入乡随俗必知的五大禁忌

 　　Cultural practices, cultural differences, local manners, and mores¹: traveling the globe can be a behavioral minefield, even when you have the best intentions. Everything from greeting to eating can be an opportunity to do the wrong thing, and not only embarass yourself, but offend your host countrymen. Look out for the following cultural mistakes and try to avoid them while going abroad.

　　文化习惯、文化差异、当地礼仪和风俗：即使你怀着良好的意愿，这些文化陷阱也可能让你的环球旅游险象环生。从问候到饮食，稍不留神就会出差错，不仅让自己难堪，还有可能冒犯东道主。到国外时要特别留心并尽量避免误入以下几种文化陷阱。

　　Touching² Someone

　　触摸他人

　　Where It’s Offensive: Korea, Thailand, China, Europe, the Middle East.

　　禁忌地：韩国、泰国、欧洲、中东

　　What’s Offensive

　　禁忌：

　　Personal space varies as you travel the globe. In Mediterranean³ countries, if you refrain from touching someone’s arm when talking to them or if you don’t greet them with kisses or a warm embrace, you’ll be considered cold. But backslap someone who isn’t a family member or a good friend in Korea, and you’ll make them uncomfortable. In Thailand, the head is considered sacred--never even pat a child on the head.

　　个人空间的概念因地而异。在地中海国家，如果你和别人交谈时没有碰对方的手臂，或见面问候时没和对方亲吻拥抱，别人会认为你不热情。但在韩国，拍别人的背会让对方感觉不安，除非此人是你的家庭成员或好友。在泰国，头是很神圣的部位——就算是小孩子的头也不要随便乱拍。

　　What You Should Do Instead

　　对策：

　　Observe what locals are doing and follow suit. In Eastern countries remember that touching and public displays of affection are unacceptable. In places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, men and women are forbidden from interacting, let along touching

　　观察当地人的一举一动并照着做。记住，在东方国家，身体接触或在公众场合流露感情往往不被人接受。在卡塔尔和沙特阿拉伯这样的地方，男女交往都被禁止，更不要说身体接触了。

　　Blowing Your Nose

　　擤鼻涕

　　Where It’s Offensive: Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, France.

　　禁忌地：日本、沙特阿拉伯、法国

　　What’s Offensive

　　禁忌：

　　Some cultures find it disgusting to blow your nose in public--especially at the table. The Japanese and Chinese are alsorepelled by the idea of a handkerchief.

　　有些文化认为当众擤鼻涕是让人厌恶的行为——尤其在餐桌上。日本人还排斥使用手帕。

　　What You Should Do Instead

　　对策：

　　If traveling through Eastern and Asian countries, leave the hankies at home and opt⁴ fordisposable tissues instead. In France as well as in Eastern countries, if you’re dining and need to clear your nasal passages, excuse yourself and head to the restroom. Worst-case scenario⁵: make an exaggerated effort to steer⁶ away from the table. Let’s hope you don’t have a cold.

　　到东方或亚洲国家旅游时，把手帕留在家中，选择用一次性纸巾吧！在法国以及一些东方国家，如果在就餐过程中你需要擤鼻涕，要先说声“请原谅”再去洗手间。最糟糕的情景是：极为夸张地从餐桌上扭过头去擤鼻涕。还是祈祷自己不要感冒吧！

　　Talking Over Dinner

　　就餐时谈话

　　Where It’s Offensive: Africa, Japan, Thailand, China, Finland.

　　禁忌地：非洲、日本、泰国、芬兰

　　What’s Offensive

　　禁忌：

　　In some countries, like China, Japan, and some African nations, the food’s the thing, so don’t start chatting about your day’s adventures while everyone else is digging into dinner. You’ll likely be met with silence--not because your group is unfriendly, but because mealtimes are for eating, not talking. Also avoid conversations in places a country might consider sacred or reflective--churches in Europe, temples in Thailand, and saunas in Finland.

　　在日本和一些非洲国家，吃饭就是吃饭，所以当其他人都在大快朵颐时，不要谈论你当天的经历。你可能会遭遇沉默——这并非你的同伴不友好，而是因为就餐时间只应吃饭，无需交谈。也要避免在一些被认为是神圣或需要沉思的地方谈话——比如欧洲的教堂、泰国的庙宇和芬兰的桑拿浴室。

　　What You Should Do Instead

　　对策：

　　Keep quiet!

　　保持沉默！

1 mores   

n.风俗，习惯，民德，道德观念

参考例句：

• The mores of that village are hard to believe.那村子的习俗让人难以置信。
• We advocate a harmonious society where corruption is swept away,and social mores are cleared.我们提倡弊绝风清，建设一个和谐社会。

2 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

3 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

4 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

5 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

6 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。