1. ETIQUETTE
IN MALAYSIA
JAVANESE VS. HAN HOKKIEN CHINESE
Europe
IN KUALA LUMPUR
Distance 9623.8 km
Malaysia
ETIQUETTE
IN MALAYSIA
JAVANESE VS. HAN HOKKIEN CHINESE
IN KUALA LUMPUR
BY MARCO DE GROEN
BY MARCO DE GROEN
2. WHY? CONTENT
Which color is which group?
There are many Etiquette in Asia. I chose to focus my project on
Malaysia .This because it is country with many different ethnic origins.
JAVANESE HOKKIEN JAVANESE+HOKKIEN
I chose to concentrate my research on Kuala Lumpur because the
Capital is populated with more then 20 different ethnicity. The 2 biggest
groups are Javanese and HAN Hokkien Chinese. Both groups have 1 GREETING SOMEONE
specific forms of Etiquette that are rooted deep in religious traditions. PAGE 1 - 8
This is what makes them so interesting.
WHY THESE GROUPS? 2 EXCHANGING OBJECTS
PAGE 9 - 12
The original inhabitants of Malaysia are called Orang Asli but they where
outnumbered by other ethnic groups coming to Malaysia. There is just a
small group of them left. Therefor they can not represent Malaysia well 3 ENTERING SOMEONE’S HOUSE
enough. After research I found out that Javanese and Han Hokkiens are PAGE 13 - 14
the 2 biggest ethnic groups in Malaysia. This is why I chose theme.
KUALA LUMPUR DEMOGRAPHICS 4 HAVING A MEAL TOGETHER
PAGE 15 - 20
50% 48%
5 GENERAL MANNERS
HAN HOKKIEN JAVANESE PAGE 21 - 24
CHRISTIAN MUSLIM
560.000 CITIZENS 550.000 CITIZENS
6 CONVERSATION HABITS
2% OTHER PAGE 25 - 30
490.000 CITIZENS
4. WARM GREETINGS
“NI HAO” HOW TO SAY HELLO?
Bow to say hello and goodbye say “ni hao”.
1 To be super polite ask if they have already eaten. 2
If they haven’t then invite them for a meal to make
a great impression. Shake hands and bow is both
accepted. Bowing in general is a sigh of respect.
Many older Chinese lower their eyes during the
greeting. This is to show they respect you.
“HAVE YOU EATEN ALREADY?”
HOKKIEN
HOKKIEN
5. “I GREET YOU
FROM MY
HEART”
3 “SALAM” 4
JAVANESE
JAVANESE
LETS START SHAKING!
HOW TO SHAKE HANDS?
The traditional Javanese greeting is called
“salam“. It resembles a handshake, but with
both hands stretched out. Both man and
woman will offer both their hands. You can
lightly touch your friend’s hands and bring back
one hand to your chest and say, “I greet you
from my heart”.
6. YOU CAN’T TOUCH THIS!
It is not appropriate to touch Hokkiens on
TOUCHING SOMEONE’S SHOULDER? their shoulder, also don’t touch them in any
other way. This strongly applies to all Chinese
in general, it is a big offense to tap/touch
5 someone on the shoulder. It is said that by 6
“ONE OF THE touch/tapping someone’s shoulder, you would
BIGGEST NO NO put out one of three holy flames inside the
person’s body. This will cause a lot of bad luck
FOR CHINESE” to that particular person.
“PUTTING OUT
THE FLAMES
WILL BRING
HOKKIEN
HOKKIEN
BAD LUCK”
7. Try to avoid touching Javanese on their body or
kiss them in their face. The head and face are
considered to be the home of the human soul.
You can only shake hands if they will reach out
for you to shake their hands.
7
“DO NOT 8
TOUCH MY
PRIDE”
JAVANESE
JAVANESE
NOT MY HUMAN SOUL!
THE FACE, A HOLY TEMPLE
9. “JAVANESE WILL GIVE THEIR “BUSINESS CARDS ARE GIVEN WITH
CARD WITH THEIR RIGHT BOTH HANDS AND THUMBS UP, DO NOT
HAND” DIRECTLY HIDE IT AWAY, THIS IS RUDE”
9 10
JAVANESE
HOKKIEN
DO IT RIGHT THUMBS UP
EXCHANGING BUSINESS CARDS EXCHANGING BUSINESS CARDS
10. 11 12
“ACCEPT THINGS WITH
BOTH HANDS, THIS TO
SHOW YOU ARE FULLY
INTERESTED
AND DEDICATED”
HOKKIEN
HOKKIEN
DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?
HOW TO ACCEPT OBJECTS
12. “WHEN ENTERING
SOMEONE’S HOUSE,YOU
MUST TAKE THEM OFF”
“DO NOT WEAR
BLACK”
13 14
Some colors have different meanings for
Hokkien. The most familiar one is red which
symbolizes prosperity/luck. This is important
to remember when publishing or designing
SHOES OFF
products. Black is a big taboo color. Try to
avoid wearing black especially fully black outfits
during celebration days like Chinese New Year,
Birthdays and Weddings.
JAVANESE
HOKKIEN
PUT OFF YOU SHOES?
COLOR MATCH
WHAT COLOR SHOULD YOU WEAR?
14. CHOPSTICK RULES
When having a meal it is important to use the
chopsticks correctly. Do not use them as fork,
and don’t stick both chopsticks in your meal!
Chinese believe in the after life and by sticking
the chopsticks in the meal you are inviting the
spirits to eat it. HOW TO USE THEM?
15 16
“A RITUAL OF INCENSE
BURNING THAT
SYMBOLIZES FEEDING THE
DEAD AND DEATH IN
GENERAL”
HOKKIEN
HOKKIEN
Try not to place your chopsticks straight up in your
bowl. By placing your chopsticks like this you will
“SPIRITS WILL EAT remind your host of joint chopstick sticks which is
YOUR FOOD!” connected with death and funerals.
