Importance

Table manners are very important in Chinese peoples life.

They show whether you are well educated. Chinese people treat dinners as one of the most important social interactions. ( Business will be talked and set while having dinner.)

 Seating Before dinner Tableware Food Eating etiquette

Drinks & toast Smoking Pay for bill Invited to a friends home

Seating
In China , its necessary to know how to pick up your seat at the table .
If you are not sure what to do , just wait the host to tell .

 Different from the western , tables in China are usually round . Normally , the seat facing the door (seat 1) is for the host or the hostess.

 At a small table, the seat right across of the host seat, the back of which is facing the door (seat 2), is the seat for the main guest.

 But when its a bigger table, the host or hostess and main guest can just sit side by side to make it easier for them to talk. (seat 3 or 4 for the main guest . )

Before dinner
The elderly or guest(s) of honour are usually the first to start the meal. Before that , you have to wait . Before dinner , youll be served by a cup of tea .

Tea
Tea is for rinsing the mouth ,which means making your mouth ready for eating .

Tableware
Different from the west , Chinese food is usually cut into proper sizes when cooking ,so you dont have to use folks or knives to eat them . As a result , youll use different tableware when you enjoy Chinese food .

Tableware
Table setting

Chopsticks

Table setting

Table setting
Plate for salt and pepper

Ashtray
Tea cup

Soup Bowl

Plate for dishes

Plate for trash Plate for towel

Chopsticks

Chopsticks
Chopsticks is the main tool for eating .

Chopsticks
Chopsticks should always be held correctly, i.e. between the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand.

Chopsticks
Chopsticks are traditionally held in the right hand only, even for the left-handed. One explanation for the treatment of such usage as improper is that within the confines of a round table this may be inconvenient.

Tips for using chopsticks

When not in use, chopsticks must always be placed neatly on the table with two sticks lying tidily next to each other at both ends.
Crossing them is rude .

Tips for using chopsticks

Never point the chopsticks at another person. This amounts to insulting that person .

Tips for using chopsticks

Never suck the chopsticks.

Tips for using chopsticks

Never bang chopsticks like drumsticks. This is akin to telling others at the table you are a beggar.

Tips for using chopsticks

Decide what to pick up before reaching with chopsticks, instead of hovering them over or rummaging through dishes.

Tips for using chopsticks

When picking up a piece of food, never use the tips of your chopsticks to poke through the food as with a fork; exceptions include tearing apart larger items such as vegetables.

Tips for using chopsticks

Never stab chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, as this resembles incense sticks used at temples to pay respects to the deceased. This is considered the ultimate dinner table faux pas.

Tips for using chopsticks

Dont use chopsticks to move bowl or plate .

Food
A typical Chinese meal consists of : Cold dishes Main courses Soup The starchy staple food Snack and dessert Fruit

Cold dishes
A typical meal starts with some cold dishes, like boiled peanuts , smashed cucumber, red dates & beans and Chicken Legs. Theyre like appetizer in the west .

Cold dishes
Cold dishes are usually served before dinner , but dont eat before dinner start .

Main dishes
Cold dishes are followed by the main courses, hot meat and vegetable dishes.
Pork & beef

Main dishes
Meat balls

Main dishes
Chicken & duck

Main dishes
Vegetable

Main dishes
Sea food

Soup
Then , soup is brought out.

The starchy staple food

Soup is followed by the starchy "staple" food, which is usually rice or noodles or sometimes dumplings.

The starchy staple food

Many Chinese eat rice (or noodles or whatever) last, but if you like to have your rice together with other dishes, you should say so early on.

Snacks and dessert

Sometimes theyll be replaced by snacks and dessert like baozi , dabing or cakes.

Fruit
Sometimes , some fruit will be served .

Eating etiquette
Generally, Chinese table manners are more informal than the West, although there are more rules concerning interactions with other guests .

Eating etiquette
Chinese trend to talk loudly during the dinner and different from the west , talking with a full mouth is usually allowed though some people think it is impolite . Besides , when you are eating or drinking , make some sound is allowed .But place the china bowls and plates quietly

Eating etiquette
Eating with the elbows on the table is allowed. Belch is not good but you dont have to avoid it intentionally . When eating food that contains bones, it is customary that the bones be spat out onto the dining plate in a neat pile. Spitting onto the floor is almost never acceptable.

Drinks & toast

Drinks plays an important role in Chinese food culture .

Drinks

Toast

Pouring

Drinks
Usually , both hard drink and beverage are served throughout the meal . It is customary for the host to insist that guests drink to "show friendship." If the guests prefers not to drink, they may say, "I'm unable to drink, but thank you." [in Chinese: "Wo bu neng he jiu, xie xie." ]

Drinks
The host may continue to insist that the guests drink, and the guests may likewise continue to insist upon being "unable" to drink. The host's insistance is to show generosity. Therefore, refusal by the guests should be made with utmost politeness.

Drinks
Common hard drinks in dinner: Baijiu Huangjiu Wine & beer

Baijiu
Baijiu, or shaojiu () is a Chinese distilled alcoholic beverage. The name baijiu literally means "white spirits". Baijiu has a greater proportion of alcohol than huangjiu and wine .And its usually drank with smaller cups.

Huangjiu
Huangjiu is a special Chinese alcoholic drink . It literally means yellow wine". It is made of rice without being distilled . And it has a lower alcoholic strength (usually about 20%).

Wine & beer

As international drinks , wine and beer are also served.

Beer is usually served in summer .

Pouring
The host should pour for the guests and always make sure everyone's cups are not empty for long to show hospitality .
One should not pour for oneself, but if thirsty one should first offer to pour for a neighbor.

Pouring
When your drink is being poured, you should say "thank you" .
But if you dont want to drink any more , you could say hao hao hao or gou le gou le to stop pouring .

Toast
During the meal , we make toasts to make a friendly atmosphere . Toast means clinking the rim of each others glasses and saying gan bei .

Toast
Usually , the hosts propose a toast to all the guests and every one gan bei together . Sometimes ,the younger or junior guests make toasts to the elderly or senior .In fact , If a guest drinks alcohol, the guest will be expected [if not forced] to drink a glass of the same alcohol with each superior at that table, and possibly at other tables too .

Smoking
Smoking is customary when dining, and the host will often pass out cigarettes to all [men] around the table. If the guest prefers not to smoke, she/he should politely refuse (one would say, "Wo bu chou yan, xie xie").

Pay for bill

People will pay the bill after the meal . On paying , fifty-fifty is not well-accepted .
If you want to show your hospitality , you can treat the host to dinner next time .