Appendix B — Country Quick-Reference

A pocket fact sheet for sixteen countries and regions covered in this book. Each block uses the same six fields so you can scan fast before a meeting, a trip, or a call. These are patterns, not rules: cities differ from villages, the young from the old, the cosmopolitan from the traditional. Read a block, then watch the actual people in front of you and let them overrule the page.

Pronunciations are rough English approximations. Terms in italics are defined in the Glossary.

East Asia

China

Greeting: A light handshake, often with a slight nod; let senior people initiate. Two hands when offering a business card.
Communication style: High-context and indirect; "maybe" or "it's inconvenient" often means no. Harmony and face (mianzi) shape every word.
A core value: Guanxi — the web of personal relationships and mutual obligation through which things actually get done.
Business tip: Invest in the relationship before the deal; expect long meals, toasts (ganbei), and patience. Trust precedes contracts.
Taboo to avoid: Causing public loss of face — never correct, criticize, or one-up someone in front of others.
Useful phrase: Nǐ hǎo (nee-how) — "Hello." Xièxie (sshyeh-sshyeh) — "Thank you."

Japan

Greeting: A bow; depth and duration signal respect. With foreigners a soft handshake may accompany it. Exchange business cards (meishi) with two hands and a pause to read.
Communication style: Extremely high-context; silence is meaningful, "yes" can mean "I hear you," not "I agree." Group harmony (wa) governs.
A core value: Wa — preserving group harmony, even at the cost of frankness.
Business tip: Decisions are pre-built quietly through nemawashi; the meeting ratifies, it does not debate. Don't push for an on-the-spot yes.
Taboo to avoid: Putting someone on the spot or showing visible anger; pointing chopsticks or sticking them upright in rice.
Useful phrase: Konnichiwa (kon-nee-chee-wah) — "Hello." Arigatō gozaimasu (ah-ree-gah-toh go-zai-mahss) — "Thank you."

South Korea

Greeting: A bow, often with a handshake; support your right forearm with your left hand for seniors. Age and rank set the tone immediately.
Communication style: High-context, hierarchy-aware; nunchi (reading the room) is prized. Directness toward seniors reads as rude.
A core value: Respect for hierarchy and age, woven with jeong — deep, slow-building bonds of attachment.
Business tip: After-hours dinners (hweshik) build the real relationship; the ppalli-ppalli ("hurry, hurry") tempo means fast follow-up is expected.
Taboo to avoid: Using one hand to give or receive from an elder; writing someone's name in red ink (associated with death).
Useful phrase: Annyeonghaseyo (ahn-nyong-hah-seh-yo) — "Hello." Gamsahamnida (gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah) — "Thank you."

South Asia

India

Greeting: Namaste with palms together is always safe; handshakes are common in business, though some prefer not to touch across genders.
Communication style: Indirect and relational; an enthusiastic "yes" may mean "I want to please you," not "it's done." Context and rapport matter.
A core value: Duty and family obligation (dharma), alongside resourceful improvisation (jugaad).
Business tip: Relationships and hierarchy drive decisions; expect flexibility on time and a personal touch before business.
Taboo to avoid: Using the left hand for eating or passing items; assuming beef is on any menu (it offends many Hindus).
Useful phrase: Namaste (nuh-muh-stay) — "Greetings." Dhanyavaad (dhun-yuh-vaad) — "Thank you" (Hindi).

Pakistan

Greeting: As-salamu alaykum ("peace be upon you") with a handshake among men; wait for a woman to extend her hand, and many will not.
Communication style: High-context, warm, and honor-aware; preserving izzat (honor) shapes what is said and left unsaid.
A core value: Family and kinship loyalty, organized through the biraderi (brotherhood) network.
Business tip: Hospitality is serious; accept tea and let relationships mature. Connections open doors faster than cold approaches.
Taboo to avoid: Alcohol, pork, and casual discussion of religion; scheduling tight meetings during prayer times or Ramadan fasting hours.
Useful phrase: As-salamu alaykum (as-sa-laam-oo a-lay-koom) — "Peace be upon you." Shukriya (shook-ree-yah) — "Thank you."

Bangladesh

Greeting: As-salamu alaykum or a friendly Nomoshkar with non-Muslims; handshakes among men, a nod and smile across genders.
Communication style: Indirect, courteous, and relationship-first; saying a flat "no" is uncomfortable, so listen for soft signals.
A core value: Hospitality and community; guests are honored generously, sometimes beyond a host's means.
Business tip: Patience and personal trust matter more than speed; build the relationship before pressing for commitments.
Taboo to avoid: Using the left hand to eat or give; public displays of impatience, which cause loss of face.
Useful phrase: Assalamu alaikum — "Peace be upon you." Dhonnobad (dhon-no-baad) — "Thank you" (Bengali).

Sri Lanka

Greeting: Ayubowan with palms together (a long, prosperous life) is gracious and widely warm; handshakes are common in business.
Communication style: Polite, indirect, and harmony-seeking; a side-to-side head wobble signals agreement or "yes, go on," not refusal.
A core value: Respect, hospitality, and (for the Buddhist majority) compassion and equanimity rooted in Buddhism.
Business tip: Relationships develop slowly; show patience and respect for elders and monks, and avoid hard-sell pressure.
Taboo to avoid: Turning your back to or posing playfully with Buddha images; touching anyone's head, including children.
Useful phrase: Ayubowan (ah-yoo-bo-wan) — "Greetings." Istuti (iss-too-tee) — "Thank you" (Sinhala).

Southeast Asia

Thailand

Greeting: The wai — palms together, a slight bow; height of the hands signals respect. Let juniors initiate it; return it graciously.
Communication style: High-context and conflict-averse; kreng jai (reluctance to impose) and a constant smile soften everything.
A core value: Keeping things pleasant and light (sanuk) while saving everyone's face; mai pen rai, "never mind."
Business tip: Public criticism backfires; deliver hard feedback privately and gently. Hierarchy and seniority guide the room.
Taboo to avoid: Disrespecting the monarchy or Buddha images; touching someone's head or pointing your feet at people.
Useful phrase: Sawatdee (sah-wah-dee) — "Hello." Khob khun (kop koon) — "Thank you."

Vietnam

Greeting: A light handshake, often with a slight bow; use both hands or support your forearm for elders.
Communication style: Indirect and Confucian-influenced; harmony and modesty are valued, and a smile may mask discomfort.
A core value: Respect for elders, education, and family; perseverance and saving face.
Business tip: Relationships and patience matter; decisions can be collective and slow, so don't mistake deliberation for disinterest.
Taboo to avoid: Public anger or confrontation; touching an adult's head or singling someone out for blame.
Useful phrase: Xin chào (sin chow) — "Hello." Cảm ơn (kahm uhn) — "Thank you."

Indonesia

Greeting: A soft handshake (sometimes a light touch of the hand to the heart after); many devout Muslims avoid cross-gender contact.
Communication style: Very high-context, gentle, and indirect; open disagreement is avoided to keep harmony.
A core value: Gotong royong — communal mutual aid and shared burden-bearing.
Business tip: Time is flexible (jam karet, "rubber time"); build rapport patiently and respect senior figures and religious practice.
Taboo to avoid: Using the left hand; pointing with a finger (use the thumb); pushing for blunt confrontation.
Useful phrase: Selamat pagi (seh-lah-mat pah-gee) — "Good morning." Terima kasih (teh-ree-mah kah-see) — "Thank you."

Malaysia

Greeting: Varies by community; a gentle two-handed salam among Malays, a handshake among Chinese, namaste among many Indians. Follow the other person's lead.
Communication style: Indirect and face-conscious across all groups; politeness outranks bluntness.
A core value: Respect across a multi-ethnic, multi-faith society; communal harmony.
Business tip: Learn which community a counterpart belongs to and adapt on food, drink, and greetings; relationships precede deals.
Taboo to avoid: Offering pork or alcohol to Malay Muslims; using the left hand or the index finger to point.
Useful phrase: Selamat datang (seh-lah-mat dah-tang) — "Welcome." Terima kasih (teh-ree-mah kah-see) — "Thank you."

