Japanese Manners and Etiquettes 日本礼仪
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Japanese always say that tourists represent their countries and should try their best to leave a good impression. That is why when they travel abroad, the tour companies usually spend a significant amount of time to educate them about local manners and customs on the way. Japanese themselves also have a long list of manner and customs that are interesting to know. Below are Japanese manners and etiquettes.
日本人总是说游客代表自己的国家，应该尽力给人留下好印象。这就是为什么当他们出国旅游时，旅游公司通常会花大量的时间在途中教育他们当地的风俗习惯。日本人自己也有一长串有趣的风俗习惯。下面是日本人的礼仪。
Eating 吃饭
Chopsticks should not be used for anything other than eating. This includes using them to point at things or hovering them over dishes as you consider what to eat. Chopsticks are a cultural item that demands some respect, using them as a toy can be considered disrespectful. If someone is picking up something from a common dish, give them some space. It's bad form for two people to grab from the same dish at the same time. Digging in a common dish for the best piece is frowned upon. You may be tempted to stir soup with your chopsticks, this should be avoided because it looks like you're trying to clean your chopsticks in your soup. It's also a good idea to avoid licking your chopsticks for the same reason. If your chopstick tips are messy, leave them messy. Never pass food to someone chopsticks-to-chopsticks. It's a particular taboo thing to do because it resembles a Japanese funeral ritual.
筷子除了用来吃饭外，不应该用来做任何事，这包括当你在选择食物的时候用筷子指。筷子是一种文化用品，需要一些尊重，把筷子当玩具使用被认为是不尊重的。如果有人在从盘子拿菜，你需要先让着他，因为两个人同时从同一个盘子接菜是不好的。在盘子里挖出来选择最好的吃的是不受欢迎的。你可能想用筷子搅拌汤，但是在日本应该避免这样做，因为看起来你是在用汤清洗筷子。同样的道理，要避免舔筷子。如果你的筷子尖乱糟糟的，就让它们乱糟糟的。千万不要筷子以筷子把食物传给别人。这是一个特别的禁忌，因为它类似于日本的葬礼仪式。
Japanese soups aren't typically eaten with a spoon. It's okay to pick up a soup bowl to drink from it as opposed to lowering your head to the bowl. Walking and eating is seen as sloppy. It's very common to see people stand or crouch when eating Japanese street food. It's common to say "Itadakimasu" at the start of a meal before eating. This can be loosely translated "I humbly receive". It's somewhat common to clasp the hands in a brief prayer pose as you say it.Gochisosama Deshita can be literally translated "it was a feast." It is used to thank someone for preparing a meal or for paying the bill at a restaurant. It's also used to compliment good service as you leave a restaurant (if you paid the bill yourself). Yet another use of the phrase is to request the check at the end of your meal.
日本汤一般不用勺子喝。拿起一个汤碗喝是可以的，而不是低下头去喝。边走路边吃饭被视为草率的。在吃日本街头食品时，经常能看到人们站着或蹲着吃。饭前说“Itadakimasu”是很常见的。这可以粗略翻译为“我谦卑地接受”，说的时候一般人们用一个简短的祈祷姿势紧握双手。Gochisosama Deshita可以字面翻译为“这是一场盛宴”，它用来感谢某人准备了一顿饭或在餐厅付账。当你离开餐馆时（如果你自己付账的话），它也被用来称赞良好的服务。这个短语的另一个用法是在用餐结束时要求结账。
Cheers 干杯
At dinner parties, it's somewhat rude to pour your own drink. Instead pour everyone's drink but your own and someone will notice and fill yours. It's considered classy for everyone to order the same drink on the first round, typically beer or sake. Drinking before kanpai, the Japanese word for cheers is considered self-centered and undisciplined.
在晚宴上，自己倒自己的酒有点粗鲁。相反，要给其他人倒酒，如果你的杯是空的，有人会注意到并给你倒满。大家都认为在第一轮酒点同样的酒，通常是啤酒或清酒。在“Kanpai”《日语中的“干杯”》之前喝酒被认为是以自我为中心和不守纪律的。
Cleaning Your Face with Oshibori
Many restaurants in Japan will provide you with a moist towel known as an oshibori that's either cool or hot depending on the season. These are used to lightly clean your hands before a meal. It's mildly rude to clean your face with them or to continue using the oshibori throughout the meal as a napkin.
在日本，许多餐馆都会为你提供一条被称为oshibori的湿毛巾，根据季节的不同，可以是凉的，也可以是热的。这些是用来在饭前清洁手。用它们清洁脸，或者在整个用餐过程中继续使用oshibori作为餐巾纸都是有点不礼貌的。
Paying the Check 买单
In Japan, it's quite common to split checks amongst friends or even on a date. This is known as betsu-betsu. In many cases, a senior member of the group will pay more. In business situations, it's not acceptable to split the check. Usually, the company that's selling something pays. If your customer ends up paying you'll have little chance of closing the sale.
