Chinese etiquette, about holding a bowl, please help me! ~

The biggest difference between Chinese food and Western food is that the tableware used for dining is very different. Below we will introduce some notes on the use of Chinese tableware and etiquette:

Chopsticks

The most important tableware in Chinese food is chopsticks, which must be used in pairs. The picture above shows the standard way of holding chopsticks.

In Chinese dining etiquette, when using chopsticks to pick up food, you need to pay attention to the following issues:

1. It is rude to use them for scratching, picking your teeth, or for anything other than food.

2. When you are talking to someone, put down your chopsticks for a while and do not talk while dancing your chopsticks like a baton.

3. Never lick your chopsticks, no matter if there is food left on them or not. Because isn't it a bit unappetizing to use licked chopsticks to pick up food?

4. Don't put your chopsticks on top of the food. This is because in Chinese custom it is only used to honor the dead.

Spoons

The main purpose of a spoon in Chinese food is to scoop up dishes and food. Sometimes a spoon can be used to assist in picking up food when using chopsticks, but try not to use the spoon alone to pick up dishes. Also, when using a spoon to pick up food, do not scoop too much so as not to spill and dirty the table or clothes. After scooping, pause for a few moments to wait for the soup to stop running down before moving over to enjoy it.

When you're not using a spoon, put it on a plate in front of you, rather than placing it directly on the table or letting it "stand" in the food. Eat the food immediately after taking it with the spoon or put it on your own plate and do not put it back. If the food is too hot, do not scoop it up or blow on it with your mouth, but put it in your own bowl and let it cool. You should also be careful not to stick the spoon in your mouth or lick or suck it repeatedly.

Bowls

Chinese bowls can be used to serve rice and soup, and you can hold the bowl in your hand while eating. To hold the bowl, use four fingers of your left hand to support the bottom of the bowl, with your thumb on the end. Eat with the bowl at roughly chin level.

If the soup is served in a separate soup tureen with a lid, indicate that the soup has been consumed by removing the ladle and placing it on a placemat plate, and placing the lid on the soup tureen upside down and flat.

Plates

There are many types of plates in Chinese cuisine, and the smaller ones are called saucers, which are mainly used to hold food and are used in much the same way as bowls. Plates are generally required to be kept in place on the table and not stacked on top of each other during the meal.

What needs to be emphasized is a special kind of plate - the food dish. The main role of the food dish in Chinese cuisine, is used to temporarily put from the communal dish to enjoy the dishes. When using the food dish, generally do not take too many dishes in the food dish, so it looks both messy, but also seems to be a hungry ghost cast, very elegant. Do not spit on the dining table without eating food scraps, bones, fish spines, but gently put them on the front of the plate, and do not spit directly from your mouth to the plate when you put them on, but use chopsticks to put them on the front of the plate. If the plate is full, signal the waiter to change the plate.

Soup bowls

Soup bowls are used to hold soup. One thing to note when using a soup tureen is to place the soup ladle on the plate and place the lid upside down on the soup tureen to indicate that the soup has been consumed.

Water cups

Chinese water cups are mainly used for soft drinks such as water, fruit juice and soft drinks. Be careful not to use the water cup for wine, or to hold the water cup upside down. It is also important to note that what you drink into your mouth cannot be spit back into the water cup, which is very indecent.

Toothpicks

Toothpicks are also a must-have at the Chinese table. It has two functions, one is used to tie the food; the second is used for picking teeth. But try not to pick your teeth in public during meals, not picking can not be, with the other hand to cover the mouth, pick out the food, do not public "ornamental" or re-entry, and do not play with the hands, mouth spit. After picking teeth, do not hold a toothpick in your mouth, and do not use it to pick up food.

Napkin

Before a Chinese meal, a wet towel is usually given to each diner. The purpose of this wet towel is to wipe hands, and after wiping hands, it should be put back on the plate and taken away by the waiter. Before the end of the banquet, the waiter will be on another wet towel, and the former is different, this wet towel is used to wipe the mouth, can not use it to wipe the face or wipe sweat.