To be familiar with Chinese table manners can speed up your personal or business dealings unexpectedly. It may reflect who you are in others' eyes, and in turn it may affect your relationship with people dining with. Here we'll cover topics on dining.
The most commonly used dining table in China is in a round shape, many with a turntable on top. It shows harmony(融洽)and being practical in use. It can hold more people, the food is equally accessible to everyone, and everyone can see everyone without turning heads.
Sharing is a characteristic of Chinese meals. Every dish is put on the table, and people are supposed to take food from them. The hospitality(好客) is shown by the number of dishes. If you are treated by a Chinese host, don't be surprised when you see that there is more food than you can eat. That is a way to show you're very welcome.
Do choose to use chopsticks when asked if you'd like to have them for your meal. They don't mind if you say no to chopsticks, but if you show your willingness and interest in their ways of dining, they are delighted. Don't stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl when not using them. The right way is to put them down beside your bowl or on your plate. Don't tap on your bowl with your chopsticks. If you are in someone's home, or at a restaurant, it is not polite, actually insulting(侮辱的), behavior.
Wine and alcohol are very common in a Chinese meal. Many believe thereis no hospitality if there is no liquor. Among their own business dealings, drinking is partially fun, partially battle, and partially bonding. Drinking until drunk sometimes is one of the good Chinese table manners. It shows how much you treasure your relationship with each other in certain situations. Gan-Bei is the word used often on dining table. It means"Cheers"sometimes, but literally it means"dry(the)glass". Besides beer, the official Chinese alcoholic beverage is Bai-Jiu, "white liquor"if it is translated literally. It's high-proof.
A. Dishes B. Follow the Guest C. Wine and Alcohol D. Dining Table Seating E. Chinese Table Manners F. Do and Don't in Using Chopsticks |
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