Be Polite; Asian Etiquettes

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Singapore’s Etiquette

Eating/Dining:

 

1. Singaporeans don’t usually get appetizers or anything to drink.

2. Singaporeans have their meal set on the table along with all of their other dishes with food.

3. When you have finished eating your meal with any acquaintances, it would be polite in showing that you recognize their kindness by leaving some of your meal in the plate.

4. Apart from other Asian culture, in Singapore it is not favored to tip after the meal, which tries to impress other people around.

5. When at a social dinner it is inappropriate to share your food with anyone. Also the plate you have shouldn’t be touching the eating utensils.

6. It is kind and friendly for the host to get food from the main dishes available to everyone and put it in the guests’ dish.

7. Singaporeans eat with chopsticks. They specifically use the thin end of  the chopsticks though. So when getting food from the big dish that is available to everyone they use the thick side of the chopsticks.

Body Language :

 

1. Singaporeans believe the head is sacred so it shouldn’t be touched, whether it is a child or an adult.

2. To get someone to notice you and get his/her attention you should raise your hand. Things that would be unsuitable to do are point, bang with a hand in an open fist, or finally, nudge someone with your arm.

3. Our feet are at the bottom of our bodies’ and seen as dirty. So it would be wrong to point with your foot or even reveal the bottom of it.

4. As a Singaporean stands and talks to someone their hands shouldn’t be placed on their hips because it demonstrates the feeling of anger.

5. To not be rude you should not blow your nose and/or clear you throat in a public place.

6. It is considered courteous and appropriate to cover your mouth with your hand as you yawn.

7. When crossing your legs it is appropriate to put one knee over the other.

Gift Giving:

 

1. People think the respectful thing to do is to refuse a gift a few times before accepting it to show that he/she is not greedy. After a couple of attempts of insisting that they take the gift you should tell them how thankful you are that they did so.

2. To not seem rude or impatient, the person who is receiving the gift should wait until the giver of the gift has left. Then you may open the gift.

3. Some recommended gifts are chocolates, a memento from your country, a gift with your company logo and maybe even a brand gift. No gifts should be too pricey.

4. Singapore is very against bribery. This makes it not a possibility for anyone of employment with the government to take a gift.

5. As you give a small individual gift everyone should be acknowledged and treated to one.

6. Gifts that are supposed to surprise the person getting the gift are not a good idea to give. It would cause an awkward reaction.

7. There should be a reason and an explanation to giving a gift to someone.

Business:

 

1. When asked a question you should not answer too rapidly for the reason that you might miss the correct answer. The correct thing to do is to refrain from answering for at least 15 seconds.

2. In business Singaporeans are not that assertive and sometimes when they “yes” to something they might be feeling differently than how they answered. In other words “yes” doesn’t always mean, “yes.”

3. Singaporeans are tough on things like money, or business due dates.

4. When given a compliment it is usual to humbly disagree or deny it.

5. In business Singaporeans just go straight down to the main concept of the meeting. They will make numerous decisions very quickly.

6. When appointed to be at a business meeting a Singaporean should call ahead of time if they are to be late. Being late without notice is rude and disrespectful.

7. Singaporeans expect people to deliver information, reports etc. needed when requested.

Greeting:

 

1. When shaking hands you should have a nice firm grip.

2. When at a social occasion or another event with many people, it is appropriate to shake hands with everyone there.

3. When shaking hands with someone, it is polite to give a generous bow (Westerners can be a little taller than Singaporeans so it is nice to bow.)

4. Giving a person you business card when first meeting is a proper thing to do. You must have the writing on the card facing the person and it should be given with two hands.

5. As you meet you should introduce the people of higher position or status and elderly fellows.

6. To be kind and courteous a Singaporean may not have direct eye contact with the person they are greeting, but instead look down. They do this to respect people of that are of older age or higher rank.

7. Instead of greeting with the typical “How are you” or “Good Morning” Singaporeans will usually greet by saying “ Where are you going” or “ Have you eaten.”

8. Greetings shouldn’t be said using your nickname unless you are wanted to in a special case or you know the person well and have developed a friendship.

Everyday Living:

 

1. You shouldn’t tell a person any jokes until you know them well because the jokes might be misunderstood or just favored.

2. Don’t bring up any ideas or start a conversation about subjects like religion or politics.

3. No affections (kissing, hugging) between couples or anyone should be demonstrated in public. You should be calm and not show anger public areas.

Welcome to Singapore!

             Hi and welcome to Singapore. Here the Singaporeans admire their rich and beautiful culture, as I have learned and I hope after reading through this page you will also come to realize the rich culture of Singapore. There are so many different etiquettes, some original and some different. Singapore is a unique country that also has many rules.

             Singapore is a small island off the coast of Malaysia and Indonesia. Compared to other countries Singapore would be considered small, but it’s culture is long.