Basic etiquette of Chinese food
Ordering etiquette
1, China specialty. Pay more attention to this rule when entertaining foreign guests. Such as fried spring rolls, dumplings, steamed dumplings, lion's head, kung pao chicken and so on. It is not delicious, but it is highly praised by many foreigners because of its distinctive China characteristics.
2. Dishes with local characteristics. For example, soup mutton in Xi 'an, braised pork in Maojia, Hunan, stewed lion's head in Shanghai, and instant-boiled mutton in Beijing, I'm afraid these specialties will be more praised than the same raw seafood when entertaining foreign guests there.
The specialty of this restaurant. Many restaurants have their own specialties. The last special dish of this restaurant can best reflect the host's care and respect for the invited guests.
At the same time, when arranging the menu, we should also consider the dietary taboos of the guests, especially the dietary taboos of the guests.
Tableware etiquette
There are six kinds of tableware for Chinese food: cups, plates, bowls, plates, chopsticks and spoons. At a formal banquet, the water glass is placed at the top left of the dish and the wine glass is placed at the top right. Chopsticks and spoons can be placed on special seats or in paper sleeves. Public chopsticks and spoons are best placed in special seats.
Chinese food is usually served in the following order: cold dishes first, then hot dishes, and finally sweets and fruits.
Before eating, the first wet towel given by the waiter is for wiping hands, so it's better not to use it to wipe your face. Before serving shrimp, crab, chicken and other dishes, the waiter will send a small water tank with lemon slices or rose petals floating in it. This is not a drink, but for washing hands. When washing hands, you can dip your fingers in water in turn, rinse them gently, and then dry them with a small towel.
Seating etiquette
This "seating arrangement" is the most important part of China's food etiquette.
Since ancient times, because of the evolution of table furniture, the arrangement of seats has also changed. Generally speaking, the seating order is "Zuo Zun Dong" and "Zun Men". The person in charge of the family banquet is the elder with the highest seniority, and the last seat is the lowest.
During the wine tour, I respect the first order. If it is a round table, the guests facing the gate are 2, 4 and 6 on the left. On the right is 3, 5, 7? Until we met.
If it is a square table, if there is a seat facing the gate, the seat on the right side of the gate is the host and guest. If it is not facing the gate, the right seat on the east side is the chief. Then the Sheikh sat on his left, 2, 4, 6 and 8, and on his right, 3, 5 and 7.
If it is a big banquet, the arrangement between tables should pay attention to the chief, with 2, 4 and 6 seats on the left and 3, 5 and 7 seats on the right. According to the identity and status of the host and guests, relatives and friends should sit separately.
Chopsticks etiquette
Don't knock on chopsticks: that is, when waiting for a meal, you can't sit at the table and knock with chopsticks in one hand, nor can you knock on the bowl lamp or teacup with chopsticks.
Second, avoid throwing chopsticks: when handing out chopsticks before meals, put them in pairs first, and then gently put them in front of everyone's table. You can ask someone to pass it when you are far away, and you can't throw it on the table.
Don't fork chopsticks: chopsticks can't be placed horizontally and vertically, with a big head and a small head. Chopsticks should be placed next to the bowl, not on it.
Avoid inserting chopsticks: when you need to leave temporarily during the meal, put chopsticks gently on the table or beside the plate, and don't insert them in the rice bowl.
Fifth, don't wave chopsticks: when cutting vegetables, don't wave chopsticks as props on the dining table at will; Don't poke chopsticks in front of others when you invite them to dinner. It is impolite to do so.
Etiquette of business Chinese food
We may have learned a lot about Chinese food etiquette, but Chinese food etiquette is different from usual in business activities:
Put the napkin on your knee. Don't wipe your face or mouth with a napkin. Fold the napkins after eating, and don't knead them into a ball.
Use chopsticks and spoons when taking care of others.
Infected virus carriers should consciously refuse to attend the dinner.
Drink soup with a spoon and don't make any noise.
