China Gujin Dining Table Etiquette

The problem of catering etiquette has a long history. According to the literature, at least in the Zhou Dynasty, the catering etiquette had formed a fairly perfect system, especially praised by Confucius in the ceremony of offering wine to Lu, which became an important aspect of showing the face of a big country, a state of etiquette and a place of civilization in successive dynasties.

As a tradition of Han nationality, ancient banquet etiquette has its own set of procedures: the host is invited to meet the guests temporarily outside the door. When the guests arrive, they greet each other, introduce them to the living room and provide refreshments. After the guests are seated, guide them to their seats, with the left side facing up, which is regarded as the chief. There are two seats relative to the first seat, three seats under the first seat and four seats under the second seat. When the guests are seated, the host toasts and dishes, and the guests thank each other with gifts. There is also a certain emphasis on serving wine at the dinner: respect the elders and guests first, and then the host. After the banquet, guide the guests to sit in the living room and serve tea until they say goodbye. This traditional banquet etiquette is still intact in most parts of China, such as Shandong, Hongkong and Taiwan Province Province, and it is reflected in many film and television works.

Influenced by the introduction of western food in Qing dynasty, some western etiquette was also introduced. Such as serving food, serving soup and serving wine, Chinese etiquette is also introduced because of reasonable and hygienic eating methods. The exchange of Chinese and western food culture makes the catering etiquette more scientific and reasonable.

Modern Chinese banquet etiquette is developed on the basis of continuing the tradition and drawing lessons from foreign etiquette. Its seating is based on the principle of the highest right in western banquets. The first guest sits on the host's right, and the second guest sits on the host's left or the first guest's right. The wine is served on the guest's right, first the guest of honor, then the host, first the female guest, then the male guest. Pour eight cents of wine, not too full. The order of serving is still traditional, cold first and then hot. Hot dishes should be placed on the left side of the seat opposite the guest of honor; Serve single dishes or side dishes, pre-dinner snacks, whole chicken, whole duck and whole fish and other plastic dishes, without head and tail facing the theme. These procedures can not only make the whole banquet process harmonious and orderly, but also reflect and communicate the identity and feelings of the host and guests. Therefore, the etiquette above the table can make the banquet activities complete and comprehensive, and make the cultivation of both the host and the guest fully displayed.

Introduction to China's Table Etiquette

Table manners play a very important role in the complete life order of China people. They believe that dining is not only a way to meet basic physiological needs-it is also a first-class social experience. Therefore, it is particularly important to master some Chinese catering rules. Whether you are the host or just a guest, you should master some rules.

● The round dining table is very popular. Because there are many people who can sit, and everyone can sit face to face, the identity of the head of the family is not clearly determined by his seat on the western-style long table. Guests should wait for the host's invitation before taking their seats. The host must be careful not to let the guests sit near the serving table. This is a big no-no.

You must wait until everyone arrives before you can start any kind of dining activities-even if someone is late. Once everyone is in place, the host family can make the opening remarks. In the process of eating, the host must play an active role-it is completely reasonable to urge the guests to eat and drink to their fullest.

The typical dining table in China looks quite empty, especially in the eyes of westerners. You can see a bowl on the plate in front of each seat; On the right is a set of chopsticks and spoons, which are placed in their respective seats. On formal occasions, napkins will appear, mainly on the knees.

At a formal banquet, dishes are eaten like slides, one dish at a time. Surprisingly, rice and vegetables are different, but you can choose to eat them together. Because the dishes have their own characteristics, you should taste them separately, and you can only eat one from the bowl at a time, and you can't mix them. Don't eat with plates, just use bowls. Bones and crustaceans are placed in different plates. Dirty dishes must be replaced with clean ones.

● Chopsticks are used for all food on the table except soup. Knives may be provided, but as a person from China, it is best to use chopsticks. Chopsticks are tools for eating, so don't play-it's very impolite to use chopsticks as chicken legs, and you can't point or gesture with chopsticks. Of course, you must never suck chopsticks or stick them in rice. This is a big taboo-like a candle at a funeral, it is considered unlucky. Besides, you shouldn't keep turning around in a plate with chopsticks. You should look at the food you want to take with your eyes first. When you hold food with chopsticks, try to avoid touching other foods. If possible, use chopsticks and spoons around you. After eating or taking food, put the chopsticks back in the chopsticks holder.

● Chinese restaurants are informal without tea. Therefore, it is wise to store different kinds of tea as much as possible to ensure that the most acute taste is taken care of. There are several points to pay attention to about tea. The person sitting next to the teapot is responsible for pouring tea for others and for himself-the order of pouring tea is according to age, from the oldest to the youngest, and finally for himself. When someone pours tea for you, it is polite to tap on the table with your fingers, which is to show your gratitude and respect to the tea pourer.