在日本，买单时不管是跟朋友也好或者约会也好用的是AA级，这在当地被称为betsu-betsu。在许多情况下，集团的高级成员会支付更多的费用。在商业情况下，通常，卖东西的公司才要付费。如果你的客户最终付钱，你似乎没机会成交了。
Shaking and Bowing 握手和鞠躬
Shaking hands is very common for business introductions in Japan. There's no reason to bow unless you're familiar with the custom. The most important point here is to make your intentions completely clear with your body language. Bowing and shaking at the same time doesn't work and is just awkward. The Japanese have a number of different styles of bow that apply to different social situations. Executing these bows in a lazy way can be insulting. A formal bow is usually 45 degrees. As a tourist there is no need to bow, the rules are somewhat complex.
在日本，握手是很常见的商务介绍方式。这里最重要的一点是用你的肢体语言让你的意图完全清楚。同时鞠躬和握手不起作用，只是很尴尬。日本人有许多不同的鞠躬方式，适用于不同的社会情况。偷懒地鞠躬可能是一种侮辱。正式的鞠躬通常是45度。作为一名游客，没有必要鞠躬除非你熟悉这个习俗，因为规则有些复杂。
Pointing fingers 手指
Pointing is considered somewhat threatening in Japan and is avoided. Instead, people tend to indicate direction with an open hand. Verbal directions without gestures are also very common.
在日本，指指点点被认为是有点威胁性的，是要避免的。相反，人们倾向于用张开的手来指示方向。不用手势的口头指示也很常见。
Seating Position 座位
In business meetings, people from one company all sit on the same side. The customer is seated in the back of the room furthest from the door. This is considered the good side. If you're visiting an office it's common for a receptionist to show you exactly where to sit. If this doesn't happen it's a good idea to ask. Many Japanese ceremonies and rituals require participants to sit in a position known as seiza with their legs under them. This is hard to maintain for long unless you're accustomed to it. If you find yourself with seiza difficulties, sit with your legs crossed in front of you.
在商务会议上，一家公司的人都坐在同一方。顾客坐在离门最远的座位。这被认为是好的一位置。如果你要去办公室，接待员通常会告诉你坐在哪里。如果没有人告诉你在哪坐，最好先问问。许多日本的仪式都要求参与者用“夹腿”的姿势坐。除非你习惯了，这个姿势很难坚持很久。如果你发现自己有困难，双腿交叉坐。
Bathroom Slippers 浴室拖鞋
Japanese businesses such as restaurants require customers to remove their shoes if they have traditional Japanese flooring. These businesses will provide bathroom slippers for your use in their washrooms. It's easy enough to forget to take these off as you leave the bathroom. This mistake is considered extremely embarrassing.
日本企业，如餐馆，如果使用传统日本地板时会要求顾客脱鞋。你需要用洗手间时，这些公司将提供浴室拖鞋。当你离开浴室时，很容易忘记把这些脱下来。这个错误被认为是非常令人尴尬的。
Slippers 拖鞋
Ryokan and other traditional businesses may offer outdoor and indoor slippers to guests. The outdoor slippers will be placed at entrances below the indoor slippers. Entrances are always lower than the floor to separate the clean from the unclean. The two types of slippers are always different colors to keep them apart. In many cases, the outdoor shoes are geta or something rugged looking. Wearing the outdoor slippers inside will freak people out. Similar shoes are offered at private residences for balcony or backyard use. Generally, slippers should not be worn on tatami floors. At ryokan this often means that slippers are for hallways only.
住宿和其他传统企业可能会为客人提供户外和室内拖鞋。室外拖鞋将放置在室内拖鞋下方的入口处。入口总是比地板低，以区分清洁和不清洁。这两种拖鞋总是用不同的颜色来区分。在许多情况下，户外鞋是叫做geta。在室内穿着户外拖鞋会把人吓坏的。类似的鞋子在私人住宅提供阳台或后院使用。一般来说，榻榻米地板上不应该穿拖鞋。在ryokan，这通常意味着拖鞋只用于走廊。
Garbage Sorting 垃圾处理
Most neighborhoods in Japan have a common garbage drop off point. There are numerous rules on how to package your garbage and recycling for pick up that vary by municipality. For example, it's a common requirement that you should wash and crush your recyclable plastics. A neighborhood volunteer makes sure that everyone follows the rules.