Don't talk to people with food in their mouths. Don't leave food residue on your mouth and face.
Cover your mouth with your hand when you shave your teeth. When coughing, sneezing or yawning, turn your head and cover it with a handkerchief or napkin, and say "I'm sorry" when you turn around.
Don't spit when you speak, and don't leave foam on your mouth. Don't talk loudly and influence others.
Don't beat the table or tableware with chopsticks.
Don't throw chopsticks or other tableware at the guests across the table.
Don't put chopsticks on cups or cups, or on rice bowls or plates.
Don't cross chopsticks, put them upside down, one end is big and the other is small.
Don't wave chopsticks when you speak, and don't use chopsticks as toothpicks.
Don't put chopsticks in front of others, and don't stick them deep into the dish.
I don't pick and choose, and I don't swim chopsticks around in the dish. I don't know what to clip.
Don't drip soup all the way when cutting vegetables, don't stick food all over chopsticks, and don't suck chopsticks with your mouth.
Raise your glasses with both hands, make eye contact, and then raise your glasses after drinking to express your gratitude.
When touching cups, don't let them be higher than each other's cups.
Respect each other's drinking habits and wishes and don't force each other to drink for various reasons.
Don't smoke, don't throw things on the floor and under the table. If you accidentally break the tableware, you should apologize and compensate.
When you leave your seat after dinner, press your chair inward to the edge.
In principle, take lettuce, salad, staple food, dessert and fruit in sequence, and take two or three samples at a time. If the plates are piled too full, it will be unsightly and confuse the original taste. When choosing steak, pork chops, fish chops and other foods, we must follow the etiquette of western food.
Don't mix special dishes. Used plates can't be reused.
We should neither waste money and eat for nothing, nor overeat.
The most complete table manners in China.
I. Seats
Generally speaking, the seating order is "Zuo Zun Dong" and "Zun Men". If it is a round table, the host and guests face the gate. In terms of the distance from the host and guest, the closer the host and guest are, the more respected they are. At the same distance, the left side is more respected than the right side. If it is a square table, if there is a seat facing the gate, the seat on the right side of the gate is the host and guest. If it is not facing the gate, the right seat on the east side is the chief.
If it is a big banquet, the arrangement between tables should pay attention to the chief, with 2, 4 and 6 seats on the left and 3, 5 and 7 seats on the right. According to the identity and status of the host and guests, relatives and friends should sit separately.
If you are the host, you should arrive early, then wait at the door and show the seats to the guests. If you are invited, you should be seated according to the host's arrangement.
Generally speaking, if your boss is present, you should lead him to the main seat and ask the customer to sit on the left side of the main seat, which is the highest level. Unless the host's leadership level is very high.
Second, order.
If time permits, you should wait for most of the guests to arrive, distribute the menu to the guests and invite them to order. Of course, as a business banquet, you will worry about the budget. Therefore, it is most important to control the budget and do more homework before you cook. More importantly, choose a suitable place for your guests, so that they can have a great understanding of your budget. In addition, generally speaking, you pay the bill, the guests are not too embarrassed, and you are the host. If your boss is at the party, don't let him/her order because he/she respects him/her or thinks he/she has rich social experience and eats too much unless he/she asks for it. Otherwise he will feel that he is not decent enough.
If you are a frequent party guest, you should know that you should not take the initiative to order food, but let the host order food. If the other party asks in good faith, you can order a dish that is not too expensive or taboo. Remember to ask the people at the same table, especially "Is there anything not to eat?" Or "What do you prefer to eat?" Let everyone feel taken care of. After ordering, you can ask "I ordered, I don't know if it suits several people's tastes", "Would you like something else" and so on.
When ordering, be sure to know what you want. When ordering food, you can follow the following three rules:
Look at the composition of personnel. Generally speaking, one dish per capita is a general rule. If it is a dinner with more men, the amount can be increased appropriately.
Second, look at the combination of dishes. Generally speaking, it is best to prepare a table of dishes well, mix hot and cold, and try to be comprehensive. If there are many men on the table, you can order more meat, and if there are many women, you can order more light vegetables.
