Ah, the humble burp. The source of so much childhood comedy and so much adult embarrassment. There are a range of attitudes toward burping in the United States. You wouldn’t want to burp loudly at, say, a fancy dinner party, but there are worse sins you could commit. In the right crowd, a mighty burp could earn you a deserved round of applause. But what happens when you burp internationally?
Frankly, there aren’t many places in the world where burping is approved-of. Even among the countries that do make the list, there are bound to be some people who find burping to be “gross.” You can also probably find an enclave of people in any country that will be accepting of your belches. It’s just a bodily process, and the rule against burping is a holdover of 18th-century etiquette, which is rapidly going out of style.
That said, this article isn’t about why everyone should be allowed to burp whenever they want with no social penalty. It’s about where you can openly burp today.
The Myth Of Polite Burping Abroad
Before diving into our list of places where belching is accepted, it’s important to note one pervasive myth we ran into while researching this.When we asked people where it’s polite to burp, answers included France, Italy, Spain, Canada and Japan. It seems a good number of countries have been named in connection with this idea.
But if you actually burp at a dinner table in those countries, you will get some weird looks. It is generally polite to burp in the countries we’re about to list, but you should double-check the next time someone off-handedly mentions a country and says that burping is a compliment to the chef.
China
In China, burping is treated as any other bodily process, and after a meal, it can indeed serve as a compliment to the chef. It’s probably China that originated the pervasive myth about complimentary burping abroad.
Sometimes, this rule is conflated with a Japanese one that has to do with slurping. At restaurants in Japan, it’s considered proper to slurp noodles while eating. However, it is not polite in Japan to burp, nor is it polite in China to slurp. It’s probably for the best that you keep these two rules straight in your head.
In India, the topic of burping seems to be a little bit more contentious. Some Indian bloggers say that burping during a meal is just part of the normal process, and nobody will mind. Others disagree, and there’s at least one heated debate over the etiquette on Quora.
Because burping is associated with being improper, it can be offensive to imply that everyone in the country openly burps. But like China, there are certain states of India where burping can be a compliment. It’s probably best to follow the advice of journalist Petrina Verma Sarkar, and only belch when you’re very familiar with the local culture and people.
Bahrain (Maybe)
Bahrain is a small island in the Middle East, just to the east of Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, it pops up as a place where burping is considered a sign of being satisfied with a meal. There does not seem to be a lot of evidence backing this up, however.
A Rule Of Thumb
Assuming you’re not traveling explicitly for the purpose of burping in public, you can follow our rule of thumb for belching. If you’re in a country that you’ve never been to before and eating with local people you don’t know very well, you’ll probably want to suppress your burps. You could even do the thing where you use a fist to cover your mouth and pretend you’re coughing. And if you’re just around close friends and family, you can probably burp anywhere and get away with it.Everyone burps, after all. And if the worst happens, and you do let out an egregious burp, you can always learn to say “I’m sorry” in the local language.
FAQs
While in most European countries, you can't burp, smack, or slurp at the table, in most Asian cultures this is called good etiquette. This means that the food was tasty and that you're satisfied.
Is it polite to burp in other countries? ›
In China and Taiwan, burping is the highest form of flattery—it means you like the food! “The host considers the noise a compliment,” says Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick, founder and president of the Etiquette School of New York.
Is it really polite to burp in Japan? ›
When eating from shared dishes (as it is commonly done at some restaurants such as izakaya), it is polite to use the opposite end of your chopsticks or dedicated serving chopsticks for moving food to your own dish. Blowing your nose at the table, burping and audible munching are considered bad manners in Japan.
Is burping rude in France? ›
5 – Don't make noise : No mouth noise. We close our mouths when we eat (so that everyone doesn't hear the sounds of chewing or sucking (soup), and we don't burp at the table (oh no! Very rude!).
Is it inappropriate to burp? ›
Burping is seen (and heard) as rude and crude. But burping (or belching) serves an essential purpose and shouldn't be silenced. Belching is a protective mechanism that prevents the stomach from overinflating.
Is burping rude in USA? ›
Eating Culture and Etiquette. In general, Americans eat quietly with their mouths closed. Burping is seen as rude, not as a compliment to the cook. Americans like sweets!
Is burping rude in Europe? ›
Society and culture
For example, a burping guest can be a sign to the host that the meal satisfied them and they are full. In Japan, burping during a meal is considered bad manners. Burping during a meal is also considered unacceptable in Western cultures, such as North America and Europe.
Is burping rude in Germany? ›
While in other cultures, burping or smacking might be a signal that the food was good and enough, in Germany you try to eat as quietly as possible. That doesn't mean you're not allowed to talk; quite the reverse, you should talk as much as you can to boost your German.
Is burping rude in China? ›
In China, burping isn't considered rude. In fact, it's actually a sign of gratitude to the cook and satisfaction with the meal. It's a great compliment, so don't be surprised when you hear a burp or two at the dining table.
Where is burping not rude? ›
In Singapore, China, and Taiwan, a small burp at the end of a meal indicates you thoroughly enjoyed it and is considered a sign of appreciation!
Egypt. Contrary to the West, where burping after a meal is considered rude, in Egypt burping loudly after a meal is considered good dining etiquette and signifies your appreciation of the food you've just eaten.
Is burping rude in India? ›
In Indian culture, how much you eat is considered an indication of your enjoyment of the meal. In the face of such politeness, you'd think burping would be extremely rude. Not so! Well to be precise, in some states in India, not burping is actually frowned upon.
Is burping rude in the Philippines? ›
Filipinos have the habit of burping in front of the table. Burping may be rude to other countries, but it's a sign of a happy tummy enjoying the meal for Filipinos. So, get used to it, and if you burp, don't forget to say “excuse me” or “sorry.”
Is it rude to burp and fart? ›
Burping or farting can provide much needed relief as the excess air seeps out. Still, most of us would prefer to never experience gas pain in the first place. This is especially true if you're in public, where polite society considers normal processes like burping and farting rude.
What animal burps the most? ›
Every child learns at a very young age that sheep go "baaa," but much less appreciated is how much they burp too. In fact, sheep are among the world's most prolific belchers — spewing a collective seven million tonnes of planet-warming methane into the atmosphere every year.
Is it really considered polite to fart or burp after a meal in some countries? ›
Indeed, in some cultures belching after a meal is virtually obligatory as a polite sign of appreciation and satiety. Allegedly, farting after a meal is likewise a sign of appreciation in Inuit culture.
Is burping a compliment in Asia? ›
Burping is polite
In China, burping isn't considered rude. In fact, it's actually a sign of gratitude to the cook and satisfaction with the meal. It's a great compliment, so don't be surprised when you hear a burp or two at the dining table.
Is burping rude in the UK? ›
British people are sticklers for dinner table manners. When you are eating you should keep your elbows off the table, hold your cutlery appropriately and keep your mouth closed while chewing. Eating noisily is a big no-no. Most importantly, do not, under any circ*mstances, burp at the dinner table.
