Differences in Chinese and Japanese Etiquette

There are a lot of differences between Japanese and Chinese customs and etiquette, involving all aspects of life. For example, the Japanese love to drink, and often "no alcohol, no table" as in China. However, the way Japanese people toast is different from that of Chinese people. Chinese people clink glasses with each other, and the one who makes the toast has to drink first. The Japanese, on the other hand, hold the bottle in their hands and keep filling it up for the other party, but they don't drink. And in order to show sincerity, often kneel in front of the person being toasted, bowing low to show respect, until the other party was drunk by him. Japanese people meet each other mostly by bowing. Generally people bow to each other is the line of 30 degrees and 45 degrees of bowing, bowing to bend over the different depths of the meaning of the different, the lowest bent, but also the most polite bowing called "the most respectful salute". When men bow, both hands are placed naturally on the sides of their pants; when they show respect to each other, they bow with their left hand resting on their right hand and placing it in front of their body, especially for women. In international communication, Japanese people are also accustomed to shaking hands, especially young people or those who have more contact with Europeans and Americans, who have also begun the habit of shaking hands when meeting each other. Business cards are exchanged with the party of lower status or younger giving them to the other party first, and this practice is considered a form of etiquette. When handing over a business card, it is important to hold the card facing the other person. A business card is called a "nametoki" in Japanese, and most women use smaller business cards than men. In social activities, Japanese people like to use self-effacing language, such as "please take care of me" and "I'm sorry for not taking good care of you", as well as humility in conversation. When talking to Japanese people, do not gesticulate while talking, and do not interrupt when others are talking. Do not ask Japanese people about their age, marital status, salary or other personal matters. Don't use the words "old" or "elderly" for elderly men and women; the older the person is, the more taboo it is. Japanese names are usually three to six kanji, with the last name coming first and the first name following. Often people are only called by their last name, not their first name. Japanese people love to wear traditional clothes - kimono with wooden clogs - on festivals and certain important occasions. The Japanese celebrate the birthday of an elderly person by choosing some years that have specific meanings. For example, 61 years old for the "still calendar", meaning that after 6O for 1 year old, back to childhood; 7O years old for the "old and thin"; 77 years old for the "happy life"; 88 years old for the "rice life"; 88 years old for the "rice life". The Chinese character for "rice" can be split into eighty-eight years; 99 years old is "white life", because the character for "white" with a cross on top is "white". At 99 years old, it is called "Shirakushou" because the character for "white" with a cross on top is "100". Most Japanese people believe in Shinto and Buddhism, they do not like purple, think purple is the color of sadness; the most taboo green, think green is an ominous color. Also taboo three people together "photo", they believe that the middle of the left and right two people sandwiched, which is an omen of misfortune.