You absolutely don’t have to excuse yourself for sneezing, unless you are doing it in someone’s face. However, there’s an interesting belief that when someone is being talked about, he might sneeze. When you sneeze in front of your Chinese colleague, don’t be surprised if he says:”Careful, someone’s gossiping about you.” If you are expecting a blessing for sneezing, you will be disappointed.
Category: Behaviour
Pointing your lips
Filipinos also has their own cultural quirks and one of it is by pointing with one’s lips. This kind of mannerism can be annoying if you’re not familiar with it. When you’re asking for something or looking for someone, then they would answer you back by pointing their lips to direct you to what you’re looking for.
Corrupt
. ‘corrupt’: it indicates that someone is corrupt without actually spelling it out and saying it. The gesture evokes a coin of money. Sometimes, when you ask a Filipino if this or that politician is doing a good job, the only reply you get is this sign, accompanied with a disapproving facial expression. Most people in the West would probably understand this sign to mean ‘ok’ or ‘excellent’ (though without the face of course 🙂
Why Filipino Kids Should Not Listen To Adults’ Conversations.
There are conversations for adults; there are also conversations for children or young ones. There are times that adults and children talk together. There are actually topics which are only for adults such as things about relationships between couples, debts, heartaches, work, and a lot more.
To be safe, Filipinos teach their children not to listen and/or butt in when adults are talking to each other except when they were permitted to be there and their voices are needed to be heard or opinions were asked. When a child or young one butts in, it is considered rude and older ones might consider it as disrespectful.
Talking About Money
It’s good to be discrete about your finances but never say “I have no money,” or else you might lose money and will really NOT have any money.
Non verbal communication
Filipino people sometimes use their heads to convey a message. Some people from other countries may find it disrespectful but Filipinos, in normal circumstances where verbal responses are not really required, one can just nod their heads to show support, approval, acceptance, and understanding. Nodding is also used when someone would say ‘yes’ instead of saying it verbally. It is usually done twice or with two consecutive slow nods. Some Filipino people use their eyebrows, raising those up and down (still done twice) but only in times where one is not really needed to be formal because that can’t be proper during formal conversations.
Ligawan
When a man likes a woman, he courts her, gives her flowers and chocolates to woo her. When she gives her sweet “yes,” that’s the time they become boyfriend/girlfriend.
Being Direct
Communication, although diplomatic is usually indirect. Many Filipinos are offended by foreigners’ straightforwardness. Filipinos like to beat around the bush and not criticize directly.
Haggle, Tawad
Filipinos like to haggle (term is called “tawad”) in the market
The Word Hostess
Don’t call the host’s wife hostess, this means prostitute in the Philippines.
Importance of local dialects
Every region in China has its own dialect. Don’t be surprised when a person from Shanghai cannot understand a word of someone from Jiangxi. As we all know, Mandarin is the official language in modern China, but that doesn’t mean everyone in China speaks Mandarin. Local dialects have been used by all generations for centuries, being the mother tongue of most Chinese people. In Southern China, Taiwan and Hong kong, dialects such as Hakka, Cantonese and Southern Min are commonly used. If you need to travel around China and meet with people from all over the country, it is best that you have a local interpreter when you visit a new place. It will be more than welcomed if you pick up a few phrases yourself.
Bringing spouses to meetings is not usual
In China, spouses are not included in business entertainments. However, it is common to bring your secretary or assistant along. Unlike in western countries, most women in China don’t smoke or drink.