it. There are some American proverbs: "Gardens are not built sitting in the shade" and "essence is the mother of invention". Compared with other nations' traditions of "loving face and stressing ostentation and extravagance", the pragmatic spirit of old America is really worth learning.

Second, respect the strong.

The economic foundation of American society is based on the capitalist system of the law of the jungle, and the cruel social competition has shaped the American cultural tradition of "advocating the strong". In the eyes of Americans, it is natural to follow the winner. Since everyone is competing, the unlucky ones are willing to lose. The so-called "if you can't beat them, join them" doesn't help either. It is better to get close to the leaders and learn from the valuable experience of the strong.

Third, independent personality, like freedom.

The smallest social unit different from other ethnic groups is "family", and the smallest unit in American society is individual. Even when friends and relatives are together, everyone knows his own money bag with his own abacus. Americans like to say, "Everyone is an expert in something". The implication is that everyone is not stupid. Leave me alone, I won't interfere with you. Let's stay out of it. It is precisely because everyone is striving to safeguard their own interests without mercy that the whole social relationship is completely maintained by contractual documents such as laws and contracts, forming an American-style society ruled by law.

Fourth, be keen on taking risks and dare to innovate.

Americans like outdoor sports very much, pursuing excitement and new experiences. On holidays, more than 65438+ billion Americans engage in various outdoor sports, and this number is increasing at the rate of 10% every year. Americans believe that "no courage, no glory" and "luck favors the brave". Under the guiding principle of putting interests first, they are constantly innovating, ranking in the forefront of the world in electronic technology, biological science and space technology, and winning the most Nobel Prize in the world.

Fifth, be extremely confident and only look at the future.

Visitors to the United States will often hear Americans talk about being "aggressive" in doing things. Americans usually feel that although everyone has a different background, everyone is equal in personality. Only when you have ideas and ability can you show them, and a self-confident and self-reliant person can win the full respect of others, that is, "the squeaking wheel gets oil"; At the same time, the history of the United States is only a few hundred years, which makes Americans rarely trace back to the source, but like to focus on the future. "Let bygones be bygones" and "What happened in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas". Only by selectively forgetting what happened and not shouldering the burden of history can they grasp tomorrow calmly.