"Watashi" (women)/"Boku" (men)
Means: "Me"
How to do it: whereas we in the west point to our chest when we want to say 'I' or ask 'me?', the Japanese point to their nose with their index finger
Illustration: Scott Garrett Photograph: guardian.co.uk
“al-Hamdu li-llaah”
Means: "Praise be to God"
How to do it: after shaking hands, place right hand across the chest and bow head briefly. This is a sign of respect to someone of high office or an older person, such as your partner’s parents
Illustration: Scott Garrett Photograph: guardian.co.uk
“liù”
Means: “Six”
How to do it: extend thumb and little finger, keeping rest of the hand closed. The thumb indicates one set of five.
Unlike in most other countries, people in China will use only one hand to signify numbers one to 10. This is very useful for bargaining, not least because in China the words for basic numbers vary between regions. Numbers one to five are indicated as normal
Illustration: Scott Garrett Photograph: Guardian
"Namaste"
Literally: "I bow to you"
How to do it: press your hands together palm-by-palm in front of your chest and give a slight nod with your head at the same time
Illustration: Scott Garrett Photograph: Guardian
“Zachem tak slozhnu?”
Means: “Why so complicated?”
How to do it: reach behind head and scratch left ear with right hand or vice versa – means that something has been expressed backwards or has been made too complicated
Illustration: Scott Garrett Photograph: guardian.co.uk
“Papo-furado”
Means: “Not true”/“Idle chat”
How to do it: palm facing down, tap right under your jaw with the back of your hand
Illustration: Scott Garrett Photograph: guardian.co.uk
“Te lo juro”
Means: “I swear”/“I promise you”
How to do it: thumb inside a clenched fist, the hand is raised to the mouth and the thumb kissed before throwing the hand forward and flicking the thumb up
Illustration: Scott Garrett Photograph: Guardian
