ETIQUETTEIN MALAYSIA

JAVANESE VS. HAN HOKKIEN CHINESE

IN KUALA LUMPUR

BY MARCO DE GROEN

ETIQUETTEIN MALAYSIAJAVANESE VS. HAN HOKKIEN CHINESE

IN KUALA LUMPURBY MARCO DE GROEN

KUALA LUMPUR DEMOGRAPHICS

KUALA LUMPUR1.6 MILLION CITIZENS

560.000 CITIZENS 550.000 CITIZENS

243 KM2

490.000 CITIZENS

WHY?

50% 48%

JAVANESE MUSLIM

HAN HOKKIENCHRISTIAN

There are many etiquette in Asia. To keep things clear I decided to focus on one country. In this case that country is Malaysia, this because they are a country with many different inhabitants. I chose to light out Kuala Lumpur because the capital is populated with more then 20 different ethnicities. The 2 biggest groups are Javanese and HAN Hokkien Chinese. Both groups are also still very religious which make theme hang on their etiquette even more. The difference in religion, ethnic, culture and etiquette makes theme both very interesting to light out.

CONTENT

1 GREETING SOMEONE

2 EXCHANGING

3 ENTERING SOMEONE’S HOUSE

4 HAVING A MEAL TOGETHER

5 NORMAL MANNERS

6 CONVERSATION HABITS

PAGE 1 - 8

PAGE 9 - 12

PAGE 13 - 14

PAGE 15 - 20

PAGE 21 - 24

PAGE 25 - 30

JAVANESE HOKKIEN BOTH

2% OTHER

GREETING SOMEONE

1

WARM GREETINGSHOW TO SAY HELLO?

2

“HAVE YOU EAT ALREADY?”

Bow to say hello and goodbye say “ni hao”, and to be super polite ask if they have already eaten.If they haven’t invite theme for a meal and you will make a great impression.Shake hands and bow both can. Bowing in general is a sigh of respect and humbleness. Many older Chinese lower their eyes during the greeting as a sign of respect.

1

“NI HAO”

3

The traditional Javanese/Malay greeting or “salam“resembles a handshake, but with both hands outstretched and without the grasp. The man/woman offers both hands, lightly touches his friend’s hands, and then brings his hands back to his chest to mean, “I greet you from my heart”.

“SALAM”

LETS START SHAKING!HOW TO SHAKE HANDS?

4

“I GREET YOU FROM MY HEART”

5

YOU CAN’T TOUCH THIS!TOUCHING SOMEONES SHOULDER?

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST NO NO FOR CHINESE”

6

“PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES WILL BRING BAD LUCK”

Do not tap people on the shoulder, also don’t touch theme in other way.This strongly applies to all Chinese in general, it is a big NO-NO to tap/touch someone on the shoulder. It is said that by touch/tapping one’s shoulder, you would put out one of the 3 holy flames in the body. This will cause a lot of bad luck to that particular person.

NOT MY HUMAN SOUL!

7

THE FACE, A HOLY TEMPLE

Never touch Javanese/Malay on their body or kiss theme in the face.The head is considered to be the home of the human soul.Only shake hands if they reach out for you to shake hands. The face is considered to be their proud part an cannot be touched or smudged by kissing theme.

8“DO NOT TOUCH MY

PRIDE”

EXCHANGING

2

10

THUMBS UPEXCHANGING BUSINESS CARD

“BUSINESS CARDS ARE GIVEN WITH BOTH HANDS AND THUMBS

UP, DO NOT DIRECTLY HIDE IT AWAY, THIS IS RUDE”

DO IT RIGHT

9

EXCHANGING BUSINESS CARD

“JAVANESE/MALAY WILL GIVE THEIR CARD WITH

THEIR RIGHT HAND”

11

DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?HOW TO ACCEPT OBJECTS

12

“ACCEPT THINGS WITH BOTH HANDS, THIS TO SHOW YOU

ARE FULLY INTERESTED AND DEDICATED”

ENTERING AT SOMEONE’S HOUSE 3

SHOES OFF

13

PUT OFF YOU SHOES?

