Etiquette Malaysia part 2

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

Malaysia

Europe

Distance 9623.8 km

KUALA LUMPUR DEMOGRAPHICS

560.000 CITIZENS 550.000 CITIZENS

490.000 CITIZENS

WHY?

50% 48%

JAVANESE MUSLIM

HAN HOKKIENCHRISTIAN

There are many Etiquette in Asia. I chose to focus my project on Malaysia .This because it is country with many different ethnic origins. I chose to concentrate my research on Kuala Lumpur because the Capital is populated with more then 20 different ethnicity. The 2 biggest groups are Javanese and HAN Hokkien Chinese. Both groups have specific forms of Etiquette that are rooted deep in religious traditions. This is what makes them so interesting.

CONTENT

1 GREETING SOMEONE

2 EXCHANGING OBJECTS

3 ENTERING SOMEONE’S HOUSE

4 HAVING A MEAL TOGETHER

5 GENERAL MANNERS

6 CONVERSATION HABITS

PAGE 1 - 8

PAGE 9 - 12

PAGE 13 - 14

PAGE 15 - 20

PAGE 21 - 24

PAGE 25 - 30

JAVANESE HOKKIEN JAVANESE+HOKKIEN

2% OTHER

Which color is which group?

WHY THESE GROUPS?The original inhabitants of Malaysia are called Orang Asli but they where outnumbered by other ethnic groups coming to Malaysia. There is just a small group of them left. Therefor they can not represent Malaysia well enough. After research I found out that Javanese and Han Hokkiens are the 2 biggest ethnic groups in Malaysia. This is why I chose theme.

GREETING SOMEONE

1

WARM GREETINGSHOW TO SAY HELLO?

2

“HAVE YOU EATEN ALREADY?”

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

1

“NI HAO”

HO

KK

IENH

OK

KIE

N

3

The traditional Javanese greeting is called “salam“. It resembles a handshake, but with both hands stretched out. Both man and woman will offer both their hands. You can lightly touch your friend’s hands and bring back one hand to your chest and say, “I greet you from my heart”.

“SALAM”

LETS START SHAKING!HOW TO SHAKE HANDS?

4

“I GREET YOU FROM MY HEART”

JAVAN

ESE JAVA

NES

E

5

YOU CAN’T TOUCH THIS!TOUCHING SOMEONE’S SHOULDER?

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST NO NO FOR CHINESE”

6

“PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES WILL BRING BAD LUCK”

It is not appropriate to touch Hokkiens on their shoulder, also don’t touch them in any other way. This strongly applies to all Chinese in general, it is a big offense to tap/touch someone on the shoulder. It is said that by touch/tapping someone’s shoulder, you would put out one of three holy flames inside the person’s body. This will cause a lot of bad luck to that particular person.

HO

KK

IENH

OK

KIE

N

NOT MY HUMAN SOUL!

7

THE FACE, A HOLY TEMPLE

Try to avoid touching Javanese on their body or kiss them in their face. The head and face are considered to be the home of the human soul. You can only shake hands if they will reach out for you to shake their hands.

8“DO NOT TOUCH MY

PRIDE”

JAVAN

ESE JAVA

NES

E

EXCHANGING OBJECTS

2

10

THUMBS UPEXCHANGING BUSINESS CARDS

“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 CARDS

“JAVANESE WILL GIVE THEIR CARD WITH THEIR RIGHT

HAND”

JAVAN

ESE HO

KK

IEN

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”

HO

KK

IENH

OK

KIE

N

3ENTERING SOMEONE’S HOUSE

SHOES OFF

13

PUT OFF YOU SHOES?

14

COLOR MATCHWHAT COLOR SHOULD YOU WEAR?

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

“DO NOT WEAR BLACK”

JAVAN

ESE HO

KK

IEN

Some colors have different meanings for Hokkien. The most familiar one is red which symbolizes prosperity/luck. This is important to remember when publishing or designing products. Black is a big taboo color. Try to avoid wearing black especially fully black outfits during celebration days like Chinese New Year, Birthdays and Weddings.

HAVING A MEAL TOGETHER4

15

CHOPSTICK RULESHOW TO USE THEM?

16

“SPIRITS WILL EAT YOUR FOOD!”

“A RITUAL OF INCENSE BURNING THAT

SYMBOLIZES FEEDING THE DEAD AND DEATH IN

GENERAL”

HO

KK

IENH

OK

KIE

N

When having a meal it is important to use the chopsticks correctly. Do not use them as fork, and don’t stick both chopsticks in your meal! Chinese believe in the after life and by sticking the chopsticks in the meal you are inviting the spirits to eat it.

Try not to place your chopsticks straight up in your bowl. By placing your chopsticks like this you will remind your host of joint chopstick sticks which is connected with death and funerals.

