Handshakes, hugs and cheek kisses
Neutral Neutral
What it really means
First meetings usually get a handshake (work) or just a smile and "Hi, nice to meet you" (casual). Hugs are for friends; one cheek kiss happens between some friends, mostly women or mixed pairs — but many Brits don't kiss at all. Physical greetings are lighter here than in much of Europe. When unsure, a smile and hello is never wrong.
Chinese explanation
初次见面通常握手（工作场合）或只是微笑说"Hi, nice to meet you"（日常场合）。拥抱留给朋友；有些朋友之间会贴一下单侧脸颊，多见于女性或异性朋友——但很多英国人根本不行贴面礼。这里的肢体问候比欧洲大陆多数地方都轻。拿不准时，微笑加问好永远不会错。
Example conversation
A: Hi, I'm Wei — nice to meet you. (offers hand)
B: Nice to meet you too, Wei. (shakes hands)
A：你好，我是小伟——很高兴认识你。（伸出手）
B：我也很高兴认识你，小伟。（握手）
What you could say back
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake