1、The Diferences Between Chinese & Western Table Manners,How much do you know about table manners?,Tablewares,The order of dishes in the West,Dinner start with a small dish, which is often called a starter. After the starter you will get a bowl of soup.The next dish is the main course, it usually is a
2、 beefsteak. After that, a vegetable salad will be served.Then a delicious dessert will appear at the table. At last there is a cup of tea or coffee.,The order of dishes in China,The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegeta
3、ble dishes. Soup then will be served to be followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all.,Manners in th
4、e West,As soon as the hostess picks up her napkin, pick yours up and lay it on your lap. Sometimes a roll of bread is wrapped in it; if so, toke it our and put it on your side plate.,The Soup Course Dinner usually begins with soup. The largest spoon at your place is the soup spoon. It will be beside
5、 your plate at the right-hand side.,The Fish CourseIf there is a fish course, it will probably follow the soup. There may be a special fork for the fish, or it may be similar to the meat fork. Often it is smaller.,The Meat Course The main Course is usually served by the host himself, especially if i
6、t is a fowl or a roast which need to be carved. He will often ask each guest what piece he prefers, and it is quite proper to state your preference as to lean or fat, dark or light.,Helping Yourself and Refusing If a servant passes food around, he will pass the dish in at your left hand so that you
7、can conveniently serve yourself with your right hand. Never serve yourself while the dish is on your right; it is then the turn of your neighbor on the right. It is polite to take some of everything that is passed to you. But if there is something you may not like, you may quietly say: “No thank you
8、.“,Various rules and Suggestions Sit up straight on your chair!Do not put much food in your mouth at a time!Drink only when there is no food in your mouth!Do not make any nose when you eat!Do not clean your teeth at the table or anywhere in public!,Manners in China,Spitting Out the BonesIn China it
9、is common to spit things out on the table or the floor. Often food has small pieces of bone or other inedible parts that need to be removed from the mouth. Using chopsticks, a hand or a tissue is a polite way around the problem.,Touching Tables Though in the West it is sometimes considered rude to p
10、ut ones elbows on the dining table, this is quite acceptable in China, particularly when eating noodles. You however may want to avoid this in some restaurants where the table is only wiped with an old cloth and there may be some unseen residue from the previous patrons meals.,Noise and SmokingEatin
11、g noisily and with ones mouth open may be considered rude in the West. However, slurping, smacking the lips and leaving the mouth open when eating can be viewed as demonstrating enjoyment of the food and a friendly atmosphere in China.Smoking is also permitted in most Chinese restaurants. A way roun
12、d this, in larger restaurants, is to request a side room for your meal, which will have its own door to insulate you from the noise and smoke.,DessertEating something sweet for dessert is not a Chinese custom. Sweet things can be found hidden among everything else on a Chinese menu. Fruit salads and
13、 caramel covered apple are Chinese sweet dishes that are popular with Westerners.,DrinkingBeer is very popular in China, but it is all very similar with none of the stronger or darker varieties brewed in the West. The other popular alcoholic drink is rice wine. Beware, this can be very strong .In Ch
14、ina, drinking alcohol is still mainly a male custom.Male guests are routinely offered alcohol and cigarettes at meal times. Just politely refuse if you dont want them. An empty glass is always refilled, no matter about protests that the guest has had enough, as a mark of politeness or good will. Often a refusal has to be given three times. See Chinese Guest and Host Customs.,Thanks for your attention,
