In the United States, table manners are almost the same for both formal and informal banquets, and the only difference may be the dress requirements and the number of tableware. Here are some basic table manners in the United States: 1. Before going to dinner,

--------------. However, no matter how you are invited, whether you are invited or not, it is best to give a reply after receiving the invitation, so that the host can grasp the number of guests. Sometimes, the invitation card will be marked with R.S.V.P, which means Please Reply. At this time, whether you see it or not, you should send a reply or telephone notice. However, if the invitation card is marked Regrets Only, it means that if you don't participate, you need to reply to inform the inviter, and if you participate, you don't need to reply. (2) Clothing In general, the banquet dress is based on the principle of neatness and generosity. If it is a more formal family dinner, men should wear Suits or suits, while women should wear Dress)；. But if it is an informal dinner, it is appropriate to wear loose and comfortable clothes (Slack). Jeans and sneakers are not suitable for dinner, but if it is an outdoor barbecue or picnic, jeans and sneakers are more suitable than suits. Sometimes, for the convenience of guests, the host often indicates the clothing requirements on the invitation card. For example, if you indicate "Black Tie" or "Formal", it means that you should wear ordinary formal banquet clothes. Men only need black or dark suits or suits, while women need dinner clothes or suits. The semi-formal banquet is "No Jeans or T-shirts" or "Casual". At this time, as long as it is not sportswear or work clothes, other generous casual clothes can be used. Of course, you can also ask the host if you are not clear. (3) Whether to bring gifts Generally speaking, you don't need to bring special gifts to the banquet, but if you are invited to the host's home, you'd better bring a small gift, such as flowers and wine, to the hostess to express your gratitude. And if it is a Christmas dinner, it is necessary to prepare gifts. In America, it is a common custom to exchange gifts at Christmas. (4) When going to the banquet on time, it is not advisable to arrive too early or too late. It is best to arrive within 15 minutes before and after the banquet. If you arrive too early, it is likely that the hostess is not ready yet, which will cause inconvenience to the hostess. If you may be late because you don't know the geographical location or for other reasons, you should inform the host in advance to avoid others waiting for a long time. After arrival, clean the shoes on the doormat. After getting started, put the coat according to the owner's opinion. Never put it on the back of the chair in the living room at will. Ii. table manners

