12 Cultural Etiquette Rules That Might Surprise You

Travel has a way of making you rethink everyday habits. Hand someone a tip in Tokyo, and they might politely refuse. Drop your shoes at the door in Stockholm, and you’ll be thanked as if you’ve just saved the carpet’s life. Cultural etiquette isn’t a list of rigid rules; it’s a language of respect. The more fluent you become, the better your conversations, meetings, and friendships will go. Here are twelve norms that often surprise visitors—plus concrete ways to get them right.

1. Tipping isn’t universal: sometimes it offends

In the United States and parts of Canada, tipping sits at the heart of service culture. In Japan and South Korea, it doesn’t—staff are paid a salary intended to cover service, and a tip can feel awkward or even insulting. In mainland China and Taiwan, tipping is uncommon outside hotels and tourist restaurants, and service charges are often included.

What to do:

• Japan/South Korea: Don’t tip. If you insist on giving thanks, write a short note in Japanese/Korean or bring a small packaged gift from your home country.

• China/Taiwan: Follow local cues. If a service charge is listed, that’s it. In tourist-heavy settings, modest tips for exceptional service may be accepted.

• Elsewhere: Research norms. In Australia and much of Northern Europe, service is included and tipping is optional, not expected.

Quick tip: If you’re unsure, ask discreetly at your hotel front desk, “Is tipping customary here?” You’ll get a clear, local answer.

2. Silence can be the respectful move

In some cultures, people talk to fill gaps. In others—Finland and Japan, for example—silence signals thoughtfulness and comfort. In business settings, Japanese counterparts may pause after your proposal not because they dislike it, but because they’re considering it. Finnish colleagues may enjoy companionable quiet on a train or during a hike and find constant chatter distracting.

What to do:

• Learn to sit with pauses. Count to five before jumping in.

• Let your host set the rhythm; if they slow down, you slow down.

• Avoid “nervous yeses.” If you don’t understand, ask for clarification rather than filling space with guesses.

Where it helps: Negotiations, interviews, and any context where you want to show you’re listening rather than performing.

3. The right-hand rule in eating and greeting

Across much of South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, the right hand is used for eating, offering items, and shaking hands. The left hand is traditionally associated with personal hygiene, so using it at the table or when handing someone something can feel disrespectful.

What to do:

• Eat with your right hand if utensils aren’t used. If you’re left-handed, keep the left hand off the plate and use it minimally.

• Offer business cards, money, and gifts with your right hand or both hands.

• In conservative settings, wait to see if a woman offers her hand before initiating a handshake.

Pro tip: If a host notices you trying to follow this custom, they’ll often go out of their way to help you feel comfortable.

4. Shoes off means you’re welcome

Removing shoes at the door is second nature in Japan and Korea, where genkan entryways and indoor slippers are standard. You’ll also encounter the practice in Scandinavia, parts of Canada, many homes in Eastern Europe, and across the Middle East. Bringing outdoor dirt inside is seen as inconsiderate; switching to indoor footwear is appreciated.

What to do:

• Look for cues: a shoe rack by the door, a pile of shoes, or slippers laid out for guests.

• Pack clean socks or foldable indoor slippers if you’re visiting homes frequently.

• If in doubt, ask with a smile: “Shoes on or off?” Hosts appreciate the consideration.

Business note: In Western offices, shoes generally stay on; in some Japanese offices, you may swap for guest slippers. Travel days go smoother if your socks are hole-free.

5. Business cards are mini-ceremonies

In much of East Asia, a business card is more than contact info—it’s a representation of the person. In Japan and South Korea, you present and receive cards with both hands, text facing the recipient. People study cards briefly before placing them carefully on the table; shoving one into a pocket unread suggests you’re not interested in the relationship.

What to do:

• Carry clean, crisp cards. If meeting in Japan/Korea, consider printing one side in the local language.

• Give and receive with two hands. Read the card. Don’t write on it in front of the owner.

• Place cards on the table during the meeting, arranged by seating order, and store them carefully afterward.

If you forget your cards, a sincere apology and a follow-up email that day can recover the moment.

6. Toasts: eyes up, glasses down correctly

Drinks are a social script, and scripts vary. In Germany and the Czech Republic, clink glasses while making direct eye contact and say “Prost!” or “Na zdraví!” Skipping eye contact is considered impolite—and locals may joke about bad luck. In Georgia, toasts are an art form led by a tamada (toastmaster); you don’t drink until a toast is given. In many countries, the most senior person initiates the first toast.

What to do:

• Make eye contact when clinking in Central Europe. Don’t cross arms over others’ glasses.

• Wait for a toast in Georgia and some Balkan settings. Drink when everyone does.

• In China, lower your glass rim slightly beneath a senior person’s when clinking to show respect; two hands on the glass add courtesy.

Non-alcohol options: It’s perfectly fine to toast with water or juice. Just hold your glass confidently and participate in the ritual.

7. Gestures that don’t travel well

Some hand signs are friendly in one place and offensive in another. The “OK” circle is harmless in North America but can be vulgar in parts of Turkey and Brazil. A thumbs-up is positive in most places today, though older Iranians may remember it as rude. The beckoning finger used for pets in the West can feel demeaning when used for people in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.

What to do:

• Point with an open hand or thumb, not a finger, in Southeast Asia.

• Avoid the “OK” sign and flamboyant gestures in unfamiliar settings.

• Keep soles of your feet pointed down; showing them to someone in the Middle East or Thailand can be disrespectful.

• In Thailand and many Buddhist cultures, don’t touch people’s heads, especially children.

If you’re unsure, keep gestures small and let your words do the work.

