Americans’ etiquette for treating guests to dinner

Americans are outgoing, enthusiastic, straightforward, and informal. Their customs and etiquette have many unique features. The United States is a country with a strong sense of time. All activities start at scheduled times. It is impolite to be late. Dating with an American is easy. Just make a phone call and the other person will happily agree to meet in the shortest possible time. Americans also have the habit of reciprocating gifts, but they are taboo about accepting gifts that are too heavy. Firstly, Americans do not value the value of the gifts themselves. Secondly, the law prohibits giving gifts that are too heavy. Handicrafts, artworks, famous wines, etc. brought from their hometowns are American Gifts that people like, except for holidays, it is generally not necessary to give gifts when invited to an American home as a guest or even to have a meal. American society has the habit of tipping. Tips are required for all service items. Hotel doormen, room service, etc. are required to tip no less than US$1. When dining in restaurants, a 15% tip is charged at checkout.

Americans treat guests to dinner, which is a business-related exchange and usually takes place in a hotel or club. The company pays the expense, and only close relatives and friends are invited to their homes for the banquet. American food has a wide variety of different tastes depending on the region and nationality. Hamburgers, "hot dogs", pies, donuts and Kentucky Fried Chicken are all popular foods around the world, but Americans' family banquets for entertaining guests are It is economical, not ostentatious, and not formal. A typical family dinner is a long table with a large plate of salad, a large plate of roasted chicken or barbecue, a variety of cold dishes, a plate of fried rice, a plate of bread slices, as well as sweets, fruits, cold drinks, wine, etc. The guests and hosts sit around the table, and the host says "please". Everyone picks up a plate and eats the vegetables and rice they like. After eating, they can add more to the meal as they please, and talk freely while eating.

Americans treat guests to a meal, a glass of wine or a weekend in a country house as a way to make friends. They do not necessarily require the other party to reciprocate. If there is an opportunity, invite the other party to their home. Just eat. After finishing the meal, the guest should express special thanks to the host, especially the hostess

American eating habits

Americans usually drink cocktails before lunch and dinner , but in California, people mostly drink wine.

At the same time, before eating the staple food, you usually have a plate of salad. Fried mushrooms and fried onion rings can be used as appetizers. Steak, pork chops and chicken (legs) are the staple food. Lobster, shellfish and various fish, even freshwater fish, are collectively referred to as seafood. French fries are a beloved and almost indispensable food.

In addition, special attention should be paid to the fact that if there is any leftover food, it must be packed and taken home to avoid wastage.

Americans use both knives and forks when eating, and their dining methods are also very particular. Therefore, when invited to dine with American friends, you should pay special attention to their dining habits. Under normal circumstances, there is a table knife and two table forks placed on the dining table. The outer table fork is for eating salad, the inner table fork is used for eating staple food and other snacks, and the table knife is used for cutting meat. If you use both hands, you should hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand, and you should not hold the knife for too long at a time.

American breakfast includes: fried or boiled eggs, sausage, fried potato chips, pancakes, jelly, toast, muffins, orange juice and coffee.

If you are new to American restaurants, you should pay attention to the following matters:

1. Choose the right restaurant (such as family-style restaurants, specialty restaurants, buffet-style restaurants, etc.) ;

2. Restaurant business hours (opens from 11:30 am until night);

3. Generally, dining tables should be reserved in advance:

4 . After arriving at the restaurant, you cannot go directly to the table unless the restaurant has a "seat as you please" notice;

5. When paying, don't forget to leave a certain percentage of the tip for the waiter (usually the actual amount) 10% to 15% of the total amount).

With the accelerated pace of American life, fast food emerged at the historic moment. Its fast food chains are spread all over the world, among which the McDonald's fast food chain has the greatest influence. The fast food products supplied include: hamburgers, roast beef, steak, ham, sandwiches, KFC chicken, fried potato chips, baked pies, ice cream and various carbonated drinks.

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Westerners’ etiquette for banquets

Whether you are traveling abroad or on business, if someone invites you to a formal banquet, you need to know some basic etiquette in Western social settings.