17

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

18

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

HO

KK

IENH

OK

KIE

N

Try not to share the bill while eating together, its a sign of respect to let someone pay the bill. This is no problem as long as you will do it yourself the next time you will have a meal with this person. For Chinese it is still very common to do this when you are going out for a meal with your boss or someone important.

19

FINISHED YOU MEAL?WHY LEAVE SOME FOOD?

20

“IT IS OK TO LEAVE SOME FOOD BEHIND”

HO

KK

IENH

OK

KIE

N

Cleaning your plate is fine but don’t clean the plate where the dishes are being serve on.Leave a bit to on the plate to show some modesty. Also on a day like Chinese New Year leaving a bit behind means you have an extra spiritual food reserve through out the year.

GENERAL MANNERS

5

22

NO,NO,NO!AVOID SAYING NOPASS IT

21

NEVER PASS OVER THE HEAD

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

ARE NOT WILLING”

“TRY NOT TO PASS THINGS OVER THE HEAD OF PEOPLE IN ASIA, IT IS REALLY RUDE AND BRINGS BAD LUCK”

JAVAN

ESE + HO

KK

IENJA

VAN

ESE

+ H

OK

KIE

N

BARE SOLES

23

THE BOTTOM OF YOU FEET

24

RED LUCKRED WRITING BAD LUCK?

“DO NOT SHOW PEOPLE THE BOTTOM OF YOU

FEET, IT IS AN INSULTING GESTURE”

“AVOID WRITING A CHINESE PERSONS NAME IN RED

COLOR,THIS WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THE PERSON”

JAVAN

ESE HO

KK

IEN

CONVERSATION HABITS

6

26

BIG MOVESDON’T WAVE LIKE A HELICOPTER

“TRY 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”

JAVAN

ESE + HO

KK

IENH

OK

KIE

N

27

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

28

“POINT WITH YOU THUMB AND FINGERS CLOSED TO

FORM A FIST.”

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

JAVAN

ESE JAVA

NES

E

29

ANGRY?HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS

30

“A LONG SILENCE IS ACCEPTED”“PUTTING YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS WHILE HAVING A CONVERSATION MEANS YOUR IMPATIENT WITH THE PERSON”

SILENCE....THINK FIRST, IT IS NORMAL

JAVAN

ESE JAVA

NES

E

Periods of silence are considered acceptable and can be expected while having an conversation with Javanese. Especially after a question is asked to them. Avoid interrupting them or showing displeasure through facial or eye movements. Be patient.

COMPARED TO EUROPE COLOFON

CONCEPT BY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

MODELS

MODELS PROVIDED BY

TEXT WRITTEN BY

GRAPHIC DESIGN BY

MARCO DE GROEN AND VERNON CHAN

MARCO DE GROEN AND ANDREW LEE - ART DYNAMICS

ANGEL DE GROEN, JW HON, NINIE, THASHA

GLITZTALENT MODEL & TALENT MANAGEMENT

MARCO DE GROEN

MARCO DE GROEN

1 GREETING SOMEONE

2 EXCHANGING OBJECTS

3 ENTERING SOMEONE’S HOUSE

4 HAVING A MEAL TOGETHER

5 GENERAL MANNERS

6 CONVERSATION HABITS

- EUROPEANS SHAKE HANDS AND WILL KISS PEOPLE - ITS IS NORMAL TO TOUCH PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM - MAN AND WOMAN ARE TREATED THE SAME WHEN GREETED

- BUSINESS CARDS DON’T HAVE THE SAME VALUE AS IN MALAYSIA- CARDS CAN BE GIVEN WITH ANY HAND- OBJECTS ARE ACCEPTED WITH ANY HAND LEFT OR RIGHT

- PEOPLE ONLY TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES WHEN ASKED- THERE IS NO COLOR THAT HAS A PARTICULAR MEANING WHILE WEARING IT.

- PEOPLE DON’T USE CHOPSTICKS, THEY USE KNIFE AND FORK- USUALLY YOU WILL PAY YOUR OWN FOOD OR BILLS- MEALS ARE ALWAYS FINISHED, IT IS A SHAME TO WASTE FOOD

- IT IS NORMAL TO SAY “NO” TO PEOPLE IF YOU DON’T AGREE- EUROPEANS WILL USUALLY DIRECTLY SAY WHAT THEY THINK- SHOWING YOUR FEET DOES NOT HAVE ANY MEANING

- EUROPEANS USE THEIR HANDS A LOT TO COMMUNICATE- WHEN ANGRY PEOPLE WILL SHOW IT TO YOU- THEY WILL POINT TO OBJECTS OR PEOPLE TO MENTION THEM