Dining Formalities in China: 中国的用餐礼仪

There are many formalities in various countries regarding different aspects of life. In China, food is extremely important and meaningful, so it makes sense to having dining formalities there! 在中国，食物很重要，也有很大的意义，所以当然在那里会有很多的用餐礼仪！(zài zhōng guó, shí wù hěn zhòng yào, yě yǒu hěn dà de yì yì, suǒ yǐ dāng rán zài nà lǐ huì yǒu hěn duō de yòng cān lǐ yí!)

Here are some of the fundamentals of dining etiquette listed below:

1) Know where to place your chopsticks (筷子 kuài zi).

In Chinese culture, sticking chopsticks in one’s rice bowl or food is extremely disrespectful and ill-mannered. This is because when the chopsticks are positioned that way, they look like the incense sticks that are used at funerals. The safest place to place them are on the table, next to your bowl or plate, or on one of those really cute chopstick holders/stands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Elders first.

Whenever you eat, no matter how hungry you are, always wait for all the elders at the table to take the first bite before you start. Since everything will often be family style, it would be even more polite if you start off by placing some food in their plates to show respect.

3) General table manners.

Like in the US and other places around the world, it is considered impolite to shake your leg, play with food, or chew with your mouth open at the table. In Chinese culture, it is considered polite if children hold their plate/bowl with one hand while the other hand holds the utensil.

4) Always use two hands!

Well, at least while interacting with someone older or higher up than you (e.g. your boss, a teacher, the president, etc.). When an elder is pouring tea or any beverage for you, always raise your cup/glass with two hands to receive the favor. Also use two hands if you are giving something to or receiving anything from an elder. If you are the older one, then there is no need to do so. (As you can tell, there is a lot of emphasis on respect towards elders.)

5) Never leave leftovers!

Or at least try not to.

When we were younger, my sister and I were always told to finish the rice in our bowls or else our future husbands would have weird pock marks on their faces; of course, it worked, and we always tried our best to eat everything!

But, back to all seriousness, food should never be wasted, as each grain of rice has been diligently harvested by farmers on the fields. The Chinese have strongly believed in this, and a famous poem has been written about the hard-working farmers as well.

Translation:

At noon, farmers weed the ground,
Their sweat dripping down into the soil.
Who knows that every single grain of rice on his plate
came from the hard work of the farmers?

And there you have it: the five basic rules of Chinese dining etiquette. Stay tuned for more information on the different dining style in China!

Can’t get enough? Click here or here to learn more about the different snacks in Taiwan!

Still want more? Click here to learn about “Americanized” Chinese food!