Arrival: You'd better arrive on time. You can be late for four or five minutes, but you must not be late for more than a quarter of an hour. Otherwise, you will not be in trouble for others, but yourself. If you go to a wealthy and sophisticated family, the first person you meet when you enter the door may be a male servant who is responsible for helping you hang your clothes or showing you the way, so don't rush to shake his hand first, observe it. Decide again.

Preparation: When you enter the living room, don’t rush to find a seat. On such occasions, Westerners usually have to go around waiting for the host to introduce other guests to them. You can choose a suitable drink from the wine and other drinks brought by the waiter and chat with others while drinking.

When the door of the dining room opens, the male host and the female guest of honor will lead everyone into the dining room. The hostess and the male guest of honor should go last, but if the male guest of honor is a big shot, the hostess and he may go last. Front.

Seating: The rules for Western-style dining are very particular. The seats are usually arranged in advance. At this time, the gentleman or lady who comes with you will never be arranged to sit next to you. Europeans and Americans believe that there are many opportunities to chat with acquaintances, and they should take advantage of this opportunity to make more friends. The host and hostess sit above and below the rectangular table respectively. To the right of the hostess is the male guest of honor, and to the right of the male host is the female guest of honor. Other guests sit in alternating positions for men and women. Before serving the table, the man should help the woman on his right to pull out the chair, and then sit down after the woman sits firmly.

After everyone is seated, the host takes the napkin, and you follow suit. Remember: No matter what happens at this time (for example, the host has the habit of praying before meals), you cannot take the napkin before the host takes it.

Meal: The general menu is three to five dishes. The first three dishes should be cold cuts, soup, and fish, and the last two dishes should be main dishes (meat or seafood plus vegetables), desserts, or fruits. Finally, there is coffee and snacks. When eating, don't focus all your energy on the enjoyment of your stomach. Talk to the people around you. After finishing the dessert, if the coffee doesn’t show up, I might ask you to drink it in the living room later. In short, after you see the hostess put the napkin on the table and stand up, you can put down the napkin and leave your seat. At this time, the polite man has to stand up and help the lady pull out the chair. The lady being cared for does not have to have any special thoughts about this previous and subsequent courtesy. This is what he should do.

Farewell: If you don’t want to be too conspicuous, you’d better not be the first to say goodbye, nor the last to leave. You can say goodbye anytime during this period, but once you say goodbye, you should leave happily. .

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Etiquette for entering a foreigner’s office or residence

When visiting a foreigner's office or residence, you should make an appointment and notify in advance, and arrive on time. If no one is waiting to greet you, ring the bell or knock on the door before entering. Only after receiving permission from the owner can you enter. If no one answers, you can wait for a while and then ring or knock on the door again (but do not ring for too long). No one is allowed to enter without permission from the owner.

When you have to go because of urgent matters or without prior agreement, you should try to avoid disturbing the other party late at night; if you have to make an appointment during the break, you should immediately meet the person you are meeting with. Apologize first, say "I'm sorry to bother you" and explain the reason for the interruption.

You can enter the room with the permission of the owner or at the invitation of the owner. Although sometimes the time required to negotiate is very short, you should go indoors and do not stand at the door to talk. Sometimes, if the host does not invite you into the room, you can retreat outside the door and have a conversation outdoors.

When you enter the room, if the time required to speak is short, you do not need to sit down, and you do not need to linger after finishing the work; if the time required is longer, you must be invited by the host to sit down. If there is no prior agreement, the conversation should not be too long.

When you are invited to visit or be a guest at a foreigner’s home, you should arrive at the time proposed or agreed by the host. It is impolite to arrive early or late. If you are late, apologize. Visits are usually scheduled around 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. It is customary in the West to prepare snacks and drinks for guests. Guests should not refuse, but should taste it and drink the accepted drinks (but if you are really not used to it, don’t force it).

No one is allowed to visit the owner’s courtyard and house without the owner’s invitation or consent. You can visit the house under the leadership of the owner, but even familiar friends are not allowed to touch personal belongings and indoor furnishings other than books, flowers and plants.

