I can’t visualize a more extreme difference which i noticed between these races than their mannerisms in everyday life. While there are various similarities, it is simple to tell that someone was raised in Japan versus China, and often Korea too.

Bowing is one aspect of each culture that most assume is the same, but in fact, it has evolved in each country over the years. In Korea and Japan, a small bow when greeting each other well along with a deeper bow in formal situations is still considered appropriate.

In China, the handshake has actually become a common greeting, with only a slight head nod rather than the traditional bow. I noticed this a little in my experiences with Chinese people, but especially with the Korean and Japanese. Even during my Skype lessons by using these two, we frequently end the phone call by using a bow using respect, that could be definitely unique from my other students.

Another mannerism we noticed in your everyday living was the volume and tone within their speaking. I visited Hokkaido, Japan on vacation once, and begun to see and hear Chinese tourists in a mile (er, kilometer) away every time I bought with a train. Upon entering a train and other public Japanese, Koreans and transportation typically remain eerily silent and even keep their laughter to a minimum. Chinese, alternatively, don’t enjoy the cultural custom of quietness in public places spaces.

So, you’ll often see people in China and Hong Kong raising and laughing their voices, which is a stark contrast to Japan and Korea. That would take an entire course in Asian history, so I digress, although i’m sure this has something to do with their long history of such held traditions.