Catering is the top priority of home life, reflecting personal quality and taste.

Keep your eyes on the food before moving chopsticks.

The order of pouring tea is very particular, first long and then young, first female and then male.

The reasons for the banquet are complicated.

People in China always put food first. In addition to meeting people's basic needs, diet also inherits the traditional custom of feasting on the table. The reason for holding a banquet can be celebration or sadness. Every Chinese New Year, wedding, Mid-Autumn Festival and other China festivals. In China, people gather at the dinner table to celebrate this festival. On the other hand, if someone dies, the family of the deceased will hold a "comfort wine" after the funeral to entertain the relatives and friends who attended the funeral and express their gratitude. It can be seen that China people attach great importance to sharing joys and sorrows before gathering at the dinner table.

Kitchen God

China people not only respect the art and etiquette of eating very much, but even worship the "Kitchen God" who originated from Vulcan. They think that the "kitchen king" can protect the kitchen from fires and all kinds of unfortunate events. Every year on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, every household should prepare a delicious meal to worship the Kitchen God, including a complete chicken, roast pig, various vegetables and rice, in order to thank the Kitchen God. They usually put the table in front of the "kitchen", put delicious food on the left side of the table, offer sacrifices for a few hours, and then take away the food.

What is the relationship between eating etiquette and superstition?

Guests who eat at the same table with traditional China families must respect their culture, etiquette and customs, and be careful not to violate all kinds of taboos when eating, because China people think that diet is almost closely related to their personal fate, and if they violate taboos when eating, it will lead to bad luck. For example, when eating fish, don't use chopsticks to turn the whole fish upside down and clip it to the other side. They think that if the fish breaks when turning over, it means that the fishing boat will sink. This is because Hong Kong was a fishing port in the early days, and fishermen were very concerned about the navigation safety of ships. In addition, China people never eat seven dishes, because the "condolence wine" after the funeral must serve seven dishes; Chopsticks should not be inserted vertically in the center of that bowl of rice, because it is a bit like ancestor worship; Don't say "I'm finished" after eating, which means I'm dead and won't have another chance to eat, but should say "I'm full"; Avoid making noise when chopsticks touch the rice bowl when eating, which is not only impolite, but also means "no food to eat"; To get into the habit of eating all the rice in the bowl, there should not be a grain of rice left in the rice bowl, otherwise the future wife or husband will be "scarred" and disrespect the hard-working farmers. These superstitious dietary customs have been passed down to this day, and they are still more or less the dietary etiquette of China people.

Dining custom

As far as diet is concerned, China people are a little different from westerners. Westerners like to taste the food in front of them, while China people have certain dining rules. They like to order several dishes of delicacies and put them in the middle of the table, and each person has a bowl of rice. These dishes can be added after meals; Picked dishes are usually put in your own rice bowl first, and it is impolite to put them directly in your mouth. According to the usual practice, guests will not eat all the dishes on the table when attending formal or traditional dinner parties, so as not to make the host family mistakenly think that the dishes are not ready and feel embarrassed.

Worktable fastening

The arrangement of daily meal is to put a rice bowl, a pair of chopsticks, a spoon and a plate of sauce on each seat. After a meal, guests are usually given a hot towel instead of a paper towel to wipe their hands and mouth. All dishes are served in the center of the table at the same time, and everyone uses their own chopsticks to pick up food directly from the dishes enjoyed by each dish; A big pot of soup is served, and everyone drinks a pot of soup. Guests can definitely do a trick of "flying elephants across the river" when eating, and pick up the dishes placed in the distance. Because China people like to enjoy all the dishes, their dining tables are mostly round or square, rather than the long dining tables used by westerners.

How to order a Chinese meal?

First order a cold dish to stimulate appetite, and then a pot of clear soup. Hot soup helps to raise the body temperature. After drinking the overheated soup, you can begin to taste the main course. Usually you can order the main course according to your own taste, but a plate full of spicy food is considered a serious Chinese food, with spicy food? Light white rice makes dishes spicy and mild, and white rice is light and fragrant; The last food of a meal is dessert, usually sweet soup, such as bean paste, sesame sauce, and other kinds, such as pudding, banji and ice cream, which are equally sweet and delicious.

The way to eat

Wait until the hot soup is a little cooler and tastes good at the entrance, just sip the soup with a spoon. As for eating, you should raise your rice bowl to your mouth and push the rice into your mouth with chopsticks. This is the easiest way to eat, which also shows that you like this meal. Not mentioning your rice bowl when eating shows that you are not satisfied with the food on the table.

banquet

China people seldom drink alcohol in their daily diet, but alcohol plays an important role in their banquets. At the beginning of the banquet, the host family must first propose a toast to the guests, and then the guests' interest in drinking arises spontaneously. Beer or soda can be used for toasting. It is polite to add wine or soda to others before adding it to yourself, and it must be added to almost full to show respect and friendliness to each other. It is polite for the host family to get drunk as much as possible. If you don't want to drink, you should make it clear at the beginning of the party to avoid embarrassing scenes.

The Party Is Over

When the guests finish the last course, the banquet is officially over, so the protagonist of the host's family will stand up and say "good night" to each guest at the door, and then settle the bill with the restaurant manager. Other members of the host family will drive the guests, wave goodbye and watch the car drive away.

prepared food

Most Chinese dishes have more than one ingredient. There are usually other side dishes or ingredients to set off the main course, so as to make dishes with all colors and flavors, such as boiled shredded pork. Crispy green vegetables, such as celery or green peppers, are used as side dishes to set off pink and softness. Pork. A meal is not just one dish, usually two or even four dishes are served at the same time, and each dish should be delicious. The order of serving is subject to the collocation of dishes. Usually, similar dishes are served at the same time, and they are not served separately. In short, the whole meal should emphasize coordination.

Drinks

Tea is the daily drink of China people, and soup is the best drink for their meals. On special days or occasions, people in China will drink wine or strong liquor, but they will not drink water, which is different from westerners. China tea is the main drink in the teahouse. Although there are other drinks, they think tea is the most refreshing drink, especially after eating greasy snacks. Tea helps to wash away greasy food. Each table is equipped with one or two teapots, which can be refilled constantly. Guests only need to open the lid of the teapot and put it on it, and a waiter will come and add boiling water. No matter how much tea there is in the teacup at the same table, one of them can pour tea for others, but remember to pour it for others first, and then for yourself. This is in line with etiquette. There are different kinds of tea in the teahouse, and guests can choose according to their personal preferences.

Differences between Chinese and western diet culture

There are differences in food culture between China and the West. People in China prefer people to go to teahouses because they can taste more snacks and dishes. Although teahouses have tables for two, most of them are tables for four or more people. Teahouses are generally noisy, and the atmosphere is not as romantic as western restaurants. If two people eat, consider not going to the teahouse.

China's table manners can be summed up as follows:

1. Seating mode. Please bring the guests to the table first. Please sit down next to the elderly guests in turn and enter from the left side of the chair when you sit down. Don't move chopsticks after you sit down. Don't make any noise. Don't get up and walk around. If you have anything to say hello to your host.

Second, when eating, invite guests first. Keep moving chopsticks. Eat less food every time. Eat less food far away from you. Don't make any noise when eating. Don't make any noise when you drink soup. Take a sip with a spoon. It is not advisable to drink a bowl to your mouth. Drink the soup when it is too hot or too cold. Don't drink while blowing. Some people like to chew food when eating, especially crunchy food.

Third: Don't burp and make other noises when eating. If there are involuntary noises such as sneezing and bowel sounds, say "I'm sorry". Sorry; Please let the original cool. To apologize.

Fourth; If you want to help guests or elders, you'd better use public chopsticks. You can also give them dishes that are far away from your guests or elders. According to our Chinese custom, dishes are served one by one. If there are leaders, old people and guests at the same table, whenever a new dish is served, please ask them to move chopsticks first, or take turns asking them to move chopsticks first to show their attention.

Fifth: when eating fish heads, fishbones, bones, etc. Don't spit it out or throw it on the ground. Slowly take it to your plate by hand, or put it next to your dining table, or put it on the paper prepared in advance.

Sixth, we should take time out to talk with people around us in time to reconcile the atmosphere. Don't eat naked, ignore others, don't wolf down a big meal, and don't drink too much.

Seventh: You'd better not pick your teeth at the dinner table. If you want to pick your teeth, cover your mouth with a napkin or hand.

Eighth: Make clear the main task of this meal. We should be clear about whether to focus on business, contact feelings or eat. If we are in the front, we should pay attention when arranging seats. We should put the main negotiators' seats close to each other, so as to facilitate conversation or channel emotions. If we fall behind, we just need to pay attention to common sense and etiquette and concentrate on appreciating dishes.

Ninth: When you finally leave the table, you must thank the host or invite him to your home in return.

China people are helped by etiquette, and food is the most important thing for the people. How can there be no rules for eating? Although it is three meals a day, it is better to know than not to know!

1。 Guests should be informed in advance and seated at 6: 00. You didn't call the guests until 5: 50, old man, right?

2。 The host family can't be late; Guests should be 5- 10 minutes late. This is a very considerate guest. Attach importance to it, and the natural host and guests are very happy.

3。 If you sit on the round table, it is the main seat facing the door, or the back wall and counter; More elegant restaurants will be distinguished by napkins. You can't just sit at the top of your napkin unless you plan to treat: D

4。 The host's right hand side is the host and guest, and the left hand side is the second most important guest; * The door is facing the host. Naturally, it is the guest who runs errands to say hello.

