Displaying your palms in Greece

希臘 手掌外翻

In Greece， keep your palms to yourself. Holding your palms out towards a person is a highly insulting gesture. This gesture is said to be a remnant of Byzantine times， when people could taunt shackled criminals by smearing their faces with excrement.

在希臘，最好保持手掌對著自己，因為對著別人伸出手掌是一種非常侮辱人的手勢。據(jù)說這個手勢要追溯到拜占庭時期，當時人們可以通過在臉上抹屎嘲諷獄中的罪犯。

Patting on the head in Sri Lanka

斯里蘭卡 摸頭

An open-palmed pat on the head of a child is a gesture of fondness. If you need to get a childs attention， its also the easiest place to tap them. In the Buddhist faith， though， the top of the head is the highest point of the body， and its where the spirit exists. To touch the top of a persons head is highly invasive， for children and adults alike. Avoid this in any country with a predominant Buddhist population.

手掌輕拍小孩的頭部是一種表示喜歡的手勢。如果你需要引起小孩子的注意，最簡單的方法就是輕拍他們的頭部。不過，在佛教信仰中，頭頂是身體的最高點，也是靈魂的所在之處。觸摸一個人的頭頂都是非常不敬的，無論是小孩還是成人。在以佛教為主的國家要避免這個動作。

Thumbs-up

in

Thailand

泰國

翹拇指

This gesture of agreement or approval is an easy reflex when language barriers are at play. Try to avoid it in Thailand， though， where its a sign of condemnation. Its typically a childs gesture， the same as sticking out your tongue. People will likely be more bemused than hurt if you put your thumbs up. Still， its a good one to avoid.

這個手勢表示同意和認可，然而在有語言障礙時卻可能起到反作用。在泰國，盡量不要用這個手勢，因為它表示“譴責”。這個手勢是典型的孩子專用手勢，在泰語中等同于吐舌頭。如果你翹起大拇指，人們不會感到受傷，而只是困惑，但最好還是避免使用。

OK in France

法國 “Ok”

OK means “great” or “fine” in North America. Its also used by scuba divers to communicate that there are no problems. In France， however， this gesture means “zero”. Unless youre motioning to a French scuba diver， you might be accidentally communicating that something or someone is worthless. A bad idea when trying to compliment a chef on your meal with this gesture.

OK這個手勢在北美意味著“很好的”或“好的”。潛水員們也用這個手勢交流，表示“沒有問題”。不過，這個手勢在法國表示“0”。除非你是在向一個法國潛水員示意，否則你會不小心傳達出某個東西或某個人毫無價值的意思。用餐時，不要用這個手勢向廚師表示稱贊。

One-handed giving in Japan

日本 單手遞送東西

In the West， people arent especially mindful of their hands when they offer objects to others. In Japan， though， it is polite and expected for people to make offerings with both hands. If you give someone a business card， or hand them your camera to take a photo， be sure to pass on the item with both hands. This shows that you are fully attentive and sincere in the offering. A one-handed presentation might be taken as dismissive.

在西方，人們在遞給別人東西的時候，通常不會特別注意自己的手。但是，在日本，雙手遞送東西是一種禮貌，也是理所應當?shù)摹Ｈ绻阋o某人一張名片，或遞給某人相機幫你拍照，要確保是雙手遞東西，這樣才能顯示你在遞送過程中的誠意。單手遞送會被認為是輕視。

Get your nose！ in Turkey

土耳其 指向自己的鼻子

A gesture with the thumb tucked under the index finger doesnt have a set North American meaning， except when playing “got your nose” with a child. It also means the letter “T” in American sign language. In Turkey， this gesture is aggressively rude; the middle-finger equivalent.

把拇指放在食指之下指向自己的鼻子這一動作在北美沒有固定的意義，除非你在跟小孩玩“摸鼻子”游戲。這個手勢在美國的手勢語中也代表字母“T”。然而在土耳其，這個手勢是非常粗魯?shù)?，相當于豎中指。