American guest customs

1. Etiquette in social occasions

1. Etiquette for meeting, keep it simple

People in Western countries have traditionally had a complicated set of etiquette for meeting, starting with shaking hands , greetings and introducing each other are all customary habits. In contrast, Americans are relatively casual in their interactions with people. In the United States, friends usually greet each other with a casual "Hello". Even if two people meet for the first time, they don't necessarily shake hands. Just smile and say hello, and you can also call each other by name. , to show affection.

But in formal situations, people have to pay attention to etiquette. A handshake is the most common greeting. In the United States, when shaking hands, the woman reaches out first. A man should not hold a woman's hand too tightly. If the other party has no intention of shaking hands, the man can only nod and bow. Between elders and young, the older one reaches out first; between superiors and subordinates, the superior reaches out first; between host and guest, the host reaches out first.

Look at the other person and take off your gloves when shaking hands. If for some reason it is too late to take off your gloves, you must explain the reason to the other person and apologize. It should also be noted that cross-shaking is not allowed when there are many people, and women do not need to shake hands when meeting each other. Just like the order of shaking hands, when introducing two people to each other, the man should be introduced to the woman first, the young person should be introduced to the older person first, and the person with a lower position should be introduced to the person with a higher position first.

2. Call people casually and use first names instead of surname

Most Americans don’t like to be called Mr., Mrs. or Miss. They think such titles are too serious. American men, women and children like to be called by their first names and regard it as a sign of kindness and friendliness.

When people meet for the first time, they are often introduced by their first name and surname. For example, "My name is Mary Smith." At this time, the other party can call her "Mary" or "Miss Smith" casually. A common situation is that you may address each other by last name at the beginning of the conversation, and then change to first name after a while.

Sometimes when you have just met an American and you don’t know how to address him, you can just call him Mr. or Ms. At this time, the other party will quickly understand your psychology. Say it enthusiastically: "My name is James Wilson, please call me James." or "Don't call me Mrs. Smith, please call me Sally."

Indeed, Americans, regardless of position or age, always try to call each other by name to shorten the distance between them. An American publication once conducted a survey on 150 industrial and commercial industries on the issue of address, and found that 85% of them only addressed people by their first names.

Americans rarely use formal titles to address others. Formal titles are generally used only for judges, senior government officials, military officers, doctors, professors, and senior religious figures. For example: Judge Harry, Senator Smith, General Clark, Doctor Brown, Professor Green, Bishop White, etc. It is worth noting that Americans never use administrative titles such as director, manager, principal, etc. to address others.

3. Talk to others and don’t ask about personal matters

In American society, all people’s actions are centered on the individual, and personal interests are sacrosanct. This norm permeates all aspects of social life. People don't like to talk about personal matters in their daily conversations. Some questions are even taboo for them to talk about, such as asking age, marital status, income, religious beliefs, who to vote for in the election, etc. It is very presumptuous and rude.

Americans never ask the price when they see something bought by others. When you see others going out or coming back, you will not ask them "Where are you from?" or "Where are you going?". As for the salary, it is not something that can be asked casually. Anyone who wants to raise questions in these aspects will definitely be disliked. Americans often express their contempt for the person asking the question by saying, "You are sticking your nose into someone's private life."

It is worth mentioning that Americans have a very different view of age than we do. In our country, the elderly are respected, but in the United States, "old people and old people are worthless". So in the United States, older people never like compliments about their age. Once, Chinese students held a grand party in a city in the Midwestern United States, and there were many guests. The president of a prestigious local university and his mother also attended the event. The international students said in their welcome speech: “All our classmates feel honored by Mrs. XX’s presence.

"The word "Lao" is an honorific in China, but unexpectedly it hurt the old lady. At that time, her face suddenly changed and she was embarrassed, and she never showed up at gatherings of Chinese students again.

United States People also pay great attention to "personal space". When talking to Americans, it is generally better to stay 50 centimeters away. You should also try to keep a certain distance from others when you go to restaurants or libraries. When sitting at a table or next to someone else, it’s a good idea to say hello and ask, “Can I sit here? ", and then sit down after getting permission.

