Why is the left side of the table in a meeting, but the right side of the table in a meal?

To the left or to the right to distinguish between different areas and occasions.

In our country, since ancient times, the popularity of the left as the honor, "male left and female right", "left arm" and other words can be seen on the left side of the importance of people. Left as the honor is handed down for thousands of years of etiquette, our country's non-foreign ceremonial activities, still in accordance with traditional etiquette "left high, right low" practice. The National People's Congress, the State Council and other meetings, ceremonial activities, are to the left.

However, in the international practice, it follows the principle of the right as the principle of honor, for example, as the host of negotiations with foreign businessmen need to arrange the guests on the right side of the position, will be a foreign friend as a guest of honor to receive him should be allowed to sit on the right side and so on.

The right side of the dinner table, generally in the case of the host invited to dinner, because the order of Chinese restaurants is clockwise, the guest sits on the right side, you can taste the delicious first, to show respect for the guests.

When dining with elders or leaders, on the other hand, the seat in the center is usually taken as the upper seat, while others on both sides are taken as the lower seat, to show respect for elders and leaders.

Expanded Information

Chinese table manners:

1, when taking a seat, elders, VIPs first into the upper seat, from the left side of the chair to enter, can not move the chopsticks, do not get up and walk around after being seated.

2. When eating, guests or elders should be asked to move their chopsticks first, and no noise should be made when eating or drinking, and no one should knock the dishes with chopsticks or point at people with chopsticks.

3. When making a toast, the order of the toast is age, position, and status of the guest or host, and when clinking glasses, you should keep your own glass lower than the other's to show your respect for the other party.

4, when you leave the table, you should express your thanks to the person who invited you, and wait for the elders or VIPs to leave the table before other guests can leave.