入乡随俗:你必须知道的文化禁忌

当你去别的国家或地区旅行，和当地的人打交道时，即使你怀着良好的意愿，若不注意文化差异以及礼仪风俗，也可能令自己身陷窘境，甚至还有可能冒犯别人。因此，了解世界各地常见的文化禁忌必不可少。

Touching Someone 身体接触

Where It's Offensive: Korea, Thailand, China, Europe, the Middle East

禁忌国家或地区：韩国、泰国、中国、欧洲、中东

What's Offensive: In Mediterranean countries, if you refrain1) from touching someone's arm when talking to them or if you don't greet them with kisses or a warm embrace, you'll be considered cold. But backslap2) someone who isn't a family member or a good friend in Korea, and you'll make them uncomfortable. In Thailand, the head is considered sacred—never even pat a child on the head.

What You Should Do Instead: Observe what locals are doing and follow suit3). In Eastern countries remember that touching and public displays of affection are unacceptable. In places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, men and women are forbidden from interacting, let alone touching.

冒犯之处：在地中海国家，如果和别人交谈时不去触碰对方的手臂，或者打招呼时没有亲吻或热情拥抱对方，别人就会认为你待人冷漠。但是在韩国，除非是在家庭成员或者好友之间，否则轻拍他人背部会令人不愉快。在泰国，头部被认为是神圣不可侵犯的——永远不要去拍哪怕小孩子的头部。

正确做法：观察当地人的做法，入乡随俗即可。在东方国家，身体接触或者当众表达好感是不被人们所接受的。在卡塔尔和沙特阿拉伯这样的地方，男女之间是不允许有交往的，触摸就更不可以了。

Knowing Your Right from Your Left 分清左右

Where It's Offensive: India, Africa, the Middle East

禁忌国家或地区：印度、非洲、中东

What's Offensive: Many cultures still prefer to eat using traditional methods—their hands. In these cases, food is often offered communally4), which is why it's important to wash your hands before eating and observe the right-hand-is-for-eating and the left-hand-is-for-other-duties rule. If you eat with your left hand, expect your fellow diners to be mortified5). And when partaking6) from a communal bowl, stick to a portion that's closest to you. Do not get greedy and plunge7) your hand into the center.

What You Should Do Instead: Left-handed? Attempt to be ambidextrous8)—even children who are left-handed in these cultures are taught to eat with their right hand—or at least explain yourself to your fellow diners before plunging in.

冒犯之处：在许多文化中，人们仍然喜欢使用传统方法进食——即用手。在这些国家，人们通常都是共同用餐，因此特别注重饭前洗手，遵循“右手进餐、左手做其他事情”的惯例。如果你用左手，和你一起用餐的人将会觉得受到了侮辱。在从公共碗碟里取菜时，要取离你最近的那一部分，不要贪吃，切忌直接从公共碗碟正中央取食。

正确做法：左撇子该怎么办？那就尽量两手并用——在这些文化中，即使左撇子的儿童从小都要学着用右手进食——或者至少向一起用餐的人解释你是左撇子，而不是二话不说就直接上左手。

Keeping Your Clothes on 不脱衣服

Where It's Offensive: Scandinavian9) countries, Turkey

禁忌国家或地区：斯堪的纳维亚国家、土耳其

What's Offensive: Wearing bathing suits, shorts and T-shirts, underwear, or any other piece of clothing into a sauna10), hammam11), or other place of physical purification. In some cultures, a steam room or a sauna is considered a place of purity and reflection, where the outside world (i.e., your clothes) should be left outside. In some Scandinavian countries it's common for entire families to sauna together in the nude12).