We are always using body language in our daily lives. When we have a conversation with someone, we may be using more body language than words. However, the same body language may mean different things in different countries. That's why people sometimes cannot understand each other.

Pointing to one part of the body can have different meanings in different cultures. For example, in the USA people point to their heads when they think someone is clever. However, in Europe it means “He or she is stupid or something is wrong with his or her head”. In our Chinese culture, nodding our head up and down means “yes” and shaking our head from side to side means “no”. However, in some parts of Greece and Turkey, it means just the opposite. In England or the USA, when you raise your hand and make a circle with the thumb and the second finger, it means “Everything is all right”. However, if we do this in France or Belgium, it means “You're worth zero”. In Greece or Turkey, we should not make this gesture, or we are thought to be very rude (粗鲁的).

The meaning of gestures can also change over time. In the 1960s, the “V” sign meant “peace”. However, during the World War II, it meant “victory”. In Greece, it is an insulting sign. It will be very rude of you to make this gesture in front of a woman.

Though the meaning of body language is different, there are some expressions having the same meaning throughout the world, such as smiling and crying.