The thumbs-up gesture means “good” in the US and Australia, but is offensive in parts of Asia and the Middle East. The OK sign is also offensive in some countries. Other gestures, such as smiling and prolonged eye contact, can be misunderstood in different cultures.
In many countries, including the United States and Australia, the thumbs-up gesture means “good” or “awesome.” In parts of the Middle East and Asia, giving someone the thumbs up is the equivalent of giving them the middle finger in the U.S. The OK sign, with the thumb and finger forming a circle, is also offensive in many Asian countries as well as Brazil and Germany, although in Japan it represents money.
More facts about international gestures:
In some places in Tibet, sticking out your tongue is a kind and welcoming gesture.
Even a simple smile can be misunderstood. In many Asian countries, smiling can be considered a sign of embarrassment or anger. Even prolonged eye contact can feel rude or invasive in Japan, China, Korea and Thailand.
The “come here” gesture made with palm up and forefinger curled, is only used to call dogs in the Philippines and means death in Singapore.
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