Third, look at the importance of banquet. If it is an ordinary business banquet, ordinary dishes from 50 yuan to 80 yuan are acceptable. If the object of this banquet is a key person, order a few dishes with enough weight, such as lobster, swordfish and shad, and then serve abalone, wing powder and so on.
Another thing to note is that when ordering, don't ask the waiter about the price of the food or bargain. This will make your company look a little petty in front of customers and customers will feel uncomfortable.
Attachment: Chinese meal guidance? Three good and four taboos
A standard Chinese meal usually starts with cold dishes, then stir-fry, then main course, then snacks and soup. If you feel a little tired, you can order some dessert and finally serve a plate of fruit. When ordering food, we should take into account the dishes of each program.
Preferred dishes
1, China specialty. Pay more attention to this rule when entertaining foreign guests. Such as fried spring rolls, dumplings, steamed dumplings, lion's head, kung pao chicken and so on. It is not delicious, but it is highly praised by many foreigners because of its distinctive China characteristics.
2. Dishes with local characteristics. For example, soup mutton in Xi 'an, braised pork in Maojia, Hunan, stewed lion's head in Shanghai, and instant-boiled mutton in Beijing, I'm afraid these specialties will be more praised than the same raw seafood when entertaining foreign guests there.
The specialty of this restaurant. Many restaurants have their own specialties. The last special dish of this restaurant can best reflect the host's care and respect for the invited guests.
When arranging the menu, we should also consider the dietary taboos of the guests, especially the dietary taboos of the guests. There are four main dietary taboos.
1, religious dietary taboos, can't be ignored at all. For example, Muslims usually don't eat pork or drink alcohol. Buddhists in China eat less meat, not only meat, but also irritating foods such as onions, garlic, leeks and mustard greens. Some Buddhists who believe in Guanyin are forbidden to eat beef in their diet, so they should pay special attention when entertaining Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese compatriots.
For health reasons, some foods are also taboo. For example, people with heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure and sequelae of stroke are not suitable for eating dog meat. Patients with hepatitis should avoid eating mutton and soft-shelled turtle. People with digestive diseases such as gastroenteritis and gastric ulcer soup are also not suitable for eating soft-shelled turtle. Patients with hypertension and high cholesterol should drink less chicken soup.
3. People's dietary preferences are often different in different regions. For this reason, we should take this into account when arranging the menu. For example, people in Hunan generally like to eat spicy food and eat less sweets. British and American people usually don't eat pets, rare animals, animal viscera, animal heads and claws. In addition, when entertaining foreign guests, try to eat as little hard food as possible, and foreigners are unlikely to spit out the food they have bitten into their mouths when eating, which also needs to be considered.
4. Some occupations, for some reasons, often have different special taboos in catering. For example, national civil servants are not allowed to eat, please, eat and drink at official banquets, eat beyond the standards set by the state, and drink alcoholic beverages. For another example, drivers are not allowed to drink alcohol during work. If you ignore this point, you may make the other party make mistakes.
Third, eat vegetables.
People in China are generally very particular about eating, and they are also very particular about eating. With more and more attention paid to workplace etiquette, eating at the business table is also more particular. Take Chinese food as an example to teach you how to be polite and elegant at the dinner table.
At the beginning of the Chinese banquet, the first wet towel sent by the waiter is to wipe your hands. Don't use it to wipe your face. When lobster, chicken and fruit are served, a small lemon with lemon slices or rose petals floating is not a drink, but is used to wash hands. When washing your hands, you can wet your fingers in turn, rinse them gently, and then dry them with a small towel.
Pay attention to manners when eating. Don't persuade foreign guests repeatedly, but introduce the characteristics of Chinese food to each other. It's up to him to decide whether to eat or not. Some people like to persuade others and even help others. Foreign guests do not have this habit. If you are polite again and again, people may resent it: "I said I won't eat." What do you have to make me do? " By analogy, when attending a banquet hosted by foreign guests, don't expect the host to give you food repeatedly. If you wait for someone to serve you food, you have to be hungry.