4. In social situations, ladies first

The status of American women in social and political life will not be discussed here. But in social situations They will always receive special preferential treatment. Respecting women is a traditional custom in European and American countries. From a historical perspective, it is influenced by the knightly style of the European Middle Ages; from a religious perspective, it is due to the respect for the Virgin Mary.

According to American customs, in social situations, men should be respectful and respectful to women. When walking, men should walk on the side of the road; when taking a seat, they should ask women to sit first. When getting on and off the elevator, women should walk in front; when entering, men should open the door and ask women to go first. However, when getting off the bus or going downstairs, men should walk in front to take care of women; when entering restaurants or theaters, men should walk in front. You can walk in front and find a good seat for the woman; when eating, ask the woman to order first; when greeting a woman, the man should stand up, but the woman does not have to stand up, just sit and nod; when a man and a woman shake hands, Men must take off their gloves, but women do not have to. When a woman drops her things on the ground, men should pick them up for her regardless of whether they know her or not.

In short, American men treat women in social situations. When in contact, on the one hand, you should respect them in everything, and on the other hand, you should appear as a protector at all times to show the man's status.

5. The more polite words, the better

A lot. Anyone who has been to the United States has the impression that Americans are very sweet-talking, and they are never stingy with nice words, which often make the listener feel happy. Indeed, in the United States, "please", "thank you", and "thank you" are all used. Language like "I'm sorry" can be heard everywhere.

In the United States, everyone will say "thank you" when receiving help from others, even the president is no exception. Salespeople always have smiles on their faces. When customers come in, they will greet them and ask, "Can I help you?" "When customers pay, they will smile and thank you. Finally, they will send you off with a thank you. Similarly, customers will also thank you repeatedly when receiving the goods.

Americans also do this among families. Be polite, not only between husband and wife, but also with children. In this way, children will naturally develop a good habit of being polite.

United States. People are also used to saying "I'm sorry" to others. When people have small frictions, saying "I'm sorry" often makes the grudges disappear, even when they encounter some trivial things, such as asking for directions or walking in front of someone else's seat in the theater. If you wait too long, Americans will apologize profusely. Americans regard it as indecent to burp or sneeze or cough when talking to others. When this happens, they will say "I'm sorry." , please forgive me.

2. Giving gifts, dating and being guests

Giving gifts, dating and being guests are common things in people's interactions. The United States also has its own unique customs.

1. Gift-giving

Generally speaking, Americans do not give gifts casually, and some often feel a little embarrassed when receiving gifts, especially if they happen to have nothing to reciprocate. . But on holidays, birthdays, weddings or when visiting patients, it is inevitable to give gifts to each other at Christmas. They are excited about buying novel toys, thinking it is a gift from Santa Claus. The gifts are often wrapped in floral paper and tied with ribbons. There is also a "White Christmas" a few days before Christmas, when people wrap gifts in white paper and give them to the poor nearby.

Most of them give flowers and sometimes bonsai. The flowers bring the breath of spring to people and give patients spiritual comfort.

Traditionally, if you go to express condolences in person, you usually send flowers in a vase without attaching a business card; if you ask a florist to send them directly, you must attach a business card.

Gifts are often given to friends when they travel far away. Gifts are usually flowers, snacks, fruits or books and magazines. The gift also comes with a business card to wish him a safe journey.

In addition, Americans believe that odd numbers are auspicious. Sometimes you don't feel begrudged if you only give three pears, unlike the Chinese who pay attention to pairs. When Americans receive a gift, they must open it immediately, appreciate or taste the gift in front of the giver, and thank the giver immediately.

The gift packaging is exquisite and magnificent on the outside, but it is not necessarily something too expensive inside. Sometimes when you open the exquisite packaging with three inner and outer layers, only a few chocolate candies are revealed.

2. Dating

Americans pay attention to efficiency and arrange their daily time in a planned way. What to do at what time is usually arranged in advance. Therefore, they absolutely do not want anyone to come unexpectedly and disrupt their plans, except for close relatives and friends. Not only on weekdays, but also on Sundays. American society is a competitive battlefield. After working hard, Americans usually enjoy family happiness with their wives and children during holidays. If outsiders go there without saying hello, they will definitely not be welcomed. Therefore, if you want to visit an American family, it is essential to make a reservation in advance, otherwise you will be treated as an uninvited guest, or even rejected.

It is annoying to be a guest at someone else's house and sit there chatting in the vast sea. If you are not a close friend, you will usually "go to the Three Treasures Palace if you have nothing to do." If you want to go, you should write a letter or call to make an appointment one or two days in advance. If the other party has something to do, they will take the initiative to make an appointment with you at another time. When some polite and considerate people write letters to inform the other party, they also attach stamps to the envelope with their name and address written on it, so that the other party can send a reply without having to bother. If you are a guest at the home of someone you are not familiar with, when you receive a reply from the other party, you will often have to write back a letter to indicate that you will attend the appointment on time. Do not miss a date after a date, as it is very rude to miss a date. If you are unable to attend an appointment due to something unexpected, you should inform the other party as soon as possible and express your apology. When traveling to an appointment, it is best to arrive on time. It's obviously rude to have people waiting for you if you're late; it's also not good to go too early. Because there are very few families in the United States with servants, housewives do it themselves by cleaning the room and preparing meals. Whenever guests come, the housewife will decorate the living room and prepare tea. If you go early and the housewife is not ready yet, but she has to come out to receive you, it will cause a lot of inconvenience. In those larger formal occasions, punctuality is even more important. If you arrive early, you should wait outside for a few minutes before going in.

3. Being a guest

Be considerate when making appointments, be punctual when attending appointments, and be polite, natural and generous when being a guest. First, knock on the door or ring the doorbell, and get permission from the owner before entering. Some people have brown shoe-shining mats placed at their doorsteps. The mud on the shoes should be wiped clean to avoid staining the owner's carpet. People wearing hats should take off their hats after entering the house. It is very impolite to wear hats in the room. If you are visiting on a rainy day, be sure to leave your umbrella and raincoat outside. After you take off your coat or coat, the host will usually take the initiative to hang it up for you, so you don't have to be polite at this time. After entering the house, you should first say hello to the hostess, and then say hello to the male host. If the host's house is full of guests, you only need to shake hands with the host and acquaintances, and nod to others.

When you are a guest in an American home, you don’t have to be overly formal. If the host invites you to sit down and you do not sit down immediately to show politeness, it will make the host feel uneasy and think that the chair is unclean or there is other inconvenience. When you are a guest, you are not allowed to look at the writing paper on the host's table or flip through documents. Don't touch the antiques and curios in the room, and don't ask about the prices of indoor appliances.

Don’t smoke easily when you are a guest. If you want to smoke, you should first ask the women present if they mind, and offer cigarettes to others first. If the host takes the initiative to invite you to smoke, then even if you have cigarettes, you must accept the host's cigarettes, and do not refuse the other party and smoke your own. Otherwise, the owner will think you are looking down on him and feel very unhappy.

When dining at an American home, if you are not familiar with the etiquette of eating Western food, the best way is to pay attention to the hostess's actions. You will not go wrong if you follow her example. At the dinner table, Americans have many habits that are different from ours. People often find an interesting phenomenon: in order to express the same friendly feelings, people in different countries have completely opposite sayings and practices.

When Chinese people treat guests to dinner, they often modestly express that the food is not well cooked and ask the guests to please forgive them. But Americans have to say things like "This is my best dish, I hope you like it." Therefore, when you are a guest in an American home, don’t be surprised to hear the host boasting about how well-cooked the food is. You should also praise the hostess’s cooking skills. When Chinese hosts serve dishes to their guests, the guests always try their best to give way to show their courtesy. It is unyielding to do this in the United States. When the host brings you food for the first time, you don’t have to politely refuse, otherwise the hostess will think that you think her food is not cooked well. At the dinner table, the hostess is the invisible leader. After the food is served, the guests usually wait for the hostess to eat before they start eating. After meal. The hostess should also take the lead in leaving the table before the guests leave.

