中国餐桌礼仪

TableEtiquetteinChina----By郑艳红，李慧兰柳丽琴，范玲，李琪，戴桂宜张友美，李蜜Chinesefoodisfamousaroundtheworld.IfyouareinChinaandgooutwithyourChinesefriendtoadinner,youmaywanttoknow……SeatingBeforedinnerTablewareFoodEatingetiquetteDrinks&toastSmokingPayforbillSeatingInChina,it’snecessarytoknowhowtopickupyourseatatthetable.Ifyouarenotsurewhattodo,justwaitthehosttotell.Differentfromthewestern,tablesinChinaareusuallyround.Normally,theseatfacingthedoor(seat1)isforthehostorthehostess.Atasmalltable,theseatrightacrossofthehostseat,thebackofwhichisfacingthedoor(seat2),istheseatforthemainguest.Butwhenit’sabiggertable,thehostorhostessandmainguestcanjustsitsidebysidetomakeiteasierforthemtotalk.(seat3or4forthemainguest.)BeforedinnerTheelderlyorguest(s)ofhonourareusuallythefirsttostartthemeal.Beforethat,youhavetowait.•Beforedinner,you’llbeservedbyacupoftea.TeaTeaisforrinsingthemouth,whichmeansmakingyourmouthreadyforeating.TablewareDifferentfromthewest,Chinesefoodisusuallycutintopropersizeswhencooking,soyoudon’thavetousefolksorknivestoeatthem.Asaresult,you’llusedifferenttablewarewhenyouenjoyChinesefood.TablewareTablesettingChopsticksTablesettingTablesettingTablesettingChopsticksChopsticksisthemaintoolforeating.ChopsticksChopsticksshouldalwaysbeheldcorrectly,i.e.betweenthethumbandfirsttwofingersoftherighthand.Here’ssomeothertipsforusingchopstickscorrectly.TipsforusingchopsticksWhennotinuse,chopsticksmustalwaysbeplacedneatlyonthetablewithtwostickslyingtidilynexttoeachotheratbothends.Crossingthemisrude.TipsforusingchopsticksNeverpointthechopsticksatanotherperson.Thisamountstoinsultingthatperson.TipsforusingchopsticksNeversuckthechopsticks.TipsforusingchopsticksNeverbangchopstickslikedrumsticks.Thisisakintotellingothersatthetableyouareabeggar.TipsforusingchopsticksDecidewhattopickupbeforereachingwithchopsticks,insteadofhoveringthemoverorrummagingthroughdishes.TipsforusingchopsticksWhenpickingupapieceoffood,neverusethetipsofyourchopstickstopokethroughthefoodaswithafork;exceptionsincludetearingapartlargeritemssuchasvegetables.TipsforusingchopsticksNeverstabchopsticksverticallyintoabowlofrice,asthisresemblesincensesticksusedattemplestopayrespectstothedeceased.Thisisconsideredtheultimatedinnertablefauxpas.TipsforusingchopsticksDon’tusechopstickstomovebowlorplate.TipsforusingcommunalchopsticksWhentherearecommunalchopsticks,usethemtotransferfoodfromacommondishtoone'sownplateorbowl.Whencommunalchopsticksarenotprovided,itisconsideredpolite(andsanitary)tousethebluntendofone'sownchopstickstoserveaguestbytransferringfoodfromthecommondishtoaguest'splateorbowl.FoodThemaindifferencebetweenChineseandwesteatinghabits,whereeveryonehastheirownplateoffood,isthatinChinathedishesareplacedonthetableandeverybodyshares.FoodIfyouarebeingtreatedbyaChinesehost,bepreparedforatonoffood.●Chineseareveryproudoftheircultureoffoodandwilldotheirbesttogiveyouatasteofmanydifferenttypesofcuisine.FoodIfitisabusinessdinneroraveryformaloccasion,thereislikelytobeahugeamountoffoodthatwillbeimpossibletofinish.FoodAtypicalChinesemealconsistsof:ColddishesMaincoursesSoupThestarchy“staple”foodSnackanddessertFruitColddishesAtypicalmealstartswithsomecolddishes,likeboiledpeanuts,smashedcucumber,reddates&beansandChickenLegs.Colddishesareusuallyservedbeforedinner,butdon’teatbeforedinnerstart.•.Maindishes•Colddishesarefollowedbythemaincourses,hotmeatandvegetabledishes.Pork&beefMaindishesMeatballsMaindishesChicken&duckMaindishesVegetableMaindishesSeafoodSoupThen,soupisbroughtout.Thestarchy“staple”foodSoupisfollowedbythestarchystaplefood,whichisusuallyriceornoodlesorsometimesdumplings.Thestarchy“staple”foodManyChineseeatrice(ornoodlesorwhatever)last,butifyouliketohaveyourricetogetherwithotherdishes,youshouldsaysoearlyon.SnacksanddessertSometimesthey’llbereplacedbysnacksanddessertlikebaozi,dabingorcakes.FruitSometimes,somefruitwillbeserved.EatingetiquetteGenerally,ChinesetablemannersaremoreinformalthantheWest,althoughtherearemorerulesconcerninginteractionswithotherguests.EatingetiquetteChinesetrendtotalkloudlyduringthedinneranddifferentfromthewest,talkingwithafullmouthisusuallyallowedthoughsomepeoplethinkitisimpolite.Besides,whenyouareeatingordrinking,makesomesoundisallowed.Butplacethechinabowlsandplatesquietly。EatingetiquetteEatingwiththeelbowsonthetableisallowed.Belchisnotgoodbutyoudon’thavetoavoiditintentionally.Wheneatingfoodthatcontainsbones,itiscustomarythatthebonesbespatoutontothediningplateinaneatpile.Spittingontothefloorisalmostneveracceptable.Drinks&toastDrinksplaysanimportantroleinChinesefoodculture.DrinksPouringToastDrinksUsually,bothharddrinkandbeverageareservedthroughoutthemeal.Itiscustomaryforthehosttoinsistthatguestsdrinktoshowfriendship.Iftheguestsprefersnottodrink,theymaysay,I'munabletodrink,butthankyou.[inChinese:Wobunenghejiu,xiexie.]DrinksThehostmaycontinuetoinsistthattheguestsdrink,andtheguestsmaylikewisecontinuetoinsistuponbeingunabletodrink.Thehost'sinsistanceistoshowgenerosity.Therefore,refusalbytheguestsshouldbemad