5。 A guest can't directly give directions to the ordering staff, but wait for the host's family to order; If the guest does have serious taboos or hobbies, tell the host gently, and the host will naturally make a decision for him to meet the requirements of the guest.

6。 The host family does not order or order dishes that need to be grasped or taken by hand, such as crabs, lobster legs, ribs and so on. There is no way to serve three such dishes at a meal. What manners can be said!

7。 Don't force or oppose others to drink a little, no table can be served without wine!

8。 Serve drinks! Foreigners like to brag about their cooking, while China people don't like to brag about their food. The host carefully observed the cold dishes served, and immediately raised his glass after there was a drink in each cup. Welcome to start. . . For example, turn the plate or signal the host and guests on the right to move the first chopsticks. Don't delay the host and guest for too long, everyone is hungry, just waiting for you to eat! Don't forget to praise the food you eat.

9。 After each dish is served, although the waiter and host will still turn to the host and guest, it is not necessary to be too formal. If no one turns the disc in front of me, I'll try it with small chopsticks first!

10。 The host family should always turn discs to take care of most of the guests; Accompanying guests is a supplementary greeting service; If the guests can have a complete meal without touching the dishes, then both the host and the guests will be happy again.

1 1。 If there is no waiter to divide the dishes or chopsticks spoons, look at them first. Don't pick and choose with chopsticks or even stir them on the plate! Not everyone doesn't mind the saliva on your chopsticks like lovers! I usually watch the part closest to me.

12。 It's best to let the food on chopsticks transition in your own dish and then send it to your mouth. It can make eating seem less urgent.

13。 When chewing food in your mouth, it is important to remember that your lips should be tightly closed to avoid talking, falling objects, overflowing juice and making unpleasant sounds.

14。 You should keep your back straight and try to sit in a chair instead of * when eating or before eating. When eating, hands are basically above the table.

15。 A host with a good appetite and a guest who is losing weight are not suitable for such a dinner party.

There are many manners that should be paid attention to at the dinner table, which are often ignored.

(1) Sit and leave.

1. Wait for the old man to 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.

(B) the use of incense towels

1, napkins are mainly used to prevent clothes from getting dirty, and also to wipe oil stains on your 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.

(3) the general etiquette at the table

1. Sit up straight, put your feet under the seat, and don't straighten up at will. Don't lean your elbow on the edge of the table, and don't put your hand on the back of the seat next to you.

2. When eating, be gentle, calm and not impatient.

3. At the dinner table, you should not only care about yourself, but also care about others, especially the female guests on both sides.

If there is food in your mouth, you should avoid talking.

5. Don't put your own tableware in the public plate to get food.

6, be sure to stutter, don't big mouth, food is the last to swallow, can't plug the entrance.

7. When picking vegetables and scooping soup, use public chopsticks and spoons.

8, eat imported things, can not spit it out, such as hot food, you can drink water or juice to shower.

9. When the food is delivered to the entrance, the elbows should be tilted inward, instead of being placed straight at the sides to touch the neighbors.

10. When you hold a knife and fork or others chew food, you should avoid talking or toasting.

1 1, delicious is a dish, not a dish. Take rice with you, and don't send it to your mouth in a hurry, otherwise the soup will drip on the tablecloth, which is extremely indecent.

12, never pull out your teeth with your fingers, use a toothpick and cover it with your hand or handkerchief.

13. Avoid coughing, sneezing and sulking at the dinner table. If you can't help it, you should say "I'm sorry"

14, drink casually, toast politely, and don't persuade, guess or shout.

15. If the tableware falls, please ask the waiter to pick it up.

16. In case of an accident, you accidentally spill wine, water and soup on someone else's clothes, just apologize, and you don't have to make amends in a hurry, but make the other person embarrassed.

17. If you want to take the condiments placed in front of other guests at the same table, ask the guests next to you to pass them to you. You shouldn't reach out and drive for them.

18, if the host cooks himself, don't forget to thank the host.

19. If you eat something unclean or smelly, don't swallow it. You should gently take out the imported food with your thumb and forefinger and put it on the plate. Don't make a fuss if you find bugs and gravel in the unfinished dishes. When the waiter comes near, tell him to change it softly.

20. After eating, the tableware must be placed neatly and not misplaced. Napkins should also be folded and put on the table.

2 1. Smoking is not allowed in the process of staple food. If you want to smoke, you must ask your neighbors' permission first.

22, eating in a restaurant, you can't grab the bill, push and pull the payment, it is indecent. If you are a guest, you can't rush to pay the bill. You shouldn't pay the bill for your friend without his consent.

23. Eat at the same speed as the host and hostess, neither too fast nor too slow.

24. Don't talk about sadness at the dinner table, or it will spoil the happy atmosphere.