Philippines

Greeting: A warm handshake and a smile; among elders, the mano (touching their hand to your forehead) shows respect.
Communication style: High-context and relational; pakikisama (getting along) and hiya (propriety) mean people avoid saying no directly.
A core value: Family, gratitude, and utang na loob — a lasting "debt of the inside" to those who help you.
Business tip: Personal warmth and pakikisama open doors; harsh, public correction damages trust badly.
Taboo to avoid: Embarrassing someone publicly or ignoring a kindness owed; loud, aggressive bargaining.
Useful phrase: Kumusta (koo-moos-tah) — "How are you?/Hello." Salamat (sah-lah-mat) — "Thank you."

Singapore

Greeting: A handshake suits most; adapt to your counterpart's ethnic background (Chinese, Malay, Indian) as in Malaysia.
Communication style: More direct and efficient than its neighbors, yet still face-aware; punctuality and order are expected.
A core value: Meritocracy, efficiency, and a competitive kiasu ("afraid to lose") drive.
Business tip: Be on time, prepared, and clear; rules and contracts are respected, but relationships still smooth the way.
Taboo to avoid: Treating Singapore as interchangeable with any one of its cultures; casual disregard for its many laws (e.g., littering, chewing gum import).
Useful phrase: "Hello" works widely; Xièxie, Terima kasih, or Nandri thank Chinese, Malay, and Tamil speakers respectively.

Middle East

Saudi Arabia / The Gulf

Greeting: As-salamu alaykum with a handshake (often lingering) among men; wait for women to extend a hand, and many will not. Greetings are unhurried.
Communication style: High-context, relationship-first, and honor-bound; hospitality in the majlis is where trust forms.
A core value: Family, faith, and honor; generous hospitality is a sacred duty.
Business tip: Wasta (connections) and personal trust drive deals; expect indirect pacing and decisions made at the top.
Taboo to avoid: Alcohol and pork; cross-gender familiarity; scheduling that ignores the five daily prayers or Ramadan.
Useful phrase: As-salamu alaykum (as-sa-laam-oo a-lay-koom) — "Peace be upon you." Shukran (shook-ran) — "Thank you."

Iran

Greeting: Warm and verbal among same-gender acquaintances; men generally wait for an Iranian woman to initiate any contact, and many will not.
Communication style: Exquisitely indirect; ta'arof (ritual politeness) means offers and refusals may not be literal — decline twice, then judge.
A core value: Deep hospitality, poetry, and family honor; dignity in every exchange.
Business tip: Relationships and patience are everything; a first "no, please, I couldn't" is often ta'arof, not a final answer.
Taboo to avoid: Confusing Iranian (Persian) identity with Arab identity; thumbs-up gestures (historically offensive); ignoring religious customs.
Useful phrase: Salaam (sah-laam) — "Hello/peace." Merci or Mamnoon (mam-noon) — "Thank you."

Turkey

Greeting: A firm handshake among new acquaintances; friends may exchange cheek kisses. Among the religiously conservative, wait for a woman to extend her hand.
Communication style: Warm, expressive, and relationship-driven, bridging European directness and high-context Middle Eastern style.
A core value: Hospitality, family, and pride in country; a guest is treated with great generosity.
Business tip: Tea and small talk come before business; personal rapport and trust outweigh a polished pitch.
Taboo to avoid: Blunt political lectures or careless remarks about national identity; the "OK" finger ring gesture can offend.
Useful phrase: Merhaba (mer-hah-bah) — "Hello." Teşekkür ederim (teh-shek-koor eh-deh-reem) — "Thank you."

A standing reminder

Every block above is a starting point, not a stereotype. A fact sheet is a hypothesis to test against the living, specific person in front of you — never a script to impose on them. People are shaped by region, generation, class, faith, profession, and their own one-of-a-kind story far more than by a national label. Use these pages to arrive curious and prepared, then set them down and pay attention. The respect you show by adapting matters more than getting every detail right.