Is beckoning someone with your finger polite in Indonesia?

Considered disrespectful. In Indonesia, beckoning someone with a single finger is considered rude and associated with calling animals or showing disrespect. The culturally appropriate way to summon someone is to use the whole hand with a gentle downward motion of the fingers. This gesture is widely understood across the archipelago, especially in everyday interactions.

Instead, extend your arm with the palm facing down and curl all four fingers inward repeatedly to beckon someone politely.

In more traditional or rural areas, the offense may be stronger, while younger urban Indonesians might be slightly more tolerant but still perceive it as impolite.