Don't…
• write anything in red ink unless you’re correcting an exam. Red ink is used for letters of protest.
• leave your chopsticks upright in your bowl or tap your bowl with them
• point the bottom of your shoes/feet at someone
• shake your feet, lest you shake away all of your luck.
• touch someone’s head (it’s sacred)
• give clocks or books as gifts. The phrase ‘to give a clock’ in Mandarin sounds too much like ‘attend a funeral’ and ‘giving a book’ sounds like ‘delivering defeat.’
• make political comments like ‘boy, didn’t Mao kill a lot of people’ unless your new pals take the lead. Many Chinese remain huge Mao fans, as proven daily by the lines at his mausoleum.
• make out with your beau – limit your PDAs, lovebirds.
• be offended when asked if you’re married – and if you’re over 30 and single, say yes, lest you be pitied
• give too much attention to an object someone else has; they may feel obligated to give it to you
• wear your Free Tibet t-shirt unless you want a LOT of attention
• Use those pretty gold/silver papers for western décor. It’s for spiritual/cultural Chinese rituals.
• freak out if you don’t know what to do. When in doubt, simply watch what the Chinese people do and follow suit.