8. Titles, pronouns, and the power of formality

First names feel friendly in the U.S., but many societies start formal and relax over time. In France and parts of Canada, vous (formal “you”) is standard until invited to use tu. In Germany, Herr/Frau plus surname signals respect; switching to first names usually requires mutual agreement. In Japan and Korea, attaching -san or ssi to a family name is a safe default; using someone’s given name unprompted can feel overly familiar.

What to do:

• Mirror how you’re addressed. If someone signs “Dr. Kim,” reply “Dr. Kim” until told otherwise.

• When emailing, use title plus family name if you know it; adjust once the recipient sets a tone.

• In Spanish-speaking countries, usted is your starting point with adults you don’t know well, shifting to tú when invited.

This conservative approach never offends and can be relaxed easily; the reverse is much harder.

9. Gift-giving taboos that trip up visitors

A thoughtful gift can bond or backfire depending on symbolism. In China, clocks (song zhong) sound like attending a funeral; umbrellas (san) hint at separation; and gifts in sets of four invoke the number associated with death. White and black wrapping suggest mourning, while red and gold are celebratory. In Russia and Ukraine, flowers should be given in odd numbers—evens are for funerals.

What to do:

• China/Hong Kong/Taiwan: Avoid clocks, umbrellas, green hats, and sets of four. Wrap in red or gold. When offered a gift, the recipient may politely refuse once or twice—continue offering gently.

• Russia/Ukraine: Bring an odd number of flowers, avoid yellow carnations, and skip very expensive gifts for a first meeting.

• Germany/Scandinavia: Knives and scissors can symbolize cutting ties; if given, the receiver may hand over a coin to “purchase” the gift symbolically.

Safer picks include quality chocolates, coffee or tea from your region, and a book with a personal inscription—unless you’re entering a country where printed material has import restrictions.

10. Chopsticks: small sticks, big rules

Chopstick etiquette has layers. In Japan, sticking chopsticks upright in rice mimics a funeral offering; in China and Korea, passing food from chopsticks to chopsticks echoes a cremation ritual. Spearing food, pointing with chopsticks, or hovering indecisively over dishes can read as childish.

What to do:

• Use serving utensils when they’re provided; if not, flip your chopsticks around to take from shared plates in some settings (Japan varies—observe first).

• Rest chopsticks on the holder or neatly across your bowl—never stuck into food.

• Don’t rub wooden disposable chopsticks together in Japan; it implies they’re cheap.

If chopsticks aren’t your strength, ask for a fork with a smile. Most places are happy to accommodate without judgment.

11. Time runs on different settings

Punctuality is a virtue—except when it isn’t. In Germany, Switzerland, and Japan, arriving even five minutes late to a meeting feels careless. In Mexico, Brazil, and parts of West Africa, social schedules flex; arriving precisely on time for a dinner party can catch your host mid-prep. Business timings in the Middle East may bend around prayer and hospitality, with meetings that pause for tea and conversation.

What to do:

• Corporate contexts: Aim to be early in Northern Europe and Japan. In Southern Europe and Latin America, on time is still appreciated for work—confirm the schedule the day before.

• Social events: Ask your host what time people typically arrive. “Should I come right at 7?” is a fair question.

• Build buffers. Schedule back-to-back meetings with breathing room if you’re working across cultures.

If you’re delayed, sending a polite message with a realistic ETA shows respect everywhere.

12. Nose, slurps, and quiet tables

Table manners have surprising twists. In Japan, slurping noodles is not only acceptable—it signals you’re enjoying them and helps cool hot broth. Yet blowing your nose at the table is considered inconsiderate in Japan and across much of East Asia; people step away discreetly. In the U.S. and much of Europe, quiet nose-blowing with a tissue at the table might pass, but loud slurping can raise eyebrows.

What to do:

• Asia: If you need to blow your nose, excuse yourself. Slurp noodles in Japan if locals do, but keep other eating sounds modest.

• Western settings: Keep sounds minimal. Use your napkin and excuse yourself for anything more than a quick dab.

• France: Don’t slice bread with a knife at the table; tear off bite-sized pieces. Place your hands visible above the table (wrists on the edge) rather than in your lap.

When in doubt, mirror the table leader. A quick glance around before you sip, cut, or slurp is the best guide in any country.

Practical planning tips that prevent missteps

Small prep steps can spare big awkwardness later. A little research goes a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

• Make a 10-minute etiquette checklist before each trip: tipping, greetings, dining, gifts, punctuality.

• Pack “etiquette tools”: a clean handkerchief, foldable slippers, a few small gifts from home (local sweets, postcards), and pristine business cards.

• Learn five phrases: hello, thank you, excuse me, please, and “What do you recommend?” Pronunciation matters more than vocabulary breadth.

• Watch the room. If you’re unsure, copy your host’s pace and posture—how they sit, gesture, and begin or end conversations.

When you slip up (because everyone does)

Even seasoned travelers miss a cue. The difference between a faux pas and a fiasco is how you handle it.

• Apologize simply and sincerely. A warm smile plus “Sorry, I’m learning” softens most situations.

• Don’t over-explain. Correct course and move on; dwelling can embarrass your host.

• Ask for guidance. People love to teach respectful visitors. “How should I do this properly?” turns a mistake into a moment of connection.

Bringing it all together

Etiquette isn’t about pretending to be local. It’s about noticing what matters to people in their own homes, restaurants, and offices—and adjusting just enough to show you care. Start with a few high-impact habits: handle business cards carefully in East Asia, keep your right hand ready in the Middle East and South Asia, skip tipping in Japan, and watch for the shoe rack at the door. Add in smarter toasts, gentler gestures, and a calmer relationship with silence, and you’ll be surprised how many doors open—often quite literally.