What does losing face mean in Vietnam?

If you make someone look bad in front of their friends, you are making them 'lose face'. This doesn't just apply to calling someone out on their farts. It can be something as little as refusing to let someone pay for your meal, or pointing out a mistake that a person made.

What is the concept of losing face?

What is 'losing face'? 'Losing face' in China is said to be caused by embarrassment, disagreement, or criticism. 'Losing face' is equal to losing the respect of others, and avoiding this situation ('saving face') is very important in Chinese culture.

What is the face concept in Vietnam?

While in the West being frank and direct is considered a good trait, direct disagreement or raising of questions in public can be seen as a person to “lose face” in Vietnam. Face is a concept that can be roughly described as reflecting a person's reputation, dignity, and prestige.

What is face in Vietnamese culture?

The Vietnamese concept of face (or “thể diện”) implies a “socially approved image of a person and is associated with concepts such as honour, self-respect, pride and dignity” (Nguyen, 2015a, p. 148). Face relates to social expectations and how one is viewed in the eyes of others.

What is saving face in Vietnamese culture?

Saving face is a combination of reputation, social standing, dignity and individual honors. This tradition is steeped in longstanding notions of respect held in Vietnamese society and other East Asian cultures like China, Japan, and Korea. conception is not nearly as important as the views of the community at large.

Living In Vietnam #4 - Understanding The Saving Face Culture Of Vietnam

What is considered rude in Vietnamese culture?

Common taboos in Vietnam

Avoid hugging, holding hands, and especially kissing in public. Even touching a member of the opposite sex is looked down upon. Modesty: It is important to keep your body covered. Avoid overly short shorts and revealing shirts.

What does crossing your fingers mean in Vietnam?

In Vietnam the gesture is considered rude, especially to another person. Referring to female genitals, it is comparable to the middle finger in American culture. In German-speaking countries and also Sweden and Latvia the gesture is a sign of lying.

What is kissing in Vietnamese about?

The lens of this poem itself focuses on kissing—a way people express love through the body—and the memories of all the things that have happened to the bodies around the main character of the grandmother.

How do Vietnamese show respect?

The Vietnamese consider the following respectful: Bowing is a greeting and shows great respect. Nodding is used as another way to say hello and yes. Avoiding eye contact shows respect to older people or to people of the opposite sex.

What is the most important thing in Vietnamese culture?

Vietnamese cultural values emphasize the importance of family and community. Its core values, which embrace the principles of Confucianism, are harmony, duty, honor, respect, education and allegiance to the family.

Is it rude to make eye contact in Vietnam?

Vietnamese people typically avoid direct eye contact and may gaze downward when talking. Avoiding eye contact demonstrates respect to elders, people of higher status or of the opposite sex. Speaking in a loud tone with excessive gestures is considered rude, especially when done by women.

What does face mean in military?

The commands are "Right face" or "Left face." On the command "Face," raise the right (left) toe and left (right) heel slightly and pivot 90 degrees to the right (left) on the ball of the left (right) foot and the heel of the right (left) foot, assisted by slight pressure on the ball of the left (right) foot.

Can you cross your fingers in Vietnam?

While the middle finger is not traditionally an offensive digit in Vietnam, the typical “fingers crossed” gesture that many people from the West make to indicate that they are hoping for the best is highly impolite. If you hope for good luck, keep your fingers out of it!

What is an example of losing face?

If somebody makes a mistake, is embarrassed or humiliated, they lose face. It seems he would sooner leave people at risk than lose face. They may feel that to do so is to lose face. Whatever the outcome, one of them will lose face tonight.

What is losing face in Western culture?

English face meaning "prestige; honor, respect, dignity, status, reputation, social acceptance, or good name. The lose verb in lose face means "fail to maintain", while the save in save face means "avoid loss/damage".

What giving face means in Japanese culture?

On the other hand, something that helps to build up a person in front of others can be said to “give face” (kao o tateru). The VIP treatment that Japanese are so good at giving to honored guests and high-ranking people can be seen as an example of “giving face.”

How do you apologize to a Vietnamese person?

Tôi chân thành xin lỗi.

I sincerely apologize. If you feel strongly about your apology, this is another slightly more formal phrase to use.

What do Vietnamese say before eating?

Xin mời (Please)

During a meal, everyone can say “Xin mời” to invite each other to dig in. In a way, this is one of the many Vietnamese versions of the phrase “Bon appetit”. Specifically, children and younger individuals at the table are expected to invite everyone to eat before they can start eating.

What not to do when visiting Vietnam?

What does Bui Doi mean in Vietnamese?

Left behind after the removal of the US troops were one million orphans who had grown up to have families – and lose them – during the war. Included were those known as Bui Doi – the dust of life. Some 8000 of these were the offspring of American GIs and Vietnamese mothers.

What is kiss the frog?

The story is simple: A princess is wooed by a frog, who asks for a kiss. First recoiling in horror, the maiden eventually relents, out of sympathy or kindness, and kisses the frog. Suddenly, the frog is transformed into a handsome prince, and the couple are married, living happily ever after.

What is a bad gesture in Vietnam?

Patting a person's back, especially a senior or someone of higher status, pointing to other people while talking, or putting one's feet on a table or sitting on a desk while talking are all rude and disrespectful. Winking is regarded as indecent, especially when directed at people of the opposite sex.

Can I wear sleeveless in Vietnam?

Wearing shorts is acceptable in most situations for both men and women. However, Vietnam's traditional culture is somewhat conservative, so avoiding sleeveless shirts, tank tops, or short shorts—especially while visiting Buddhist temples—shows the greatest respect for it.

How to not look like a tourist in Vietnam?

Wear particularly conservative clothing if you visit a culturally sensitive area such as a temple or pagoda – generally, the less bare skin the better and specifically no shorts, short skirts, tops with low neck lines, or bare shoulders. Opt for long pants and a long-sleeved cotton shirt.