日本大多数社区都有一个公共垃圾投放点。关于如何包装你的垃圾和回收的规则有很多，根据城市的不同而有所不同。例如，你应该清洗和粉碎你的可回收塑料。有社区志愿者确保每个人都遵守规则。
Bathing 沐浴
In Japan, bathing is seen as a relaxing leisure activity rather than an act of cleansing the body. People completely shower with soap before entering a bath. The same convention applies to both home baths and public hot springs.
在日本，沐浴被视为一种放松的休闲活动，而不是一种清洁身体的行为。人们在沐浴前完全用肥皂洗澡。同一公约适用于家庭浴室和公共温泉。
Direct Speech 直言
The Japanese are generally indirect about uncomfortable topics and avoid conflict where possible. Directly challenging someone in a way that might embarrass them is a bad idea. The Japanese tend to drop subtle hints about how they feel rather than direct, bold statements. The ability to read such hints is an important social skill in Japan.
日本人通常对令人不安的话题持间接态度，并尽可能避免冲突。直接用可能让他们难堪的方式挑战某人是个坏主意。日本人倾向于对自己的感受留下微妙的暗示，而不是直接、大胆的陈述。在日本，了解这些暗示的能力是一项重要的社交技能。
Meishi 名片
Business cards, or "meishi" in Japanese, have great significance to Japanese business culture. Receive it with two hands and look it over carefully. Local business people all carry business card cases. When they get back to their desk they put them in special meishi binders and retain them for many years. Your collection of meishi is considered a professional asset. A huge collection of meishi can be seen as a status symbol amongst your peers.
名片，日语中叫“meishi”，对日本的商业文化有着重要的意义。接收名片时双手接过，仔细看看它。当地的商人都带着名片盒。当他们回到办公桌后，会把名片放在特制的名片装订工而且保存很多年。收藏的名片被认为是一种专业资产。一个巨大的名片收藏可以被看作是你的同龄人中的地位象征。
Blowing Your Nose 擤鼻涕
Blowing your nose in public is considered rude. The locals retreat to the washroom to blow their nose. Sniffling is generally okay.
在公共场合擤鼻涕被认为是粗鲁的。当地人回去洗手间擤鼻涕。抽鼻子经常时可以的。
Taxi Doors 出租车门
Most taxi doors in Japan are automatic. The driver will open and close the door. Many drivers get a little upset if you operate the door yourself.
日本的大多数出租车门都是自动开的。司机会为你开关门。如果你自己开车门，许多司机会感觉有点不安。
Walking and Smoking 边走路边抽烟
Walking and smoking is viewed as dangerous and inconsiderate for a variety of reasons with the biggest being the idea that you could accidentally burn someone on a crowded street. The Japanese take this quite seriously and it's now illegal to walk and smoke in some areas. This is actively enforced. Designated outdoor smoking areas are quite common in Japan.
边走路边吸烟被认为是危险和不为别人着想的行为，原因有很多，其中一个是很有可能会不小心在拥挤的街道上烧伤某人。日本人对此相当重视，在一些地区边走路边吸烟是违法的。这是积极执行的，指定的室外吸烟区在日本很常见。
Umbrellas 雨伞
In Japan, people carry umbrellas at the slightest chance of rain. It's considered polite to avoid making people wet with your umbrella on a crowded train. Businesses such as restaurants and department stores may provide plastic covers for your umbrella, colloquially referred to as umbrella condoms.
在日本，人们一下雨就带雨伞。在拥挤的火车上避免让人被雨伞淋湿被认为是有礼貌的行为。餐馆和百货公司等企业可能会为你的雨伞提供塑料套，俗称雨伞套。
Picking a Call 接电话
Loud conversations on your mobile phone in public places are considered rude in Japan. Locals try to be discrete and very quiet when accepting a call. It's also considered rude to talk on the phone on a train or in a cafe.
在日本，在公共场所接电话时大声交谈被认为是不礼貌的。当地人在接电话时尽量保不影响他人和安静。在火车上或咖啡馆里打电话也被认为是不礼貌的。
Names 名字
Unless you're very familiar with someone, it's appropriate to address them with their last name followed by the polite prefix "-san."
除非你对某人非常熟悉，否则要用他们的姓名加上“-san”来称呼他们，这样最有礼貌的。
Effort 努力
Japanese respect effort in business situations. Effort is seen as a team level thing rather than an individual accomplishment. In many cases, employees will stay late because their team is working late even if they don't have much to do. It's very common to avoid leaving before the boss. Employees who consistently leave before the rest of the team may be seen as problematic even if their work is satisfactory.
日本人在商业场合尊重努力。努力被看作是团队层面的事情，而不是个人的成就。在许多情况下，员工会下班很晚，因为他们的团队工作到很晚，即使他们自己没有太多的事情要做。避免在老板没有离开之前走人。即使他们的工作令人满意，那些总是先于团队其他成员离开的员工也可能被视为有问题。
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