15. DON’T PAY THIS BILL!
WHY NOT SHARE BILLS?
17 18
HOKKIEN
HOKKIEN
“IT IS A SIGN OF RESPECT TO
LET SOMEONE PAY THE BILL”
Try not to share the bill while eating together,
its a sign of respect to let someone pay the
bill. This is no problem as long as you will do
it yourself the next time you will have a meal
with this person. For Chinese it is still very
common to do this when you are going out for
a meal with your boss or someone important.
16. FINISHED YOU MEAL?
WHY LEAVE SOME FOOD?
19 20
Cleaning your plate is fine but don’t clean the
plate where the dishes are being serve on.
Leave a bit to on the plate to show some
HOKKIEN
HOKKIEN
modesty. Also on a day like Chinese New Year
leaving a bit behind means you have an extra
spiritual food reserve through out the year.
“IT IS OK TO LEAVE SOME
FOOD BEHIND”
18. “TRY NOT TO PASS THINGS “AVOID SAYING NO, IT IS
OVER THE HEAD OF PEOPLE RUDE AND IT SHOWS YOU
IN ASIA, IT IS REALLY RUDE ARE NOT WILLING”
AND BRINGS BAD
LUCK”
21 22
JAVANESE + HOKKIEN
JAVANESE + HOKKIEN
NO,NO,NO!
PASS IT AVOID SAYING NO
NEVER PASS OVER THE HEAD
19. RED LUCK
“DO NOT SHOW PEOPLE
THE BOTTOM OF YOU
FEET, IT IS AN INSULTING
GESTURE”
RED WRITING BAD LUCK?
23 24
“AVOID WRITING A CHINESE
PERSONS NAME IN RED
COLOR,THIS WILL BRING BAD
LUCK TO THE PERSON”
JAVANESE
HOKKIEN
BARE SOLES
THE BOTTOM OF YOU FEET
21. “ASIANS WILL SMILE “TRY NOT USE LARGE HAND
WHEN EMBARRASSED. MOVEMENTS. CHINESE DO NOT SPEAK
SMILE EMBARRASSMENT WITH THEIR HANDS. LARGE MOVEMENTS
AWAY THEY SAY” COULD MEAN YOUR ANGRY OR
PROVOCATING SOMEONE”
25 26
JAVANESE + HOKKIEN
HOKKIEN
SMILE! BIG MOVES
EMBARRASSED? THEN SMILE! DON’T WAVE LIKE A HELICOPTER
22. “TRY NOT USE YOUR FINGER “POINT WITH YOU THUMB
INDEX TO POINT SOMEWHERE. AND FINGERS CLOSED TO
IT IS CONSIDERED VERY RUDE” FORM A FIST.”
27 28
JAVANESE
JAVANESE
DON’T POINT LIKE THAT
HOW TO USE YOUR HANDS WHILE TALKING?
23. “PUTTING YOUR HANDS “A LONG SILENCE IS ACCEPTED”
IN YOUR POCKETS WHILE
HAVING A CONVERSATION
MEANS YOUR IMPATIENT
WITH THE PERSON”
29 30
ANGRY?
HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS
JAVANESE
JAVANESE
Periods of silence are considered acceptable
and can be expected while having an
conversation with Javanese. Especially after
a question is asked to them. Avoid interrupting
them or showing displeasure through facial or
eye movements. Be patient.
SILENCE....
THINK FIRST, IT IS NORMAL
24. COMPARED TO EUROPE COLOFON
1 GREETING SOMEONE CONCEPT BY
- EUROPEANS SHAKE HANDS AND WILL KISS PEOPLE MARCO DE GROEN AND VERNON CHAN
- ITS IS NORMAL TO TOUCH PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM
- MAN AND WOMAN ARE TREATED THE SAME WHEN GREETED
2 EXCHANGING OBJECTS PHOTOGRAPHY BY
- BUSINESS CARDS DON’T HAVE THE SAME VALUE AS IN MALAYSIA MARCO DE GROEN AND ANDREW LEE - ART DYNAMICS
- CARDS CAN BE GIVEN WITH ANY HAND
- OBJECTS ARE ACCEPTED WITH ANY HAND LEFT OR RIGHT
3 ENTERING SOMEONE’S HOUSE MODELS
- PEOPLE ONLY TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES WHEN ASKED ANGEL DE GROEN, JW HON, NINIE, THASHA
- THERE IS NO COLOR THAT HAS A PARTICULAR MEANING WHILE
WEARING IT.
4 HAVING A MEAL TOGETHER MODELS PROVIDED BY
- PEOPLE DON’T USE CHOPSTICKS, THEY USE KNIFE AND FORK GLITZTALENT MODEL & TALENT MANAGEMENT
- USUALLY YOU WILL PAY YOUR OWN FOOD OR BILLS
- MEALS ARE ALWAYS FINISHED, IT IS A SHAME TO WASTE FOOD
5 GENERAL MANNERS TEXT WRITTEN BY
- IT IS NORMAL TO SAY “NO” TO PEOPLE IF YOU DON’T AGREE MARCO DE GROEN
- EUROPEANS WILL USUALLY DIRECTLY SAY WHAT THEY THINK
- SHOWING YOUR FEET DOES NOT HAVE ANY MEANING
6 CONVERSATION HABITS GRAPHIC DESIGN BY
- EUROPEANS USE THEIR HANDS A LOT TO COMMUNICATE MARCO DE GROEN
- WHEN ANGRY PEOPLE WILL SHOW IT TO YOU
- THEY WILL POINT TO OBJECTS OR PEOPLE TO MENTION THEM