Don't start eating immediately after the guests are seated. Instead, guests should wait for the host to say hello, and then raise their glasses to signal the start. Guests can't walk in front of their hosts. To be civilized, don't move chopsticks until it's your turn. Don't grab it in front of your neighbors. It's not advisable to take too many dishes at once. Chewing slowly is not only conducive to digestion, but also a etiquette requirement at the table. Never put a big piece in your mouth and wolf it down, it will give people the impression of greed. Don't be picky about food, don't just stare at your favorite food, or pile your favorite dishes on the plate in a hurry. The action of eating should be elegant. Don't touch your neighbor while eating. Don't put the plate on the table. Don't spill the soup Don't make unnecessary sounds, such as "purring" when eating soup and "banging" when eating vegetables, which are all vulgar expressions. Don't talk to people while eating. Don't spit bones and fishbones in your mouth on the table. Cover your mouth with a napkin, take it out with chopsticks and put it on a plate. Don't eat the food on the table. Don't play with bowls and chopsticks when eating, and don't take others directly with chopsticks. Don't pick your mouth with your hands. When picking teeth with a toothpick, cover your mouth with your hand or napkin. Don't let the tableware make any noise.
After eating, you can wipe your mouth with napkins, napkins or small towels sent by the waiter, but it is not advisable to wipe your head, neck or chest; Don't burp or burp uncontrollably after meals. The guests can't leave the table until the host signals the end.
Fourth, drink.
As the saying goes, the more you drink, the stronger you get, but there is also a lot of knowledge on the wine table. The following summarizes some small details that have to be paid attention to on the wine table.
Details 1: Before it was their turn to propose a toast, the leaders drank with each other. When toasting, you must stand up and raise your glass with both hands.
Detail 2: You can be respected by many people. Never be respected by many people unless you are a leader.
Detail 3: Respect others. If you don't clink glasses, how much you drink depends on the situation. For example, the drinking capacity and attitude of the other party must not be less than that of the other party. You should know that you respect others.
Detail 4: Respect others by yourself. If you clink a glass, by the way, I'll finish it, so be generous.
Detail 5: Remember to add more wine to the leaders or customers. Don't blindly drink for the leader, that is, if the leader or customer really wants to find someone to replace him, pretend that he wants to drink instead of drinking for the leader. For example, leader A can't drink enough. Beating around the bush can stop people who want to worship leader A.
Detail 6: Pick up the glass (beer glass), grab the glass with your right hand and put it on the bottom with your left hand. Remember that your cup is always lower than others'. If you are a leader, you should be sensible and don't put it too low, otherwise how can you be a person below.
Detail 7: If there is no special person present, it is best to touch the wine in chronological order, and don't favor one over the other.
Detail 8: clink glasses, make a toast and make a statement. Otherwise, why the fuck should I drink your wine?
Detail 9: Don't talk business at the dinner table. After drinking, the business will be almost the same. Everyone knows that, otherwise people will not be free to drink with you.
Details 10: If there is not enough wine, put the wine bottle in the middle of the table and let others add it themselves. Don't be silly to pour wine one by one, or what should the people behind you do if they don't have wine?
About toasting
1, the host respects the guest.
2. Accompany guests and respect them.
3. Host and guest thank each other.
4. Accompany guests and respect each other.
Remember: guests must not make a noisy toast, which is very impolite and disrespectful to the host.
Five, pour tea
The knowledge of tea pouring mentioned here is applicable to both visiting the company's customers and business dining tables.
First of all, the tea set should be clean. After the guest enters the room, sit down first and order tea. Before making tea, you must clean the tea set, especially the tea set that has not been used for a long time. It is inevitable that there will be dust and dirt, so it should be carefully cleaned with clear water. It is best to iron the teapot and teacup with boiling water before making and pouring tea. In this way, it is both hygienic and polite. Whether the tea set is clean or not, it is impolite to pour tea for the guests. People get sick at the sight of stains on teapots and teacups. How can they drink your tea? Now the average company is disposable cups. Pay attention to put a cup holder on the disposable cups before pouring tea, so as not to burn the hot water and make the guests unable to drink tea for a while.
