Serious question: do Chinese people point differently?

[Douglas]

So I expect a certain language barrier in china, but the total lack of comprehension of a pointed finger baffles me every time. You want your taxi driver to keep going, so you point straight ahead, and he tries to turn. Then when you shout "no no!" and point more vigorously forward, slowly, as you would to a child, he pulls over. WTF? This happens to me all the time. The other day I tried to point left and the driver accelerated.

Just now, behind me, at the hotel bar this guy gave 100 quai to the waitress and told her to give it to the band. He said band, he said music, we both pantomimed guitar playing and piano. She nodded and smiled and took his 100 to a hooker sitting across the bar. She came over to sit with him and was very disappointed when he tried again to convey it was for the band and sent her away. As I type the 100 is still floating between managers and bartenders without a home. The band plays on, on a giant ******* stage that cannot be mistaken when you point to it.

Chinese people, what gives? Is pointing not spoken in China?

 

[phildo]

maybe they're ******* with you because you don't know the language?

 

[MetroStyles]

Maybe your friend just looked like the kind of guy that would frequent a hooker.

 

[Valor]

If you're actually in China, people don't tip (IE the band) so when you pull out 100$ people think you want services or something in exchange for it.

 

[TRINI]

Originally Posted by Douglas

As I type the 100 is still floating between managers and bartenders without a home. The band plays on, on a giant ******* stage that cannot be mistaken when you point to it.

This **** made me crack up.

 

[Harold falcon]

Dude, seriously, buy one of those little English-Chinese pocket dictionaries and look up the word for band before breaking out a hundy.

 

[CMD.EXE]

I am not so sure about China, but from traveling in Africa and having friends from the Philippines, I have learned that some cultures point with their lips.

 

[Blackhood]

I know in great swathes of asia its polite to point with your thumb, not forefinger. And if your tip could pay for a hooker, then your tip is too big.

 

[Thomas]

I hear Chinese point with their wangs

 

[acidboy]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I hear Chinese point with their wangs

only for short distances

 

[ramuman]

Originally Posted by acidboy

only for short distances

 

[Reggs]

Originally Posted by acidboy

only for short distances

 

[skinnyman]

On a serious note, I think the middle finger is commonly used for pointing in China. Have fun with that!

 

[shademore]

Originally Posted by Blackhood

I know in great swathes of asia its polite to point with your thumb, not forefinger. And if your tip could pay for a hooker, then your tip is too big.

not necessarily

 

[oldseed]

might want to do as the romans do you ignorant twerp.