It is not advisable to stay as a guest in an American home for too long, so as not to waste too much time on the host. But don't say goodbye immediately after the meal. You should chat with the host for a while, then thank you and leave. If a couple goes to someone else's house for a visit, the wife should stand up first to say goodbye. At a more formal banquet, if there are many guests, you should wait for the senior guests or important female guests to leave first before leaving. If a guest needs to leave first, he should ask the host for forgiveness before leaving.

If you are not very familiar with the host, you should call the host to express your gratitude after being a guest, or write a short "Thank you" note and send it to the host, which will be more polite. All things considered.

3. Dining Etiquette

Eastern and Western dining habits are very different, especially formal Western banquets, which have many rules. If you don't know anything about it, you can't help but laugh.

The famous scholar Mr. Qian Gechuan once gave two examples.

One is that at a banquet held by Hitler, a Chinese envoy used a napkin to wipe the knife and fork with a napkin according to the custom of eating Western food at home. However, he did not know that this approach was extremely impolite, as if he was scolding the knife and fork. Not clean. Upon seeing this, Hitler immediately ordered the waiter to change the tableware for all the guests, which embarrassed the Chinese envoy.

The second is Li Hongzhang’s foolhardy behavior when he was on a mission to Germany. Li Hongzhang went to the banquet at the invitation of Bismarck. Because he did not understand Western food etiquette, he picked up a bowl of water for washing hands after eating fruit and drank it. At that time, Bismarck did not understand China's reality and reality. In order not to embarrass Li Hongzhang, he drank all the water he washed his hands in one gulp. Seeing this, other civil and military officials had no choice but to laugh. Today, the exchanges between the people of the East and the West are becoming more frequent, and it is also necessary to understand the etiquette at the table.

When attending a Western-style banquet, you should pay attention to the following matters:

1. You should wait until all the guests are served and the hostess signals before you start eating. No dish should be eaten until the hostess has taken her spoon or fork. This is an American habit, which is different from that of some European countries.

2. The napkin should be spread on the lap. If the napkin is larger, it should be double-folded on the lap; if it is smaller, it can be fully opened. Although the napkin can also be wrapped around the neck or tied to the chest, it does not look generous, so it is best not to do this. You can use the corner of a napkin to wipe away oil stains on your mouth or fingers, but never use a napkin to wipe tableware.

3. When eating, you should sit upright and do not lean forward too far, and do not put your arms across the table to avoid bumping into the guests next to you.

4. When using a knife and fork, you should use the knife with your right hand and the fork with your left hand. When using only the fork, it can be held with the right hand. When using a knife, do not point the blade outward. Don't use a knife to put food into your mouth. When cutting meat, avoid making a sound when the knife cuts on the porcelain plate. When eating noodles, you can roll them up with a fork and eat them without picking. Put down the knife and fork halfway, and place the knife and fork on the plate in an "eight" shape. If you put the knife and fork together, it means the meal is finished.

5. Take the bread with your hands, and then place it on the small plate next to it or on the edge of the large plate. Never use a fork to fork the bread. Use a butter knife to remove butter, not a personal knife. Take out the butter and put it in a small dish next to it. Do not spread it directly on the bread. Instead of cutting the bread with a knife or buttering the entire slice, pull off a small piece at a time and eat one piece at a time.

6. Only use a fork when eating salad. The fork should be held in the right hand, with the fork tips pointing upward. If the salad is served with bread or biscuits, you can hold a small piece of bread or biscuits with your left hand to help push the salad onto the fork.

7. When eating fish, you can hold the bread with your left hand and the knife with your right hand to push away the thorns.

Do not spit meat bones or fish bones that have been eaten directly into the plate. Instead, catch them with a fork and put them gently on the plate, or take them out with your hands as unnoticed as possible and place them on the edge of the plate. Do not throw them on the plate. On the table or on the floor. Fruit cores should also be spit into the palm of your hand before being placed on a plate.

8. When you want to drink water, you should swallow the food in your mouth first. Do not rinse food in your mouth with water. When drinking from a glass, be sure to wipe off the oil stains on your mouth first to avoid staining the glass.

9. Don’t pick up the dishes when eating. To drink soup, tilt the plate and eat with a spoon. Don't put the spoon in the cup when drinking tea or coffee.