Greetings should be given to everyone in the host's family, especially the wife (husband) and children. If there are children present, you should take the initiative to shake hands and hug them to express your love. If you have cats or dogs at home, you should not show fear or disgust, and do not kick or blast them.

When leaving, you should say goodbye to the host politely and thank the host for the reception.

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Japan-Etiquette Japanese people seem to do things slowly. He often conceals his feelings and is not easy to reveal them. He dislikes sentimental, confrontational and targeted words and deeds, and has an impatient style. Therefore, in the process of dealing with Japanese people, impatient people often end up in trouble. "Love of face" is the Japanese trait. It is a record of a person's honor and a source of self-confidence. Favor will strongly affect everything about the Japanese. A word that hurts face, or an action that hurts honor. It will bring things to a deadlock. "Face" is the most important thing for Japanese people. Therefore, when getting along with Japanese people, you should always remember to give each other face. Japanese people value morality and kindness. In their view, "a person can never repay even one ten thousandth of a kindness." Repaying a favor is a common but very important thing for them. Gift-giving is even more common in Japan. Gifts are given to colleagues when they are promoted, married, have children, birthdays, festivals, etc. This etiquette is not only a legacy of history, but also endowed with new ideas of the times. The habit of giving gifts is also popular in business interactions.

Give a Japanese guest a gift, even a small souvenir, and he will remember it in his heart, because it not only shows your sincerity, but also shows that the relationship between them has gone beyond the boundaries of business and shows your friendship to him. If you value his face, he will not be able to forget your "kindness". Japanese people don't like to tie bows on gift packages, so they wrap gifts with red ribbons to symbolize good health. Do not give gifts with animal images to Japanese people. There are certain considerations when accepting invitations from Japanese people. For example, if you are invited to attend a formal banquet, you should be serious about it and dress up in a suit and leather shoes. But if you are participating in an outing, or other entertainment or sports activities, even if it is the first time you meet, you only need to dress lightly and wear suits and ties. But if you are participating in an outing, or other entertainment or sports activities, even if it is the first time you meet, as long as you dress lightly or in suitable attire and strive to be natural, you will be able to show your enthusiasm, generousness, and ease.

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Japanese National Etiquette

Dress Etiquette

Japanese people no matter in formal Whether the occasion is informal or informal, we pay great attention to our clothes. On formal occasions, men and most young and middle-aged women wear suits. Men usually wear a tie when wearing a suit. A kimono is a traditional Japanese garment that is typically sewn from one piece of fabric. Nowadays, except for some special professions, men rarely wear kimonos in public places. Japanese women like to draw eyebrows. They generally like to draw slightly curved and thin eyebrows, thinking that this is the most modern feminine temperament.

Deportment and Etiquette

Japanese people are always smiling. However, they not only smile when they are happy, but also laugh when they are embarrassed and angry to hide their true emotions. Women always sit on curled legs when seated on the floor. Different gestures have different meanings: the thumb and index finger form a circle, and the other three fingers are stretched upward to represent money; extending the little finger represents a woman, etc.

Meeting Etiquette

Japanese names generally consist of four characters. The first two characters are the family's name, and the last two characters are his own name. Generally speaking, Japanese people don't like to introduce themselves. As an introducer, you usually need to state the relationship between the person being introduced and yourself, as well as his title and the name of his unit.

Echoing and nodding in agreement

It is said that Japanese people have a habit of frequently echoing and nodding in agreement when talking. "Yes", "Well, really?" including such words, as well as nodding and leaning over, etc. According to survey observations, they occur every few seconds in daily conversations. But it is worth noting that all of this does not necessarily mean "right" or "understood". Some of them are just "ah, really?"

"There is such a time "What happened?" etc., just as a reaction after listening to the other party's words. When you come into contact with a Japanese who has this habit, if you think that "he really expressed his affirmation at that time", then it is unexpected for the Japanese. On the other hand, Japanese people who are accustomed to echoing what they say feel uneasy about foreigners who do not express any reaction during the conversation. They will have such a feeling: "Is this person listening to me?"