-------------------------. (1) Seating arrangement After the hostess announces that the dinner is ready, the host will lead the guests to their seats in turn, while the hostess will walk at the back. Some attentive hosts will also place name cards on the dining table to show their seating order. If there is no such arrangement, then the seating arrangement principle is generally: the seating arrangement is based on the principle that men and women sit separately, and the male host and guest are seated first, and their position is on the right of the hostess, while the female host and guest are on the right of the male host and guest, and other couples are seated diagonally. The separate sitting of men and women shows the openness and liveliness of American banquets. It is hoped that the arrangement of seats at the banquet can enhance their familiarity with each other, and at the same time, the topics of meals can be diversified, and the atmosphere and fun can be used. The principle of sitting is that guests sit first, elders sit before young people, married people sit before unmarried people, and strangers sit before familiar guests or family members. (2) Tableware arrangement Tableware access is generally from the outside to the inside. One exception is that when salad and main course are served at the same time, the knife and fork used for salad are placed closest to the plate, that is, inside the main kitchen knife, and the salad plate is on the left side of the knife and fork used for main course. The main course fork is located on the left side of the plate, while the right side of the plate is the main kitchen knife. If there is no salad plate on the table, then the knife and fork for salad will be served with the salad. Another exception is that the fork used to eat Oyster is placed on the right side of the plate, that is, the outermost side of the tableware, the position of the spoon is on the right side of all knives, and the outermost spoon is used to drink soup. The spoon between the knife and the spoon is used to eat Dessert, and the dessert fork is placed on the leftmost side of the plate. But in order to avoid confusion, the tableware needed for dessert is usually placed above the plate to show the difference. (3) Dining etiquette 1. You must pay attention to the hostess's hints after you sit down. When the hostess opens the napkin and puts it on her lap, it means to start; The hostess took off the napkin and put it on the table to indicate the end of the meal. Even if you have finished eating, you should continue to eat until the meal is over. The correct position of the napkin should be on the knee, not between the collar or the belt. After using the napkin, it should be loosely placed on the left side of the plate. If the plate has been removed, it should be placed in the center. Do not knead the napkin into a ball. The purpose of napkins is to wipe your mouth and hands, especially before drinking drinks, so as to avoid oil stains on the cups. Napkins should not be used as tablecloths to wipe stains on tablecloths. If you accidentally dirty the tablecloth, you should apologize to the host. 2, the use of tableware should be taken from the outside to the inside, you can use the French way when cutting, that is, the left hand holds the fork and the right hand holds the knife, while cutting and using; You can also use the British and American style, that is, hold the knife in your right hand and the fork in your left hand, and then use the fork in your right hand after cutting. The United States prefers the latter, but it also accepts the French way. When you talk with body language or pass food, you should put down your knife and fork, and don't wave it in the air with your hand. After using the knife and fork, put it horizontally in the center of the plate, not on the edge of the plate or on the dining table; Place the knife edge toward yourself and the fork mouth toward the left, so as to be safe when taking it away. After using the plate, you should not push it out, just leave it in its original place. When drinking soup, it should be scooped from the outer edge of the bowl to the inner side. After drinking, the spoon should not be left in the bowl, but should be placed on the plate. If the soup is served in a deep dish, the spoon should be placed in the deep dish with the handle facing right. When drinking tea or coffee, you should put it on the plate after using the spoon, and pick up the coffee cup directly, instead of spooning it. When drinking, you should take the foot of the goblet, not the body, because if you drink white wine or champagne, you can keep it cool for a long time, and if you drink red wine or something else, you can enjoy the color of the wine. 3. Delivery of dishes and seasonings Generally speaking, if there is no waiter during the meal, the dishes will be delivered in the way of delivery, and the order of delivery is given priority to the female host and guest, and the male host and guest can be delivered counterclockwise at last. According to western etiquette, a man can't help a lady with the dishes when passing them, but can only help hold the dishes from the side, and the lady can help herself with the dishes she wants. When taking food, you should take it directly close to yourself, and don't stir it in the plate. When a dish or condiment is unavailable, ask the male guest closest to the dish to pass it on to you. When condiments such as salt and pepper can't be seen on the dining table, the hostess can hand you some. 4. How to eat food Bread should be torn into small pieces by hand and put into the mouth. When there is leftover food in the plate and you want to eat it clean, you can tear the bread into small pieces and put it in the plate, then use a fork to clean the food residue in the plate with bread and fork it up and put it in your mouth. Instead of mixing all the dishes or Gravy, you should scoop some sauce and put it on your plate, then dip the food in the sauce and eat it. Generally, fruits with more juice should be taken with a fork. Those who are hard or not easy to fork up can be cut into small pieces and put into their mouths with their fingers (there are few fingers to feed them). Those with bones should be taken out and put on the edge of the plate instead of the tablecloth. 5. During other meals, you should not put your elbow on the table to prevent others from eating, and it is not beautiful, and you should not shake the chair to make strange noises. When there is food in your mouth, don't drink water, soup or talk. If you accidentally make this mistake, you should say "Excuse me" and wait until the food is swallowed before continuing the topic. When eating, you should try to participate in the topic, don't keep silent or just talk to your neighbor and ignore other guests. If you are allergic to certain foods or don't like them, you can just take some or none at all, and gently explain to the hostess. If you cough during meals, you should cover it with a napkin and apologize. However, if it is too serious, you may wish to leave your seat first and then return to your seat after easing. You can't pick your teeth with toothpicks on the dining table. It's best to wait until after the banquet and take them out in the bathroom with toothpicks. Ladies are not allowed to make up their makeup on the dining table. If you have something to do, you should leave first and pay tribute to the people present. Iii.

-----------after the dinner. When you say goodbye, you should thank the host for his invitation and tell him that they gave you a very happy time. If you are more cautious, you can call or thank you again.