The difference between Chinese and Western table manners 1: the location of the seat. China is generally after the guest Qi guide guests into the seat, to the left as the upper, as the chief, relative to the first seat for the second seat, the first seat under the three seats, two seats under the four seats. In the West, generally speaking, facing the door, the seat furthest away from the door is the hostess's, and opposite it is the host's seat. The seat to the right of the hostess is the first guest of honor, usually a gentleman, and the seat to the right of the host is the second guest of honor, usually the wife of the guest of honor. The seat to the hostess's left is the third guest of honor, and the seat to the host's left is the fourth guest of honor.
2: The order of serving. In China, the first course is soup, followed by the main course, such as dry rice, and then wine, and the last course is fruit to promote digestion; in Western countries, the order of food is generally vegetables and soup, fruit, wine, main course and finally dessert and coffee.
3: The difference in tableware. In China, tableware is simple, generally only cups, plates, bowls, plates, chopsticks, spoons and spoons and other types, while the West has a knife, fork, spoon, cups and plates and so on, the knife and fork will be subdivided into a variety of. Tea cups, coffee cups for porcelain and with a small plate, water cups, wine glasses are mostly glass products.
4: the different ways to stop eating. Temporary stop in the feast, you can put the chopsticks straight on the plate or spoon. If the chopsticks are placed horizontally on the plate, it is a sign of drunkenness and fullness and no more meals. In the West to rest a little, knife and fork of the different ways of meaning different, knife and fork in the shape of eight in the center of the plate means to rest a little; if the knife and fork protrudes into the plate outside, not safe and not good-looking, talking while waving the knife and fork is a rude move. After the meal, the knife and fork into the four o'clock direction can be.
In addition to the above four basic differences in hotel table manners, there are of course subtle differences. For example: in terms of clothing, in China, people dining in restaurants can be dressed casually, even t-shirts, jeans can be, only in the important banquet above to wear some grand. However, in the West, when going to a high-class restaurant, men should wear neat tops and leather shoes; women should wear suits and shoes with heels. Men must wear a tie if formal attire is specified. Casual clothes may not be worn to restaurants.
Western and Chinese Table Manners and Culture I. Banquet Etiquette
(1) When you are invited to a banquet, you are probably more interested in the people eating at the table and the conversation at the table than in the food. Therefore, you should eat with as little noise and movement as possible.
(2) As soon as the hostess picks up her napkin, you can pick up yours and place it in your lap. Sometimes the napkin has a small loaf of bread wrapped in it; if that is the case take it and put it on a small plate next to it.
(3) If the napkin is large, fold it in your lap; if it is small, open it all the way. Never put the napkin on the collar or undershirt, and do not rub it in your hands. You can use the corner of the napkin to wipe away grease or dirt from your mouth or fingers. Never use it to wipe knives and forks or dishes.
(4) The main meal usually begins with soup. The largest spoon in front of your seat is the soup spoon, which is next to the plate on your right. Don't make the mistake of using the spoon that sits in the middle of the table, as that's probably for picking up vegetables for jam.
(5) Guests are not allowed to eat any of the dishes until the hostess has picked up her spoon or fork. The hostess usually waits until each guest has been served a dish. She will not ask you to eat first, as is customary in China. When she picks up her spoon or fork, that means everyone can do that too.
(6) If there is a fish dish, it is most often served after the soup, and there may be a special fork for the fish on the table, which may be similar to the fork for the meat, usually smaller, but in any case, the fish fork is placed on the outside of the meat fork on the side away from the plate.
(7) Usually the fish is boned long before it is served, and if the piece of fish you are eating still has spines, you can take a bread roll, or piece of bread, in your left hand and a knife in your right, and dislodge the spines.
(8) If you get a splinter in your mouth, remove it quietly, and as unobtrusively as possible, with your fingers, and place it on the edge of your plate, not on the table, or throw it on the ground.
Second, the French table manners seven taboos
Promise each other's invitations, if something to be late or even cancel the appointment, you must notify the other party in advance. It is acceptable to be a little late for a meeting, but if it takes more than 15 minutes, it will give the other party a bad impression that they don't value the date. When ordering food, you should choose the food you want to eat, if you look at the menu and do not have a clue, you can ask the waiter to recommend the restaurant's signature dishes, but to give a clear indication, such as seafood, do not want to eat red meat, etc., and remember that everything can not be sure, only know how to say? Do not forget that you can not make up your mind about everything, and you only know how to say "yes, but (whatever)". The person will only add trouble for the guests on the same table. There are a lot of details to pay attention to, but in fact most of them are daily etiquette, as long as you stay calm, do not make a big movement, do not make noise or hinder others from eating, then it is already qualified.
1, the use of tableware is the most basic principle from the outside to the inside, after completing a dish, the waiter to collect the tableware, according to the need for another set of knives and forks or will be supplemented.
2, eat meat (such as steak) should be cut from the corner, eat a piece and then cut the next piece. When you come across a part or side dish that you don't eat, simply move it to the side of the plate.
3. If you have something in your mouth that you want to spit out, you should pass the fork to your mouth to take it out, or take it out with your fingers and then move it to the edge of the plate. Try not to draw attention to the whole process, and eat naturally afterward.
4. For side dishes such as beans and rice, hold the fork in your left hand and place it flat on the plate with the tines pointing upward, then use a knife to gently flick the beans or rice onto the fork. If you need seasoning and can't reach for it, ask for it, but don't stand up and lean forward to get it.
5, after eating wipe hands wipe mouth do not use a napkin to wipe vigorously, pay attention to etiquette with a corner of the napkin gently printed on the mouth or fingers on the oil stains can be.
6, even if the stool is more comfortable, sitting posture should be kept straight, do not lean on the back of the chair above. When you eat, you can lean forward slightly and keep your arms close to your body to avoid hitting the next door.
7, after eating each dish, such as the knife and fork on all sides of the put, or playing cross put, very ugly. The correct way is to put the knife and fork side by side on the plate, fork tines facing up.