10. Don’t make any noise when eating, especially when drinking soup. The mouth should be closed when chewing.

11. Don’t wipe your nose or burp at the dinner table. If you sneeze or cough, say sorry to those around you.

12. Don’t pick your teeth at the dinner table. If something is stuck in your teeth and must be taken out, cover your mouth with a napkin. It is best to wait until no one else is around before taking it out.

13. It is impolite to remain silent while eating. You should talk to the people around you. But don't talk while chewing your food. Even if someone is talking to you, you should swallow the food in your mouth before answering. You don't have to put down your knife and fork when talking, but you can't hold it and shake it in the air.

14. At the dinner table, all food should be taken with a knife and fork. Only celery, radishes, green fruits, fruits, dried snacks, dried fruits, candies, fried potato chips, corn, frog legs and bread can be eaten with hands.

15. When the waiter serves the dishes to the guests one by one, walk to your left until it is your turn to take the dishes. If the waiter is standing on your right, don't take it. It's the customer's turn to take it. When taking the dishes, it is best to take a little of each, as this will please the hostess. If you really don't like a certain dish, you can also say: "Thank you, no more."

16. When the hostess wants to add more dishes to you. You can pass the plate to her with the knife and fork placed on it or give it to the waiter. You can't ask for more food if she doesn't ask you, it's rude.

17. Some foods on the table, such as bread, butter, jam, pickles, dried fruits, candies, etc., should be eaten at the suggestion of the hostess. When everyone takes turns to get the food, the male guest should ask the female guest next to him to get it first, or ask her if she would like to let you get some for you. When eating, do not reach over in front of others to get food. If you need something, pass it on behind someone else's back.

18. After the meal, the guests should wait for the hostess to stand up from her seat before leaving the table together. It is not polite to leave during a meal or before the party is over. After standing up, the male guest should help the woman return the chair to its original position. Place the napkin on the table and do not fold it as it is unless the host invites you to stay for the next meal.

To make the banquet full of pleasant and harmonious atmosphere from beginning to end, not only the guests must be well behaved and polite, but the attitude of the host and hostess is also crucial.

After the banquet begins, the responsibility of the host and hostess is to keep the conversation lively and interesting so that no guest is left out. If someone says something inappropriate, the host should immediately and tactfully try to change the subject.

When dining, the host should wait for the guests to finish one dish before changing to the next dish. The host should not eat too fast. If most people have finished eating but a few people have not finished eating, the host should slow down to avoid making the guests feel uneasy.

During the dinner, the host should try his best to make every guest feel comfortable and comfortable. If the guest drops the knife and fork on the floor. He should be offered a new one immediately and politely. If a guest accidentally breaks a plate or bowl, the hostess should clean it up calmly and comfort the guest without showing any displeasure.

Finally, the host must never calculate the cost of the treat in front of the guests.

4. Prom Guide

Prom is the most common social occasion, which can promote communication and friendship between people. Although the atmosphere of the dance is relaxed and casual, all kinds of etiquette cannot be ignored.

1. Private dance

Any family in the United States can hold a private dance as long as it has certain human and financial resources. The dance can be held at home, or you can rent a venue in a hotel or club. Dance parties are very frequent in the United States, and renting rooms from clubs and hotels often requires a year in advance agreement. If you want to hold a dance in the near future, you can call the manager and ask for help.

Once the time and location are confirmed, the band should be contacted. Finalize the guest list and send invitations.

Invitations to balls are usually sent in the name of the hostess. Single men can also hold dance parties and send invitations. More male guests than female guests should be invited to the dance to prevent the female guests from having no one to dance with. Therefore, before the dance, the male guest can call the host and request to bring another male companion, but he cannot ask to bring another female companion.

At the dance, the hostess can arrange seat name cards for the guests, and negotiate with the florist to send flowers to each guest on the spot.

(1) Dinner dance

Dinner dance is usually held in the evening. Dinner was served about an hour after the dance. Guests attending a dinner dance should arrive at least half an hour after the dance starts, and are generally seated according to their name cards.

