Table manners

The main difference between China and the West is that, unlike the West, everyone has his own plate of food. In China, dishes are put on the table and everyone shares them. If you are entertained by the host of China, please prepare plenty of food. China people are very proud of their food culture and will do their best to show their hospitality.

Sometimes China hosts put food in your bowl or plate with chopsticks. This is a sign of politeness. The correct way is to eat whatever it is and then say how delicious it is. If you feel uncomfortable about it, you can say thank you politely and then put the food there.

Eat taboo food

Don't stick chopsticks upright in your rice bowl. Instead, put them on your plate. The reason for this is that when someone dies, there is a bowl of sand or rice with two incense sticks in it in their shrine. So, if you put your chopsticks in your rice bowl, it looks like this shrine, which is equivalent to hoping that people at the table will die!

Make sure the teapot mouth is not pointing at anyone. It is impolite to put the teapot where the spout is facing someone. The spout should always face where no one is sitting, usually outside the table.

Don't knock your bowl with chopsticks. Beggars knock on their bowls, so it's impolite. In addition, when food is served too slowly in restaurants, people will knock on their bowls. If you are in someone else's house, it's like insulting the chef.

drink

Gambei! (cheers! "Cheers" literally means "dry glass") Besides beer, the official alcoholic beverage in China is baijiu, a kind of high-alcohol liquor made from various grains. There are different degrees of liquor. Beijing people's favorite wine is Erguotou, with an alcohol content of 56%. The more expensive are Maotai and Wuliangye.