Асуухаар Асга

Transliteration:

Asuukhaar Asga

Direct translation:

Spill instead of asking

Meaning & Explanation:

Mongolians believe that it’s rude to ask guests whether they would like something to drink or eat as it makes them look stingy and hesitant. Instead, they must offer tea and dairy products, or pastries, when a guest enters their home. Thus, the proverb “Асуухаар Асга” was originated to remind people to offer snacks and tea without asking.

Mongolian taboos related to food:

• Never pour too much or too little tea in a cup. The same applies to food.

• It’s considered disrespectful to make guests drink and dine from a chipped china and tableware. • Taking snacks from the table from behind guests is also considered rude.

• Do not offer a cup of tea while touching the top edge of a cup as only delinquents and ex-convicts were offered tea in such manner in the past.

• Drinks and food must always be given directly to others with both hands. Mongolians consider putting cups and plates in front of others instead of offering it very disrespectful.

• It’s a taboo to offer water first. A guest must be given tea, particularly milk tea, when they enter a home.