CHINA

China
Language: Chinese Mandarin (Putonghua’)

Hello – Ni Hao 你好

Good Morning – Zâoshang hâo 早上好

I’m Sorry – Bàoqiàn 抱歉

I love you – Wô ài nî 我爱你

Thank you – Xièxiè 谢谢

Verbal
Indirect Communication – Rather than words, the Chinese rely on
posture, attitude, and tone of voice to express messages.
Refusals – Because of their emphasis on appearance and politeness,
Chinese people will rarely deliver a straightforward 'no’ or negative
reaction, even if they disagree with you.
Laughter – When deliveribg terrible news, Chinese people may smile and
joke lightly to lighten the mood.
Voice – Men often speak louder than women in China.
Non-Verbal
Personal Space – The Chinese are most at ease standing at arm’s
reach of one another.
Physical Contact – The Chinese normally avoid touching strangers
unless absolutely necessary (i.e., in a crowd)
Eye Contact – Direct eye contact is often preferred over indirect eye
contact. It is seen as a show of Courtesy.
Silence – In Chinese communication, silence is an essential and deliberate
technique.
Pointing – In many cultures, pointing at people is considered impolite,
but this is especially true in china.
Beckoning – To beckon a Chinese person, face the palm of you hand
downward and move your fingers in a scratching motion.
PHILLIPINES
Philippines
Language: Filipino (more than 111 dialect)

Good Morning – Magandang Umaga

How are you?! – Kamusta ka?
I’m Sorry – Patawad/Paumanhin
Thank you so much – Maraming Salamat
You’re Welcome. – Walang anuman.
I love you – Mahal kita
Verbal
Communication Style – Filipinos will try to express their opinions and
ideas diplomatically and with humility to avoid appearing arrogant.
Indirect Communication – Filipinos often communicate indirectly to
prevent a loss of face and evoke hiya on either side of an exchange
Refusals – Since many Filipinos try to save face and avoid hiya in
their interactions, many will be overly polite and seldom give a flat ‘no’
or negative response.
Respect – When speaking to those who are older or of higher
status, Filipinos tend to use polite forms of speech
NON-VERBAL
Physical Contact - Among relatives or friends of the same gender, it is common for
Filipinos to walk hand in hand or arm in arm.
Personal Space – When interacting with people they are familiar with, Filipinos tend
to prefer standing at arm’s length from one another
Laughter –While Filipinos often laugh in conversations, the meaning of laughter tends
to depend on the situation
Pointing – Filipinos may point to objects by puckering their lips and moving their
mouths in the direction they are pointing to.
Gestures – Putting one’s hands on their hips is a sign of anger.
Beckoning – The common way to beckon someone is by gesturing with the hand
facing downwards and waving fingers towards oneself, the same gesture that would
represent ‘shooing’ in Australia
VIETNAM
VIETNAM
Language: Vietnamese

Hello – Xin chào

Good Morning – Buổi sáng tốt lành

I’m Sorry – Tôi xin lôi

Thank You - Cảm ơn bạn

I Miss You - Tôi nhớ bạn

I love you – Tôi yêu bạn

VERBAL
Indirect Communication – According to widespread perception, the
Vietnamese frequently undersell themselves to make their point.
Language Style – Vietnamese people tend to avoid using a lot of
exaggerated expressions to talk modestly
Refusals – Even though they disagree with you, a Vietnamese individual
may refrain from answering directly “no” or negatively due to their concern
for appearances and politeness.
Agreement – Remember that a “yes” doesn’t always mean “I agree with
what was said,” but rather, it can mean “I hear you” or “I understand.”
Loud Voices – Shouting or speaking loudly is typically viewed as
vulgar or uncouth behavior, especially when done by women.
NON–VERBAL
Physical Contact – In Vietnam, touching strangers is improper unless it is unavoidable.
Pointing – It is considered impolite to point with your index finger at individuals or
objects. Instead, use your free hand.
Beckoning – Use your open hand instead of your index finger to beckon.
Expressions – When communicating, Vietnamese people frequently display less
emotion on their faces and frequently assume a somber demeanor unless something
happy is happening. Do not take this as being hostile.
Eye Contact – Avoid making eye contact with someone who is older, of a higher rank,
or the opposing gender as a sign of respect.
Smiling – Vietnamese culture has a variety of meanings associated with smiling.
Gestures – The Vietnamese equivalent of the Western symbol for “okay,” which
features the forefinger and top of the thumb coming together to form a circle with the
other fingers spread apart, is “poor quality.”
Silence- The majority of Asian nations employ silence as an essential and strategic
strategy in their communication.
PAKISTAN
PAKISTAN
Language: Urdu & English
Hello – Hilo ‫ہـیلو‬

Good Morning – Subha Bakhair ‫صــبح بــــخیر‬

I’m Sorry – mai mafi chahta hun ‫میں معـافیچاہـتا ہـوں‬

Thank you – Shukriya ‫شــکریـہ‬

I love you – mein ap say muhabat karta hoon

‫میں تــــمـ س ـےـ پـــیارکـــرتا ہـوں‬
VERBAL
Indirect Communication – Pakistanis typically avoid confrontation
and offence by communicating in an indirect manner.

Language Style – Pakistanis frequently use dramatic facial expressions

when conversing.

Refusals – Directly rejecting someone is considered disrespectful and

could mean they want to stop the relationship

Criticism – Criticism must always be handled delicately. Unless stated in a

subtle way, it could be mistaken for a minor personal offence.

Group Discussion – Pakistanis typically prefer to speak in groups.

NON–VERBAL
Personal Space – Pakistanis typically don’t care about personal space and will
approach their topic more closely than in Western cultures.
Physical Contact – Physical attachment between people of the same gender is quite
prevalent.
Hands – In Pakistani culture, there is a distinction between the uses of the hands.
Eye Contact – Direct eye contact with another person while speaking to them is
impolite.
Gestures – Retaliation is indicated by striking an object with one’s fist or by grooming
one’s beard or moustache.
Ears – When feeling guilty, holding onto one’s ear can represent regret or repentance
Beckoning – The palm should be facing the ground and all fingers should be used
when calling.
Winking – Winking has sexual overtones and should never be done.
Smiling – Pakistanis may present a quite somber appearance and may not frequently
smile at strangers.
JAPAN
Japan
Language: Japanese (Nihongo)

Hello – Kon’nichiwa こんにちは

Good Morning – Ohayō おはよう

I’m Sorry – Gomen’nasai ごめんなさい

I love you – Aishitemasu 愛してます

VERBAL
Indirect Communication – Japanese people are generally indirect
communicators.
Refusals – As indirect communicators, Japanese people often avoid
direct refusals or negative responses.
Silence – Interrupting someone who is talking is generally considered
impolite.
Compliments – Humbleness is a common value in Japanese culture.
As a result, there is a general tendency for people to politely deflect
compliments.
Interjections – Interjections (aizuchi) are very common in Japanese
communication. They are not understood as an interruption, but rather
indicate to the speaker that their counterpart is actively listening.
NON-VERBAL
Physical Contact: Minimal physical contact is preferred.
Personal Space: Attitudes towards space are often based on a distinction between
public and private spaces.
Eye Contact: Eye contact is an important aspect of non-verbal communication in
Japan.
Bowing: Bowing is common throughout Japan and is often used as a gesture to mark
certain emotions, such as showing gratitude, remorse, or reverence.
Beckoning: In Japan, people usually beckon by facing the palm of their hand to the
ground and waving their fingers towards their bodies.
Pointing: Pointing with a finger is considered rude.
Nodding: It is common for people to nod during conversation to indicate they are
listening or as a sign of acknowledgment.
Expressing Emotions: Displaying intense emotion is usually avoided in Japanese
communication.
SOUTH KOREA
KOREA
Language: Korean (Hangul)
Hello – annyeonghasibnikka 안녕하십니까
Good Morning – joh-eun achim 좋은 아침

I’m Sorry – joesong haeyo 죄송 해요

I’m Hungry – baegopa 배고파

Thank you – gomabseubnida 고맙습니다

I love you – salanghaeyo 사랑해요

VERBAL
Indirect Communication – The South Korean communication pattern
is generally indirect and quite verbose.
Refusals – A South Korean’s preoccupation with saving face and
politeness means that they will seldom give a flat ‘no’ or negative response,
even when they don’t agree with you.
Speech Style – While they may be indirect in their communication style,
South Koreans generally speak quite firmly and use fewer gestures and
facial expressions.
Silence – Silence is an important and purposeful tool used in Asian
communication.
Laughter – Laughter is sometimes used in awkward situations.
NON-VERBAL
Physical Contact – Koreans are generally not very physically affectionate with one
another.
Personal Space – Personal space is not guarded very closely in Korea.
Pointing – People do not point with their index finger but rather with their entire hand.
Beckoning – One beckon by fluttering all fingers to one’s hand with the palm facing
towards the ground.
Gestures – It is considered rude to make a fist with your hand while placing the thumb
between the middle and index finger.
Expressions – Koreans may appear quite straight-faced in conversation.
Smiling – As well as an expression of glee and humor, smiling can indicate that one is
feeling ashamed or embarrassed in Korean culture.
Sneezing – Sneezing is considered rude in Korea.
Hands – Koreans mostly use their right hand for all greetings and gestures.
THAILAND
THAILAND
Language: Thai

Hello – sawadee krub/kha สวัสดี

Good Morning – arun sawat อรุ ณสวัสดิ์

I’m Hungry – C̄hạn h̄iw ฉันหิว

I’m Sorry – C̄hạn s̄eīycı ฉัน

เสยี ใจ
Thank you – K̄hx k̄hxbkhuṇ ขอขอบคุณ

I love you – C̄hạn rạk khuṇ ฉันรักคุณ

VERBAL
Indirect Communication – As the concept of ‘face’ underpins
interactions, Thai people tend to have an indirect communication style and
avoid giving flat-out refusals.
Honorifics – Thais typically address someone by stating the first name
preceded by ‘Khun’ (e.g., Khun Simon).

Humour – It is common for Thais to joke during the conversation.

Swearing – Swearing is generally not used in casual conversation and is

crass.
Soft Voices – Thais are often soft-spoken.
NON-VERBAL
Physical Contact - Physical contact in Thailand is acceptable amongst people of the
same gender but is usually minimal.
Personal Space – The general distance between two people conversing is arm’s length.

Gestures – Thai people generally do not use their hands to emphasis their point in the
conversation.
Eye Contact – Eye contact shows attentiveness to the person talking.
Height and Bowing – An important way Thais show respect is by lowering their head.
Nodding – Thai people often nod to acknowledge what is said.
Beckoning – The common way to beckon someone is by gesturing with all fingers
facing downwards and towards oneself, the same gesture that would represent
‘shooing’ in Australia.
Smiling – Thais usually smile often in conversations.