You can start dancing after the guests are basically all seated. Every dish at dinner was served very slowly. Each male guest should first invite the female guest sitting on his left to dance, and then invite other female guests. Even if a girl who is new to society does not sit on her father's left side, her father usually invites her to dance first.

After the dinner and dance, various drinks will be served. Coffee is usually placed on the table, and other drinks are delivered by the waiter. At this time guests are free to sit and dance until midnight, perhaps with a small selection of sandwiches or cakes.

If a dinner party is held at home, the dinner can be served as a buffet. Guests can help themselves to their food, sit casually around the table and choose a conversation partner.

(2) Dinner dance

The dinner dance starts and ends much later than the dinner dance, starting around 10 to 11 pm and ending in the early morning of the next day.

There is no formal meal at the dinner dance, but some simple food is served from 12 midnight or 1 o'clock the next day. The guests had to have dinner before going to the dance. There are no fixed seats for dinner dances, and guests are not seated at tables. But there were enough chairs in the ballroom and in the next room for guests to rest.

You can arrive one hour later than the designated time for a dinner dance, and you do not have to stay until the end of the dance. At a traditional dance, one dances the last waltz before leaving.

2. Fundraising dance

A fundraising dance is a commercial activity that makes money by organizing dances. Many charitable organizations and foundations in the United States rely on annual fundraising balls to increase revenue. This dance is one of the main ways they build their funds.

Some well-known welfare organizations in the United States often organize fundraising balls with celebrities such as the president’s wife, vice president’s wife, or other senior officials as background, and the proceeds are used to relieve the poor, help foreign immigrants, or run charities. cause. Therefore, many Americans are very enthusiastic about such fundraising balls and are willing to donate generously. Many foreign embassies in the United States are also willing to provide venues and support for the fundraising dance.

3. Etiquette at the dance

When the dance begins, the hostess greets every guest in the living room and introduces the new guests to the nearest guests.

If a male guest comes with a female guest: When entering the dance hall, the woman should be in front and the man behind. They should not walk arm in arm.

On the dance floor, men can ask women to dance with them, but women cannot actively invite men to dance with them. When a man invites a married woman to dance, he should first ask her husband and get permission before dancing with her. During the dance, people are allowed to change partners, but two men or two women must not dance together.

When a woman doesn’t want to dance with a man, she can politely find an excuse to refuse, but the man cannot force him.

When food and drinks are provided in the dance hall, men should accompany their female companions to eat and be responsible for taking care of her.

The male guest should take the initiative to invite the hostess or the host's daughter to dance as a sign of respect.

When the female companion plans to go home. The male partner should agree immediately. And send him off briefly. If a man goes first, he should explain the reason to his female partner and ask for forgiveness.

Leaving the dance hall does not necessarily alarm the host, you can leave without saying goodbye. But if the owner is nearby, you should express your gratitude to her and say goodbye.

Within a week after attending the dance, you should call or write a letter to express your gratitude to the host.

5. Twenty Precepts for Intercourse

1. Never hitchhike

When traveling in the United States, you must not hitchhike at will. This is due to the public security situation in the United States. caused. Cases of hitchhikers who are robbed of money or abused are common in the United States. When some gangsters see women walking on the roadside, they stop the car and politely ask for a ride. If you mistakenly think that he has good intentions, it is tantamount to sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth.

In this situation, it's best to refuse with a cold voice and don't try to strike up a conversation.

Not only that, don’t agree easily when you meet someone who asks for a ride. This is because some gangsters, including young girls, wait specifically for hitchhiking, and after getting on the bus, they use threats and other means to extort money.

2. Do not take the subway at night

The subway in New York is extremely dirty and messy, and it has become a gathering place for gang members at night. Drug addicts, thieves, gangsters, and drug dealers gather here, and the whole atmosphere is chilling. If you don't care about this, then after the accident, the New York police officer will not sympathize with you, but may even blame you: "Isn't taking the subway at night the same as swimming in water where crocodiles gather? If something goes wrong, the responsibility lies with you."