Secondly, tea should be moderate. Let's talk about tea first. Generally speaking, it should be appropriate. There should be neither too much nor too little tea. There are many Chata, and the tea taste is too strong; There are too few tea leaves, and the brewed tea has no taste. If the guest introduces his habit of drinking strong tea or weak tea, make tea according to the guest's mouth and stomach. Besides, pouring tea, whether it's a large cup or a small cup, can't be too full. If it is too full, it is easy to overflow and wet the table, stool and floor. If you are not careful, you will burn yourself or your guests' hands and feet, which will make the host and guests very embarrassed. Of course, it is not advisable to pour too little. If you only serve tea to the guests over the bottom of the cup, it will make people feel that you are pretending, not sincere.
Third, the tea should be served just right. According to the traditional habits of our people, as long as there is no disability in both hands, tea is served to guests with both hands. But now some young people don't understand this rule, so they hand the tea to the guests with one hand. Pay attention to serving tea with both hands. For a teacup with a cup ear, it is generally to hold the cup ear with one hand and the bottom of the cup with the other hand to pour tea for the guests. After a teacup without a cup ear is filled with tea, it is hot all over and it is difficult to get close to your hands. Some comrades, regardless of the willy-nilly, hold the edge of the cup with five fingers and give it to the guests. Although this method of serving tea can prevent scalding accidents, it is not beautiful and sanitary enough. Please imagine, let the guest's mouth lick the owner's fingerprint, does it feel good?
Add tea. If the boss and customers need to add tea to the cup, you are duty-bound. You can signal the waiter to add tea, or ask the waiter to leave the teapot on the dining table and add it yourself. This is the best way to hide when you don't know what to say. Of course, when you add tea, you should add tea to your boss and customers first, and then add tea to yourself.
Step 6 leave your seat
Generally, cocktail parties and tea parties take a long time, about two hours or more. Maybe after walking around and meeting some people, you will want to leave soon. At this time, you can't help but understand some skills of giving up halfway.
It is common that when the banquet is in full swing, because someone wants to leave, everyone breaks up in a hubbub, which makes the organizers really anxious. In order to avoid this disappointing result, when you leave halfway, don't say goodbye to everyone in the conversation circle, just quietly say hello to two or three people around you.
If you leave the reception halfway, you must explain and apologize to the host who invited you. You can't disappear in an instant.
Say hello to your host, and then you should leave at once. Don't drag your master on in Daimon Masaru. Because the other party has a lot of things to do that day, there are still many guests waiting for him (her) to meet him (her). You take up too much of the host's time, which will cause him or her to be rude in front of other guests.
Some people attend cocktail parties and tea parties, and when they are ready to leave halfway, they will ask people they know if they want to go with them. As a result, the lively scene was so encouraged by her that it broke up early. This noisy thing is the most difficult thing to get the forgiveness of the host of the banquet. An elegant person should never make such a mistake.
Basic table manners
(1) Seating and leaving 1. You should wait for the old man to sit down before you sit down. If there is a lady at the table, you should wait until the lady is seated. If the lady's seat is next door, someone should page her. After dinner, other guests can leave only after the hostess and the host leave. 4. Sit up straight and keep a proper distance from the dining table. When eating in a restaurant, the waiter should take you to the table. 6. When leaving the seat, help the old man or woman in the next seat to drag the seat.
(2) Use of scented towels 1, napkins are mainly used to prevent clothes from getting dirty, and also used to wipe oil stains on the mouth and hands. You must wait until everyone is seated before you can use the napkin. 3. After the napkin is spread out, put it on the thigh at the top of the knee. Don't wear a belt or hang it on the collar of a suit. Never wipe the tableware with napkin.