Giving a thumbs-up or the OK sign can mean trouble in some parts of the world.
Here are two of the five common American gestures that will get you into hot water in foreign countries.
Don’t Tell Them to Come Hither in Japan.
I tried teaching English in Japan for a couple years, and was trying hard to keep up with Japanese gestures.One day I beckoned for a student with my index finger. Her mouth dropped open and other students stared.
While in America the “come hither” finger is a perfectly acceptable way to ask someone to come to you, in Japan it’s a highly offensive gesture. I later learned that this gesture isn’t welcome in most Asian countries, and symbolizes death in Singapore.
The Japanese way to beckon someone looks like an American wave, palm out and fingers waving down.
Keep Your Thumbs Down in the Middle East
A friend of mine was once bargaining for trinkets at a street market in Iran, negotiating for a decent price.Although they couldn’t speak the same language, he and the storekeeper were having an agreeable exchange…until one good ol’ American gesture got him into trouble.
After they agreed on a price, he gave the shopkeeper a hearty thumbs-up. The shopkeeper’s brow crinkled in confusion, then he muttered something in Arabic before turning away.
My friend was baffled until a fellow traveler leaned over and told him that his hand gesture signified that the shopkeeper could stick his price where the sun don’t shine.
In certain parts of the Middle East, thumbs-up is definitely a highly-offensive thumbs-down.
In certain parts of the Middle East, thumbs-up is definitely a highly-offensive thumbs-down.
Read the other three common American gestures that might insult the locals
Knock knock...
It's me, Sera... ^_^
The come hither finger here is also a way to ask someone to come to you. But when done in slow motion it may mean you are seducing someone. lol
Hi Sera!
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Take care and have a great week.
Cheers!
@Anney,
Yeah, you're right. Come hither when done in slow motion it may mean you are seducing someone. LOL
I love this post. I'm always interested in different cultures and learning these is absolutely my thing.
I like your new template - artistic! :D