# Symbols that have different or no meaning in various cutures **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 10, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673 "2012-06-10T03:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/41 "2012-06-15T16:50:42Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Pink has no meaning of femininity in Arabic culture. Nor does it in Thailand. Here it basically means you were, like myself, born on a Tuesday. Or a student of Chulalongkorn University (King Chulalongkorn was born on a Tuesday). Or a supporter of the present king, who was born on a Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/42 "2012-06-15T16:59:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Nor does it in Thailand. Here it basically means you were, like myself, born on a Tuesday. Or a student of Chulalongkorn University (King Chulalongkorn was born on a Tuesday). Or a supporter of the present king, who was born on a Tuesday. What colors are associated with being born on other days of the week? I was born on a Wednesday, and Mr. Neville was born on a Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/43 "2012-06-15T17:02:36Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > What colors are associated with being born on other days of the week? I was born on a Wednesday, and Mr. Neville was born on a Thursday. Sunday: red Monday: yellow Tuesday: pink Wednesday: green Thursday: orange Friday: light blue Saturday: purple So you twowould have to wear green and orange. Sounds like a high-school football team. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/44 "2012-06-15T18:58:40Z")
> [@Neevil](#): > > Yes it is, well in the UK and Ireland anyway, up to this point I hadn’t realised that it is not a well known gesture in the US. It’s kinda old fashioned though. It’s been superceded by bird-flippage I think. The last people I saw doing that v sign were The Commitments. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/45 "2012-06-18T11:22:34Z")
> [@auRa](#): > > … and ✓ for “incorrect” (actually, I think it’s more of a V for väärin or wrong, but the same shape anyway). I don’t think so. We use it that way in Sweden as well, where “wrong” is “fel”. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/46 "2012-06-18T12:33:38Z")
While we get butterflies in our stomach, Spanish speakers get them on their skin instead of goosebumps. Not sure what they get in their stomachs, or if they have any use for geese. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/47 "2012-06-18T17:20:06Z")
The French have a hand gesture for signifying someone is a lush, almost like if Pinnochio were polishing his nose. Germans do a gesture with their index finger under their eye, the meaning of which escapes me, something, I think, to do with indicating you’re on the ball. Maybe a German doper can explain it. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/48 "2012-06-18T18:23:36Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Germans do a gesture with their index finger under their eye, the meaning of which escapes me, something, I think, to do with indicating you’re on the ball. Maybe a German doper can explain it. OK, we (Israelis) have that too, and it means, roughly, “yeah, right… :rolleyes:” You’re supposed to actually pull your eyelid down when doing it, not just touch your face under the eye. No idea if the German gesture is identical nor whether it means the same thing… ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/49 "2012-06-18T19:24:07Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Pink has no meaning of femininity in Arabic culture. > [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Prior to about 1920, it was a [boy’s color](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html) in the US Pink was associated with Mars, the God of War, while blue was associated with the Virgin Mary. Blue’s association with virginity meant that it was the most popular colour in many Western countries for wedding dresses prior to Queen Victoria’s desicion to wear white. Hen ce the “something blue”. For along time afterward it was considered the most suitable colour for a widow/divorcee to wear if remarrying. In most Asian cultures white is the colour of mourning (thus unsuitible for weddings), while red is the colour of joy & the most popular choice for wedding dresses. In Japan however a bride does traditionally wear a white kimono, but that’s _because_ she’s supposed to in mourning over leaving her birth family. After the wedding she changes into a red one. These days most Japanese brides just wear a Western-style white dress and get married in a mock-Christian service. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/50 "2012-06-18T19:31:29Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > I don’t know how (if at all) widespread this is in other cultures, but Israelis will put thumb and all 4 fingertips together, palm upwards, and very mildly shake that hand, to signify “hold on a minute.” I believe that in (at least) Italy and Spain this same gesture means “suck my d\*\*k!” :eek: > [@Nava](#): > > Uh? No. At least I would never put it that strongly. It’s more like “are you shitting me?” after someone has been asking for the moon with a red ribbon, delivered by hand, or “so, what is it you’re talking about, uh?” after making the previous requestor go himself through the reasons why it’s impossible. The movement isn´t particularly mild, either.\* > > “Hey, **Nava** , I want the new manuals ready for Monday” > “OK then, does that mean I’m not preparing and running the data loads?” > “Oh no no, the data loads have absolute priority!” > Hand gesture. With both hands. > > It can also be used to indicate “are we trying to make a deal, or are we just shooting the breeze?” in a business situation, for example. A perfectly normal and friendly one, not the kind where you tell the customer to go fuck the bitch who birthed him if he knows who it was. I think I realized where some of the confusion may have come from. In Spanish (and I’ve heard similar expressions in Italian), the kind of behaviour which warrants that response is known as _tocar los cojones_, which for some reason I’ve met several people who insisted in translating into English as “sucking someone’s dick”, and _no me toques los cojones_ or _tócame los cojones_ as “suck my dick”. No: despite the anatomic neighborhood, someone who’s “touching your balls” is being a pain in the ass, telling someone not to do it is literal (if symbolic) and telling someone to do it is ironic - they’re doing it and you’d appreciate it if they stopped thinking they’re your urologist. > [@jackdavinci](#): > > While we get butterflies in our stomach, Spanish speakers get them on their skin instead of goosebumps. Not sure what they get in their stomachs, or if they have any use for geese. Never heard about butterflies on the skin, but goosebumps are _piel de gallina_: hen’s skin. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/51 "2012-06-18T21:54:46Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > OK, we (Israelis) have that too, and it means, roughly, “yeah, right… :rolleyes:” You’re supposed to actually pull your eyelid down when doing it, not just touch your face under the eye. > > No idea if the German gesture is identical nor whether it means the same thing… That sounds about right. I didn’t explain the meaning very well but I meant something along the lines of what you explained much better than me! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/52 "2012-06-19T10:12:13Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > I don’t think so. We use it that way in Sweden as well, where “wrong” is “fel”. Hunh, good to know. Like I said, I’ve never spent time in a regular Finnish school so the basic conventions are a bit foreign to me. On the other hand, I did once get yelled at by a Saudi friend’s father because I was sitting by a table resting my legs on it and inadvertently waving (the soles of) my feet at him, and some Chinese students’ parents found St. Patrick’s Day celebrations unbelievably hilarious because of the green hat thing, so I can’t complain, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/53 "2012-06-19T11:57:04Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > OK, we (Israelis) have that too, and it means, roughly, “yeah, right… :rolleyes:” You’re supposed to actually pull your eyelid down when doing it, not just touch your face under the eye. Americans do it too - or at least, their [space marines](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNDteLH2vUE) do. (Actually, it may be a military gesture originally. One laughing eye, one angry eye…) ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/54 "2012-06-19T14:00:44Z")
The middle finger doesn’t have Japan also does not have any special significance. My daughter learned a song there they use the fingers to show Daddy, Mommy, Brother, Sister and Baby. A quick search can find a little Japanese girl [flipping you off](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5IoTni_JMs). > [@alphaboi867](#): > > In Japan however a bride does traditionally wear a white kimono, but that’s _because_ she’s supposed to in mourning over leaving her birth family. After the wedding she changes into a red one. No. White symbolizes purity for a bride the same as white wedding dresses. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/55 "2012-06-19T14:16:19Z")
I have read that calling a woman a “fox” in China has a somewhat negative meaning, because in Chinese mythology fox-women are essentially evil spirit fairies who lure men to a bad fate. Adds a twist to “foxy lady”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/56 "2012-06-19T14:33:21Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The swastika is an obvious example. It [symbolizes various things elsewhere](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#Contemporary_use_in_Asia), but in the West it’s come to mean Nazism and nothing else. I’ve got a giant vessel from India with an enormous swastika beaded on the side. We generally keep it in the closet. The shape of the vessel is beautiful and so is the beadwork, but we’re a little hesitant to display it. When I was in India, most people we met who were friends of the family would gently hold my and my husband’s heads together with their fists almost like they were about to head or smack our heads together like a pair of coconuts, lightly tapping on the sides. My husband told me that was a blessing. I hope he wasn’t lying. 🙂 And in Venezuela, saying someone is very clever, whether you say it sarcastically or not, is equivalent to telling them they’re a stupid asshole. Hmmm…the more you know. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/57 "2012-06-19T20:53:12Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Uh? No. At least I would never put it that strongly. It’s more like “are you shitting me?” after someone has been asking for the moon with a red ribbon, delivered by hand, or “so, what is it you’re talking about, uh?” after making the previous requestor go himself through the reasons why it’s impossible. The movement isn´t particularly mild, either.\* > > “Hey, **Nava** , I want the new manuals ready for Monday” > “OK then, does that mean I’m not preparing and running the data loads?” > “Oh no no, the data loads have absolute priority!” > Hand gesture. With both hands. > > It can also be used to indicate “are we trying to make a deal, or are we just shooting the breeze?” in a business situation, for example. A perfectly normal and friendly one, not the kind where you tell the customer to go fuck the bitch who birthed him if he knows who it was. > > - If anyboy knows why does my kbd go to a pre1930s layout at random, I´d love to know. And no, I can´t take it out of the list of layouts. Damnit. The one at [1.37](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FVIqSTJK6I), right? I didn’t know the Spanish do that too. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/58 "2012-06-19T20:55:28Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > When I was in India, most people we met who were friends of the family would gently hold my and my husband’s heads together with their fists almost like they were about to head or smack our heads together like a pair of coconuts, lightly tapping on the sides. My husband told me that was a blessing. I hope he wasn’t lying. 🙂 Yes, it means something like “I adore you and would sacrifice everything for you.” I am sure they don’t mean it literally, but that’s what it means. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/59 "2012-06-19T22:05:29Z")
> [@Neevil](#): > > Yes it is, well in the UK and Ireland anyway, up to this point I hadn’t realised that it is not a well known gesture in the US. The fourth-season intro for _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ had Spike giving the gesture - which makes sense, as the character is English, but the network would never have allowed them to use the equivalent American gesture. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673/60 "2012-06-20T01:41:31Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Yes, it means something like “I adore you and would sacrifice everything for you.” I am sure they don’t mean it literally, but that’s what it means. Thank goodness. It’s good to know no one actually wants to smack our heads together. Or at least if they do, they’re not saying so outright. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-that-have-different-or-no-meaning-in-various-cutures/624673.md?page=4)