Euphemistic expression methods

Even if Japanese people hold clear opinions, they avoid direct expression methods such as "I think so" and "My opinion is this", and instead use " I’m afraid that’s the case?” “I would like to think about it this way, what do you think?” This kind of tactful wording obviously thinks that this way of expression is appropriate and polite. It is clearly stated in the language that the other party is left with room for consideration and judgment, and it is a gesture of expressing one's own opinions after listening to the other party's reaction.

Greetings

Japanese people often greet each other. From getting up in the morning to going to bed at night, there are a lot of stereotyped greetings in various situations of daily life. However, exchanging greetings and greetings is limited to people who are considered friends in some sense. For example, strangers met while walking in the park, or people sitting together in a traffic vehicle, generally do not speak to each other unless there are special circumstances. Because in this situation, the other party is an irrelevant outsider.

Dining Etiquette

The Japanese have taken rice as their staple food since ancient times, and they love to eat fish. Generally, fat meat and pig offal are not eaten, and some people do not eat mutton and duck. Whether at home or in a restaurant, there are levels of seating, and generally you just need to follow the host's arrangements. Japan has a national custom that is full of Zen and used to cultivate people's taste - the tea ceremony. Although many modern Japanese youth are no longer interested in it, it is still valued by society as a traditional art.

Japanese pasta

Soba (Osoba) was introduced to Japan from mainland China in ancient times and continues to this day, becoming one of the popular pastas loved by Japanese people.

The main raw material of soba noodles is buckwheat. The main producing area of ??Japanese buckwheat is in the Shinshu area of ??Nagano Prefecture, but the production is in short supply, and most of the rest is imported from Shanxi and Inner Mongolia in China. The three famous soba noodles in Japan are Shinshu Togakushi (Nagano Prefecture) soba, Izumo (Shimane Prefecture) soba, and Wanko (Iwate Prefecture) soba.

Buckwheat noodles are more difficult and time-consuming to make. First, the noodles must be well mixed and the moisture must be appropriate. The mixed noodles need to rest for a long time. Really good buckwheat cannot be made by machine. Can only be olived by hand.

There are usually two ways to eat soba noodles, one is hot noodles and the other is cold noodles. Japanese hot soup soba noodles are usually served with tempura, fried shrimp or fried tofu and other noodles, and are eaten in hot soup. Cold soba noodles are generally made by immersing the cooked buckwheat noodles in cold water, then placing them on a bamboo tray, sprinkled with some seaweed, and then dipped in a special soy sauce seasoning with chopped green onion to eat, which is refreshing and appetizing. First of all, delicious soba noodles are shiny, not easy to break, and have a chewy texture.

It is said that buckwheat noodles are rich in nutrients, and regular consumption is beneficial to the treatment of hypertension. Therefore, buckwheat noodles are also a healthy food and are very popular among Japanese people. They are also one of the noodles that Japanese people often eat.

A la carte

Soba noodle shops can be seen everywhere on the streets of Japan, and there are usually many shops operating together with Japanese "udong noodles".

Soba noodle shops usually have sample displays at the entrance of the store. Customers can look at the samples and order. Generally, there are more dishes typed in Chinese characters, and they can also order by pointing at the dishes. The general price of soba noodles is around 600 yen, the more expensive ones are around 800 yen, and the cheaper ones are around 400 yen, which is similar to ramen. The price varies depending on the soup and noodle size.

Some famous soba restaurants in Tokyo are expensive. A portion of cold soba noodles costs 2,000 yen. A full meal for one person requires roughly two servings, which costs at least 4,000 yen. But as long as you eat it once, I'm afraid it's hard to forget its taste. No matter how expensive the price is, there are still gourmets who often visit it.

Meal

Soba noodles can be eaten hot or cold. It goes without saying that hot noodles should be eaten while they are hot and cold noodles should be eaten while they are cold.

When eating hot noodles, restaurants usually prepare chili noodles, which are called "Shichimi" in Japan. They are made of seven kinds of seasonings such as chili powder. You can sprinkle some on it to make it more appetizing.

Cold soba noodles are usually placed on a bamboo tray with nori, a small plate of chopped green onions and a bowl of special soy sauce. When eating, put the chopped green onions into the seasoning, and then dip the noodles into the seasoning. Yes, there is also a pot of hot buckwheat noodle soup at the end, which is "the original soup transformed into the original food", which shows the influence of Chinese tradition in Japan.

