Beyond the Handshake: How People Greet Each Other Around the

This tradition all began with monks to show that they came in peace—and weren’t the reincarnation of a cruel 9th-century king named Lang Darma.

• bump nose

• stick out tongue

• show teeth

• bow

In Qatar, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, bumping nose means you want to demonstrate that you view a potential business contact as a peer.

• True

• False

What country do men routinely brush cheeks with other men who aren’t relatives or romantic partners?

• Vietnam

• Japan

• Canada

• Argentina

This pressing together of forehead and nose is what New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people call a “sharing of __________.”

• life

• breath

• food

• water

Why some people in Middle Eastern countries use only their right hand when hand shaking?

• left hand is considered awkward

• left hand is considered to be evil

• left hand is considered unclean

• all people in Middle Eastern countries are right-handed

In northern Mozambique, people also clap, but ______ times before they say “moni” (hello).

• two

• three

• four

• unlimited

It's the formal, yet traditional Malaysian greeting.

• putting your hand on your heart

• hand shaking

• bowing

• rubbing noses

In Japan, a deeper bow indicates a higher level of respect and prayer hands aren’t used. Men bow with their hands at their sides, and women with their hands on their thighs.

• True

• False

In this country, people press cheeks together and take a deep breath as part of a tradition to welcome for visitors.

• South Pacific island of Tuvalu

• South Africa

• Vietnam

• China

In this country, locals have a particularly unique way of showing their reverence. They take an older person’s hand and press it gently to their foreheads.

• Vietnam

• Japan

• Philippines

• India