# Is it true that in some countries burping is a compliment? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 9, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771 "2011-09-09T23:52:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/1 "2011-09-09T23:52:11Z")
…to the cook, and not a sign of rudeness. I heard that in some countries that burping after meals is actually polite. It means that you liked what was served. Then again, I also heard that this is a complete myth, and that burping is rude everywhere. Can someone confirm this? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/2 "2011-09-10T00:10:52Z")
I first heard about it in the movie _Ben-Hur,_ where one American actor told another American actor, by gestures, of the custom. I don’t know if it was in Lew Wallace’s book, or whether Wallace ever left the US. Like you, I don’t know if it’s true. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/3 "2011-09-10T00:59:22Z")
I’ve heard it said about some middle eastern cultures. If it’s true, I assume the “my compliments to the host” burp is audible but fairly soft. Many of us can chug a Coke, wait three minutes, and release a belch that damages the neighbor’s chimney. I doubt that any dinner host would be flattered, regardless of culture. Flattened, maybe. . ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/4 "2011-09-10T02:04:27Z")
It is true in China. I don’t mean an obnoxious beer bong bull roarer belch for the olympic gold. Although, to be fair, I have heard demunitive grandmothers contend for the crown. A nice belch is considered a normal body function and not something to be ashamed of. And during or after a meal is generally considered a complement to the chef. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Unexpected\_Okapi\_Debacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_unexpected_okapi_debacle/32/7702_2.png) [@The\_Unexpected\_Okapi\_Debacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Unexpected_Okapi_Debacle)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/5 "2011-09-10T05:52:55Z")
It’s not considered rude at all in Kenya. Same with unadulterated nose-picking. What is never done, or at least never _heard_ is farting. Not even amongst children. ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/6 "2011-09-10T06:59:11Z")
In my region of Spain the children are taught that burping is extremely bad manners. When a child burps, (not on purpose) all the other children look at him as if he has committed the crime of the century and parents will yell at their children for even involuntary burps. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/7 "2011-09-10T22:51:50Z")
I don’t know if this is concrete enough for this forum, but when I was a kid I read a book about a Zulu girl, and burping was the mandatory way her father told her mother he’d enjoyed the meal. It was fiction, but it was the kind of book that’s all about giving you the details of Zulu culture, so I lean towards thinking there was some basis in fact. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/8 "2011-09-10T22:56:08Z")
My dad used to say that farting was considered.a complement to the chef in Japan. True, or just an excuse for a loud fart? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/9 "2011-09-11T13:02:43Z")
What I know about Japan is that it is good to audibly slurp noodles. I once went to a Kabuki theater, sitting in the nosebleed section and when the actor slurped his noodles, you could hear it in the rafters. Of course, he was exaggerating as a good actor will. But don’t ever, ever, blow your nose in public. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-in-some-countries-burping-is-a-compliment/595771/10 "2011-09-11T17:23:30Z")
I was told this in Singapore.