Happiness and funeral etiquette

In Japan, people still attach great importance to the birth of new life. The traditional Japanese wedding ceremony is: three days before the wedding, the bride's family moves all the bride's supplies to the new house; on the wedding day, the female hairdresser has to dress the bride. Nowadays, weddings in Japan come in various forms, some are held in shrines, and some are held in Christian churches.

Business Etiquette

To engage in business activities in Japan, it is advisable to choose the months from February to June and September to November. At other times, local people are mostly on vacation or busy celebrating festivals. The Japanese pay great attention to the role of business cards in business activities. They believe that business cards indicate a person's social status, so they always carry them with them. Japanese businessmen pay more attention to establishing long-term partnerships. They pay great attention to maintaining the other party's face in business negotiations and hope that the other party will do the same. When giving gifts, local people pay great attention to class or rank, so don't give them too expensive gifts, lest they mistakenly think that you are of higher status than them.

Travel Etiquette

In Japan, many streets have no names. If you get lost, you can ask the police for help. Buses and cars in the urban area extend in all directions. Taking a taxi is expensive.

Tipping is not very popular in Japan. If you are not sure, don’t tip. When tipping, you should put the money in an envelope or wrap it in a tissue. Japanese people think that receiving cash is an embarrassing thing.

Taking a tram

When taking a tram, passengers should line up in order at the boarding gate (marked on the ground). After the tram stops, passengers should divide into two rows on both sides of the door. Wait for the passengers to get off the bus before getting on. Whenever a tram arrives at a station, passengers on the tram should be careful not to stand at the door of the tram so as not to hinder other passengers from getting on and off the tram. If the bus is crowded during peak hours, passengers standing at the door should get off the bus temporarily, and then get on after the passengers have finished getting off. In order to prevent sexual harassment, some train companies in Japan have specially arranged women-only buses after 11 p.m. Men must pay attention before getting on the train, otherwise they may be regarded as a "moron (men who engage in sexual harassment)". to the police.

When taking the bus, you must prepare the change to buy the ticket in advance and put it into the ticket vending machine after getting on the bus. If it is during non-busy hours, you need to press the get off buttons on both sides of the car before getting off, otherwise the car may not stop. Most buses in Japan have front doors and back doors.

The method of taking a taxi (Disco) is the same as in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. However, the taxi door is controlled by the driver, and passengers do not need to close the door themselves when getting in or out.

Taking elevators and escalators

Escalators are very common in Japan. When Japanese people take escalators, they are generally accustomed to standing on the left side (the Tokyo area in Kanto and the Osaka area in Kansai Stand on the right side and rush on the left side), leaving the right side open to those who are eager to move forward. If two people stand side by side on an escalator at the same time, they will block the passage and prevent other people from moving. When riding an escalator, you should generally keep a step away from the person in front of you (especially if there is a woman in front of a man) to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Garbage classification

Garbage in public places in Japan is generally classified, and the garbage bins are usually clearly marked. Basically divided into two categories: flammable and non-flammable.

If it is at a station, the classification of garbage is more detailed, including magazines and newspapers, beverage bottles and cans, combustible and non-combustible. Not throwing away garbage casually is one of the public ethics observed by every Japanese, and of course foreign tourists are no exception.

Use of mobile phones

Japan is a country where mobile phones (mobile phones) are very popular, but there are many places in Japan that restrict the use of mobile phones, especially in public areas. places, such as on a tram. Under normal circumstances, Japanese people do not make phone calls in the car. If they answer the phone, they should keep their voice to a minimum, answer in a few words and concisely, and then call the other party again after getting off the car, otherwise they will confuse the people around them. Can't come soon enough. Japanese high-end restaurants, hospitals, theaters and other public facilities generally prohibit the use of mobile phones.

What you need to know about hot spring bathing

There are many ways to bathe in hot springs in Japan. Among them, you should pay attention to the following points:

○Don’t drink too much before bathing. Bathing later may cause physical discomfort.

