Chinese table manners boil down to the following:
The etiquette of seating. First invite the guests to be seated on the seat, in order to invite the elders to be seated next to the guests. To enter from the left side of the chair, do not move the chopsticks after being seated, and do not make any noise, and do not get up and walk around. If there is something to greet the host.
When eating. Ask guests and elders to move their chopsticks first. When you clip the food, eat less each time, and eat less of the food that is far away from you, don't make noise when you eat, and don't make noise when you drink the soup. Drink soup with a spoon in small sips, do not bring the bowl to your mouth, and when the soup is too hot, drink it after it has cooled down, and do not blow on it while drinking it. Some people like to chew their food, especially when they chew crunchy food hard enough to make a clear sound, which is not etiquette. Especially when eating with a crowd, we should try to prevent this phenomenon.
Do not burp or make any other noises while eating. If you make any involuntary noises such as sneezing or guttural noises, apologize by saying something like "I'm so sorry," "I'm sorry," or "I beg your pardon.
If you want to give your guests or elders food, it's best to use communal chopsticks, and you can also send dishes that are far from your guests or elders to them. According to our Chinese custom, dishes are served one by one. If there are leaders, elders or guests at the same table, ask them to move their chopsticks first whenever a new dish comes up, or take turns asking them to move their chopsticks first to show that you value them.
When you eat a fish head, fishbone or bone, put it on your own plate or on a piece of paper prepared in advance.
Take time to chat with the people on your left and right to harmonize the atmosphere. Don't eat with your head down and ignore the others, and don't gobble down a big meal or drink too much.
It's best not to pick your teeth at the table. If you have to pick your teeth, block your mouth with a napkin or hand.
Be clear about the main task of the meal. Make it clear whether the main purpose is to talk business, to socialize, or to eat. If it is the former, when arranging the seating, you should pay attention to the main negotiator's seat close to each other. If it's the latter, just pay attention to common sense etiquette and focus on enjoying the food.
Finally, when you leave the table, you must thank the host, or invite the host to visit your home in return.
Western table manners originated in France during the Merovingian dynasty, when a series of elaborate rituals were developed inspired by Byzantine culture.
By the time of Charlemagne in the Roman Empire, etiquette was more complex and even authoritarian. The emperor had to sit in the highest chair, and princes and nobles had to pass dishes to the emperor whenever music was played.
Before the seventeenth century, the traditional custom was to eat with a hat on. In the imperial era, table manners seemed cumbersome and strict, and different peoples had different dining habits. The Gauls ate sitting down; the Romans ate reclining; the French learned from an early age to place their hands on the table; and the English were expected to place their hands on their thighs when not eating.
European table manners evolved from chivalry. In the twelfth century, when Italian culture flowed into France, table manners and menu language became more elegant and refined, and books were written to teach etiquette.
Today, table manners continue to be practiced in European countries. If you are visiting a friend's house, you should dress appropriately, give appropriate gifts, and behave in an elegant manner.
The tableware is placed in a way that makes it easier to eat, from the outside in. Used dishes should not be put back on the table; usually the waiter will put them away.
Red wine glass: you should hold the foot of the glass when drinking, not the body, to avoid hand warmth spoiling the flavor of the wine;
Water glass: it is best to wipe your mouth before drinking to avoid leaving grease stains on the glass;
White wine glass;
Dessert spoon;
Dessert fork;
Bread plate;
Butter knife;
Fish fork
Large fork (main dish fork);
Napkin: A large napkin can be folded into a triangle and placed on the lap; when wiping the mouth, it is preferable to use the corner of the napkin; when you leave your seat, fold the napkin and put it on the chair or table; after the meal, the napkin should be folded and placed on the right side of the plate;
Large knife (main dish knife);
Fish knife;
Spoon: Do not make noise when drinking soup. After drinking soup, the spoon should not be left in the bowl, but should be picked up and placed on the soup plate.
Seating etiquette
If you are hosting a banquet, the host and hostess should sit in the center of the long dining table, facing each other. As the host, you should invite all the guests to sit down one by one, and regarding the order of invitation, the first person to be seated should be the guest of honor's female companion, who should be seated on the right hand side of the host, while the guest of honor should be seated on the right hand side of the hostess.
If there is no special distinction between the host and the guest, unless there are elders present and must yield to them, the ladies can generously be seated first, and a polite gentleman should wait for the girls to be seated, and then enter the seat.
When you go out to eat, you will inevitably carry a bag with you, which should be placed between your back and the back of the chair, not just on the table or on the floor. You'll want to maintain a proper posture after you sit down, but you don't have to be stiff as a board, and keep a proper distance from the table.
When you need to leave a table in the middle of a meal, it's absolutely necessary to say hello to the people at the table, and men should get up to show courtesy, and even help drag the seat if the person leaving is an elder or a woman in the next seat.
After the meal is over, you must wait for the host and hostess to leave the table before the rest of the party can begin to leave.