3. Don’t call black people “Negro”

“Negro” means “black people” in English. Especially black people who were trafficked from Africa to the United States as slaves. So never call a black person "Negro" in the United States. This is true when talking to white people, and even more so when talking to black people. Otherwise, the black man will feel your contempt for him. When it comes to black people, it is best to use the word "Black". Black people will accept this title calmly.

4. Don’t say "I am sorry" casually

"I am sorry" and "Excuse me" both mean "sorry" and "sorry", but "I am sorry" "Sorry" has a stronger tone, indicating that you admit that you have made a mistake or made a mistake. If you speak easily just to be polite, you will often be caught by the other party. Hold accountable things that are not actually yours. At that time, there will only be a "dumb man eating coptis", because he has admitted that he was wrong by saying "I'm sorry". How to change your words?

5. Modesty is not a virtue

Chinese people regard modesty as a virtue, but Americans regard excessive modesty as a synonym for hypocrisy. If a person who speaks fluent English modestly says that he does not speak English well, and then speaks fluent English, Americans will think that he has lied and is a duplicitous and pretentious person. Therefore, when interacting with Americans, you should boldly state your abilities. One is one, and ten is ten. There is no need to be humble and polite, otherwise it will backfire.

6. Greeting strangers

On the road, in the elevator or in the corridor, we often meet the people walking towards us and make eye contact. At this time, the American habit is to use Eye greeting. Don't look away immediately, or turn your face to one side and pretend not to see him. This is only done to those who are displeased and dismissive.

When Americans walk down the street in the early morning, they will habitually say "good morning" to people they pass by. Of course, on a street with a lot of pedestrians, it is not necessary to pay attention or say hello to everyone who passes by.

7. Topics during conversation

When attending an American gathering, don’t just talk about the topics you care about most and are good at. Talking about topics that only you are familiar with can embarrass and offend others. Talking about personal business matters and showing off will also make others feel that you have a narrow vision and know nothing except your own business.

In the conversation, you should look for topics that everyone is interested in. Doctors can talk about literature, scientists can talk about music, and educators can talk about their travel experiences, making the whole party full of relaxed atmosphere.

It should be noted that Christians regard suicide as a sin. In the United States, the topic of "suicide" is not popular, and it is best to talk less about it anytime and anywhere.

8. Don’t forget to greet your children

Americans believe that adults and children are equal. When visiting American homes, their children will definitely come out to meet the guests and say hello. At this time, don't just ignore the children because the adults will definitely make their parents unhappy.

When greeting a child, you can shake hands or kiss on the face. If the child kisses you, you must also kiss his face.

9. Same-sex cannot dance together

Same-sex cannot dance together. This is one of the recognized social etiquette in the United States. If people of the same sex dance together, others will look at them reproachfully or think that they are homosexuals. Therefore, even if you cannot find a partner of the opposite sex, you must never dance with someone of the same sex.

10. Don’t take off your shoes in front of others

In the United States, if you take off your shoes or go barefoot in front of others, you will be regarded as a barbarian without etiquette. Shoes can only be taken off in the bedroom, or between men and women passionately in love.

If a woman takes off her shoes in front of a man, it means "you can do whatever you like"; if a man takes off his shoes, he will be looked down upon like a barefoot native in the jungle. It is impolite for both men and women to pull down their socks or pull their garters in front of others. If your shoelaces are loose, you should go to a place where no one is around to tie them.

11. Women are not allowed to drink alone.

Women are not allowed to drink alone. If they drink alone or several women drink together, they are regarded as "women waiting for men" and are not allowed to drink alone. Women who are familiar with this situation may be harassed by men in a "self-recommendation" style.

12. Do not stick out your tongue in front of others

Americans think that sticking out your tongue in front of others is both unsightly and impolite, giving people a sense of vulgarity and indecentness. The feeling can even be interpreted as looking down on people.

Children can stick out their tongues when they make mistakes and appear innocent and cute, but adults must not do this.

13. Don’t smile casually

Smiling can bring friendship. But on some occasions, a smile often represents a commitment to something. Especially women, it is best not to smile for no reason. Because an ambiguous smile is sometimes mistaken for "smile", sometimes it is mistaken for "acquiescence", and the result is that