○Don’t make loud noises after entering the bathroom, but keep quiet.

○Please take off your shoes at the bathroom door (there are usually steps at the bathroom door) and enter the room barefoot.

○When bathing, be sure to take a shower outside the bathtub first, and then enter the bathtub to soak.

○Do not bring towels into the bath, and do not use soap or other liquids in the bath.

Main taboos

The Japanese do not like purple, thinking it is a sad tone; the most taboo is green, thinking it is an ominous color. They avoid numbers such as 9 and 4; they also avoid taking pictures of three people together, thinking that the person in the middle being sandwiched by two people on the left and right is a sign of misfortune. The Japanese hate gold and silver cats and think anyone who sees one will be unlucky; they also don't like foxes.

Festivals

1. Japanese folk festivals

New Year's Day (January 1): This day celebrates the arrival of the New Year. The three days from New Year's Day to January 3 are called the "first month", and there is no work at all. During the New Year, everyone goes to visit shrines or go to friends’ houses to pay New Year greetings, drink wine, and eat unique New Year delicacies. The children played Japanese cards, flew kites and shuttlecocks. During the New Year, straw ropes are also tied on the door and pine branches are inserted, which means "inserting trees to welcome the arrival of the gods." The time for decorating pine branches is from the 1st to the 7th, and this period is also called "Matsunouchi".

Girls’ Day (March 3): a day to wish girls happiness in the future. On this day, people imitate the customs of the palace in the past, placing beautiful puppets and peach blossoms together and drinking sweet wine made from glutinous rice.

Dragon Boat Festival (May 5, also called Boys’ Day): a festival to wish boys healthy growth. On this day, people decorate samurai puppets, place calamus on the eaves, set up carp streamers, and eat cypress cakes.

Qixi Festival (July 7): This day celebrates the annual meeting of Altair and Vega on both sides of the Milky Way. People offer corn and eggplant in front of the courtyard, decorate colorful poems with lyrics on thin bamboos, and pray that the girl will be as skillful as the Weaver Girl.

Obon Festival (around August 15th):

On this day, people working in the city will return to their hometowns to offer a lot of food and pray in front of the ancestors. The souls of the deceased ancestors are blessed. People living in small towns and rural areas also wear summer kimonos to dance Bon Odori.

Moon appreciation (on the nights of August 15th and September 13th in the lunar calendar): When the moon is full, doors and windows are decorated with wheat awns, wine and dumplings are offered to the moon god, and prayers are given for a smooth and beautiful autumn.

The other side (7 days before and after the vernal and autumnal equinoxes): During this period, worship the souls of ancestors, hold Buddhist rituals, and visit tombs.

Seventh, Fifth and Third Festival (November 15th): Every November 15th, boys aged 3 and 5, and girls aged 3 and 7 wear They wear bright kimonos and visit shrines to wish them smooth sailing on their growth path. The Japanese believe that odd numbers are auspicious numbers, so they chose these three ages.

2. Japanese statutory holidays

Japan has 12 statutory national holidays. During these days, schools, institutions, and companies are on holiday.

New Year's Day (January 1): Celebrate the beginning of the new year.

Adult Day (January 15th):

On this day, young people who have become adults are gathered together in various places to hold celebrations and encourage them to move forward courageously on their own.

National Founding Day (February 11): Remember the founding day of the Republic of China and commemorate the day when the first emperor ascended the throne in 660 BC.

Vernal Equinox (the vernal equinox day on the calendar): Praise nature and care for living things.

The Emperor’s Birthday (December 23): The Emperor and the Empress accept congratulations from the citizens at the Imperial Palace.

Constitutional Day (May 3): commemorates the implementation of the Japanese Constitution (effective on May 3, 1947).

Children’s Day (May 5): Respect the personality of children, seek their happiness, and also thank the mother.

Respect for the Aged Day (September 15): Elderly people from all over the country are gathered together to hold performances, give souvenirs, and wish them longevity.

Autumn Meeting (Autumnal Equinox on the calendar): Respect ancestors and think about the souls of the dead.

Sports Festival (October 10): Hot