If you smile at a stranger in Russia, he/she can smile back, but it can already mean an invitation to come and talk. Russians take smiling as a sign that the person cares about them.
The Russian language has a unique proverb that is absent from other languages, “A smile without a reason is a sign of idiocy.” [Смех без причины - признак дурачины.]
Friends may hug or kiss on the cheek to greet, but Russians are generally limited in their physical contact. Strong physical affection is generally only seen between couples of opposite genders.
Conversation. Russians smile the least, due in part to a popular Russian proverb: "A smile without reason is a sign of idiocy." Anybody who smiles without a reason should see a Psychiatrist. A good reason to small is when being photographed anyway!
Always show heightened respect to those who are older than you. It's common to adopt a more formal demeanour. Offer your seat to an elderly person, pregnant woman or woman with a small child if they do not have one. Men are expected to open doors for women, pay for their food, help them carry items, etc.
Smiling in Russia usually shows the real good mood and good relationship between people, as it is not used as a form of politeness. When a Russian smiles at you, he/she really cares about you or is genuinely in a good mood.
“Don't dig a hole for someone else or you will fall into it yourself.” “The best offense is a good defense.” “It's better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles.” “Nothing will happen in your life unless you try something.”
Closed Mouth Smile
In a closed-mouth smile, the lips remain together, and teeth are not visible. In this way, a polite smile, a disappointed smile, and a forced smile are all closed-mouth smiles.
Eye Contact: Making eye contact is a show of respect in Russian culture and is highly valued. When conversing to someone, it is considered polite to keep eye contact and direct your look at the other person.
Я тебя люблю (I love you)
This is the clearest and most direct way to express it. You can choose to change the word order and say “Я люблю тебя,” but there's no significant difference in the meaning. Some Russians prefer to emphasize the last word in a sentence, thus “Я тебя люблю” may be preferred.
Russians are very compassionate, and they tend to form very close ties, though they might not have a large group and aren't as likely to be friendly with every stranger. This just allows for more time to get closer to their friends.
Studies are clear about one thing: throughout the world, Americans tend to smile the most! It's not that other countries don't have plenty to smile about, it's that people tend to smile as much as they are conditioned to through socialization and culture.
In countries such as India, Argentina, and the Maldives, meanwhile, smiling was associated with dishonesty—something Krys found to be correlated to their corruption rankings.
Ты дурак/дура (Ty durak/dura)
You can use this one while talking to somebody who has disappointed or annoyed you. Here are some Russian angry phrases with similar meanings: Ты невыносим(а) (Ty nevynosim[a]) — “You're impossible.” Ты глуп(а) (Ty glup[a]) — “You're silly.”
Russian etiquette: greetings
Close male friends hug and pat each other's back. In short, when meeting a Russian for the first time, male or female, good etiquette is shaking hands firmly while retaining eye contact. Looking away is rude and shows indifference. Men should wait for a woman to offer her hand first.
Before eating, people usually wish Приятного аппетита (Priyatnogo appetita) which means “Enjoy your meal,” in Russian. This phrase is used both in formal and informal situations.
A Russian woman likes it when her partner is interesting and cheerful; they do not tolerate boring men, so don't be afraid to be cheerful and laugh. They like when a man cheers her up, but does not tolerate if he laughs at her.