What customs and taboos should we pay attention to when traveling to Japan?

Belief taboo

Most Japanese believe in Shinto and Buddhism. They don't like purple and think it is a sad color. Most taboo green, think green is ominous color. It is also taboo for three people to "take photos" together. They think that being sandwiched between the left and right people is an unfortunate omen. The Japanese taboo lotus, think lotus is a funeral flower. Camellia and pale yellow and white flowers are forbidden when visiting patients. Japanese people are reluctant to accept things or gifts with chrysanthemum or chrysanthemum patterns because it is a symbol of the royal family. Japanese favorite patterns are pine, bamboo, plum, duck, turtle and so on.

language taboos

Japanese people have many language taboos, such as "bitterness" and "death", and even some homophonic words are taboo. For example, the number "4" is pronounced the same as death, and the pronunciation of "42" is a dead verb, so hospitals generally do not have rooms and beds for 4 and 42. Users' telephones are also forbidden to use "42", and prisons generally do not have cell 4. "13" is also a taboo number. Many hotels don't have "13" floors and "13" rooms, and Haneda Airport doesn't have "13" apron. In wedding and other festive occasions, avoid saying unlucky and ominous words such as going, returning, returning, leaving, breaking, thin, cold, shallow, destroying and repeating, once again, breaking and cutting off. When a store opens and a new store is completed, it is forbidden to speak fireworks, collapse, collapse, tilt, loss, decline and language associated with fire. Don't talk about people's physical defects in conversation, and don't say such words as big, short, chubby, bald, pockmarked, blind and deaf, mute, etc., but call the disabled people physically handicapped, the blind people with eyes not free, and the deaf people with ears not free.

behavioral taboos

Japan is known as a disciplined society, and people's behaviors are restricted by certain norms. In formal social occasions, men and women must wear suits and dresses, and avoid disheveled clothes, disorientation and loud noises. When communicating, there are rules for folding letters and affixing stamps. For example, if you send a condolence letter, don't use a double envelope, which is considered to be a double disaster. Stamps sent to lovers' letters should not be posted backwards, otherwise it means breaking up. There are also many taboos in Japanese diet: generally, they don't eat fat meat and pig offal, and some people don't eat mutton and ducks; Entertaining guests is forbidden to fill the rice too much, nor to fill a bowl with a spoonful; Taboo guests eat a bowl is enough, only eating a bowl is considered to be a symbol of no opportunity; It is forbidden to tidy up your clothes or touch and tidy your hair with your hands during the meal, because it is unsanitary and impolite behavior; Japanese people should avoid putting chopsticks on dishes when using them. In Japan, when greeting a waiter, you have to put your arms up, palms down and swing your fingers, and the waiter will understand. During the negotiation, the Japanese circle their thumb and forefinger into an "O" shape. If you nod in agreement, the Japanese will think that you will give him a sum of cash. In Japan, scratching your scalp with your hand is an expression of anger and dissatisfaction.

social taboos

When Japanese give gifts, it is very popular to give them in pairs, such as a pair of pens and two bottles of wine. However, when giving red envelopes to newlyweds, it is taboo to give them 2, yen and multiples of 2. Japanese folks think that the number "2" is easy to break up the relationship between husband and wife, generally giving them 3,, 5, or 7, yen. The color of gift wrapping paper is also exquisite, black and white represents funeral, green is ominous, and red wrapping paper is not suitable. It is best to wrap gifts with colored paper. The Japanese receive guests not in the office, but in the meeting room and reception room. They will not easily lead people into the confidential office department. Banquets are not popular in Japan, and business people do not have the habit of bringing their wives to banquets. The business banquet is a cocktail party held in a big hotel. Japanese people have no habit of offering cigarettes to each other. You must take off your shoes when you enter a Japanese house. In Japan, it is impolite to peek into the kitchen of the host's house when visiting it. In Japan, there is no habit of inviting colleagues home to socialize with the whole family. Japanese never bring their work home, and wives take it as a virtue not to participate in their husbands' career.

Introduction to Japanese etiquette

Japanese people usually bow when they meet. Generally, people bow to each other at 3 degrees and 45 degrees, and the depth of bow and bend is different, which means different meanings. The lowest and most polite bow is called "the most salute". When a man bows, his hands naturally droop on both sides of his clothes and trousers; When showing respect to each other, people usually put their left hand on their right hand and bow in front of them, especially women.

In international communication, Japanese people are also used to shaking hands, especially young people or people who have more contact with Europeans and Americans.

In Japan, business cards are widely used, especially for businessmen, who have the habit of exchanging business cards when they meet for the first time. It is considered as a courtesy to exchange business cards with the low-ranking or young party first. When submitting your business card, point it at the other party. Business cards are written as "name thorns" in Japanese, and most women use business cards smaller than male business cards.

Japanese people are very particular about sitting posture. In the company, the Japanese all sit in chairs, but at home, the Japanese still maintain the traditional habit of sitting on tatami. The correct way to sit on tatami is called "front seat", that is, put your knees together and kneel on the ground, and press your hips on your heels. Easy sitting methods include "sitting cross-legged" and "sitting sideways": "sitting cross-legged" means crossing your feet in front and landing your hips, which is a male sitting method; "Sitting sideways" means that the legs are slightly sideways, and the body does not press the feet. This is often a female sitting method. Now, the younger generation who don't sit on tatami is gradually increasing.

Japanese people are serious and efficient, and show strong discipline and self-control. Appointments are always punctual and rarely late.

Japanese people don't like tit-for-tat words and deeds and impatient style, and regard it as a virtue to be good at controlling their actions. They advocate treating others with a low profile, avoiding staring at each other when speaking, and bowing to show modesty and education. In social activities, Japanese people like to use self-deprecating language, such as "please take care of more", "poor tea and poor care", and often use self-deprecating language when talking.

In daily life, Japanese people are modest, courteous and courteous, and there are few quarrels between colleagues and pedestrians. Don't tell the Japanese what to do while talking, and don't interrupt others when they are talking. When talking with more than three people, be careful not to neglect most people. During the conversation, don't ask about Japanese people's age, marital status, salary and income. Don't use the words "old" and "old man" for old men and women. The older people are, the more taboo they are. It is better to talk less in public. When you take the subway or bus in Japan, you can rarely see the phenomenon of talking loudly when no one is watching. Don't visit Japanese families rashly unless you make an appointment in advance.

According to the Japanese custom, drinking is an important etiquette. After the host pours wine for him, the guests should immediately take the wine bottle and pour wine for the host. Only by pouring wine for each other can they show the equality and friendship between the host and the guest. When pouring tea, the Japanese polite habit is to pour it to 8% full as the most respectful guest.

Japanese people choose some meaningful years to celebrate the birthday of the elderly. For example, 61-year-old is "returning the calendar", which means that after 6 years, it is 1 year old and rejuvenated; 7O years old is "ancient"; 77 years old is "Happy Birthday"; 88-year-old is "Mi Shou", which can be changed into 88 when the Chinese character "Mi" is disassembled; The 99-year-old is called "Bai Shou" because the word "white" is added with a horizontal line to make it "hundred".