14

COLOR MATCHWHAT COLOUR SHOULD YOU WEAR?

Some colors have different meanings for Chinese, the most obvious being red which symbolizes prosperity/luck.This is important to take into account when publishing or design-ing products. Black is a big taboo color. Don’t wear black especially full black during days like Chinese New Year, Birthdays and Weddings.

“WHEN ENTERING SOMEONE’S HOUSE,YOU MUST TAKE THEM OFF”

“DO NOT WEAR BLACK”

HAVING A MEAL TOGETHER4

15

CHOPSTICK RULESHOW TO USE THEM?

16

Use the chopsticks well, don’t use theme as fork, and don’t stick both chopsticks in the meal! Chinese believe in the after life and by putting the chopsticks in the meal it will be like inviting the ghosts to eat your meal.

“GHOST WILL EAT YOUR FOOD!”

Never place your chopsticks straight up in your bowl. By placing your sticks upright in your bowl your will remind your host of joint sticks which is connected with death.

“A RITUAL OF INCENSE BURNING THAT

SYMBOLIZES FEEDING THE DEAD AND DEATH IN

GENERAL”

17

DON’T PAY THIS BILL!WHY NOT SHARE BILLS?

18

“IT IS A SIGN OF RESPECT TO LET SOMEONE PAY THE BILL”

Never ever share the bill while eating together, its a sign of respect to let someone pay the bill as long as you do it yourself the next time you have a meal. Chinese still practices this especially if you are going out for a meal with your boss or someone important.

19

FINISHED YOU MEAL?WHY LEAVE SOME FOOD?

20

Cleaning your plate is fine but don’t clean the plate where the dishes are being serve on.Still it is a bit rude to finish everything. Leave a bit to show modesty. Also on certain day like Chinese New Year leaving a bit behind means you have extra to spare through out the year too.

“IT IS OK TO LEAVE SOME FOOD BEHIND”

NORMAL MANNERS

5

22

NO,NO,NO!AVOID SAYING NOPASS IT

21

NEVER PASS OVER THE HEAD

“AVOID SAYING NO, IT IS RUDE AND SHOWS YOU ARE

NOT WILLING”

“NEVER PASS THINGS OVER THE HEAD OF PEOPLE IN ASIA, IT IS REALLY RUDE AND BRINGS BAD LUCK”

BARE SOLES

23

THE BOTTOM OF YOU FEET

24

RED LUCKRED WRITING BAD LUCK?

“NEVER SHOW PEOPLE THE BOTTOM OF YOU

FEET, IT IS AN INSULTING GESTURE”

“NEVER WRITE A CHINESE PERSONS NAME IN RED

COLOR,THIS WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THE PERSON”

CONVERSATION HABITS

6

26

BIG MOVESDON’T WAVE LIKE A HELICOPTER

“DO NOT USE LARGE HAND MOVEMENTS. CHINESE DO NOT SPEAK

WITH THEIR HANDS. LARGE MOVEMENTS COULD MEAN YOUR ANGRY OR

PROVOCATING SOMEONE”

SMILE!

25

EMBARRASSED? THEN SMILE!

“ASIANS WILL SMILE WHEN EMBARRASSED. SMILE EMBARRASSMENT AWAY THEY SAY”

27

DON’T POINT LIKE THATHOW TO USE YOUR HANDS WHILE TALKING?

28

“POINT WITH YOU THUMB AND FINGERS CLOSED TO

FORM A FIST.”

“DO NOT USE YOUR FINGER INDEX TO POINT SOMEWHERE. IT IS CONSIDERED VERY RUDE”

29

ANGRY?HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS

30

“A LONG SILENCE IS ACCEPTABLE”“HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS WHILE HAVING A TALK MEANS YOUR ANGRY”

Periods of silence are considered acceptable and are to be expected, especially after a question is asked. Avoid interrupting, showing displeasure through facial or eye movements and talking over someone. Be patient.

SILENCE....THINK FIRST, IT IS NORMAL