Differences in table manners between China and the West 1: Seats. China usually leads the guests to the dining table after the guests gather, with the top on the left as the chief, with two seats on the top, three seats on the bottom and four seats on the bottom. In the west, generally speaking, the seat facing the door farthest from the door belongs to the hostess, opposite to the host's seat. The seat on the right of the hostess is the first guest seat, usually a man, and the seat on the right of the male host is the second guest seat, usually the wife of the guest of honor. The seat on the hostess's left is the third guest seat, and the seat on the host's left is the fourth guest seat.
2: The order of serving. In China, the first dish is soup, followed by staple food, such as dried rice, and then the last dish is fruit to promote digestion; In western countries, the order of serving is usually vegetables and soup, fruit, table wine, staple food, and finally dessert and coffee.
3. The difference between tableware. In China, tableware is relatively simple, generally only cups, plates, bowls, plates, chopsticks, spoons and so on, while in the west, there are knives and forks, spoons, cups and plates, and knives and forks are subdivided into many kinds. Tea cups and coffee cups are porcelain with saucers, while water cups and wine glasses are mostly glass products.
4. Different ways to stop eating. When you stop eating at a party, you can put chopsticks directly on the plate or spoon. If chopsticks are placed horizontally on the plate, it means that you are drunk and full, and you don't eat any more. During a short break in the west, the placement of knives and forks has different meanings. Put the knife and fork in the center of the plate in a figure of eight, indicating a short rest. If the knife and fork stick out of the plate, it is neither safe nor beautiful. It's impolite to wave a knife and fork when talking. Put the knife and fork at four o'clock after eating.
In addition to the above four basic differences, there are of course subtle differences in hotel table manners. For example, in terms of clothes, in China, people can wear casual clothes in restaurants, even T-shirts and jeans, and only at important banquets will they wear grand clothes. But when going to high-end restaurants in the west, men should wear neat tops and leather shoes; A lady should wear a suit and shoes with heels. If formal clothes are required, men must wear ties. Don't wear casual clothes to eat in a restaurant.
Chinese and western table etiquette culture I. Banquet etiquette
(1) When you are invited to dinner, you are likely to be more interested in the people who eat at the same table and the conversation at the table than the food. Therefore, when eating, you should make as little noise and movements as possible.
(2) As soon as the hostess picks up the napkin, you can also pick up the napkin and put it on your lap. Sometimes there is a bun wrapped in a napkin; In that case, bring it here and put it on a small plate next to it.
(3) If the napkin is large, put it in double folds on your knees; If it's small, open it all. Never pin your napkin on your collar or vest, and don't rub it with your hands. You can wipe off oil stains or dirt on your mouth or fingers with a corner of your napkin. Never use it to clean knives, forks or plates.
(4) Dinner usually begins with soup. The biggest spoon in front of your seat is the spoon, next to the plate on your right. Don't use the spoon in the middle of the table by mistake, because it may be used to get vegetables and jam.
(5) Guests are not allowed to eat any food until the hostess picks up her spoon or fork. The hostess usually starts after each guest gets the food. She won't invite you to dinner first, as China is used to. When she picks up a spoon or fork, it means that everyone can do it.
(6) If there are fish dishes, they are usually served after the soup. There may be a fork for eating fish on the table, or it may be similar to a fork for eating meat, usually smaller. In short, the harpoon is placed on the outside of the meat fork away from the plate.
(7) Usually, before the fish is served, the bones of the fish have been removed. If the fish you eat still has thorns, you can hold a bread roll or a piece of bread in your left hand and poke the thorns with a knife in your right hand.
(8) If there is a thorn in your mouth, take it out with your fingers quietly and as unnoticed as possible, and put it on the edge of the plate. Don't put it on the table or throw it underground.
Second, the seven taboos of French table manners
If you have to be late or even cancel the appointment after agreeing to the other party's invitation, you must inform the other party in advance. It's acceptable to have a meeting a little late, but if it exceeds 15 minutes, it will leave the other party with a bad impression that they don't attach importance to the appointment. When ordering, you should choose the food you want to eat. If you can't find a clue after reading the menu, you can ask the waiter to recommend the restaurant's signature dishes for you, but make it clear. If you want to eat seafood, don't eat red meat. Remember that you can't make up your mind in everything, only know how to say it? Yeah, but (whatever)? Some people will only cause trouble to the guests at the same table. There are many details to pay attention to when eating, but in fact most of them are daily etiquette. As long as you keep calm, don't make big moves, don't make any noise, and don't interfere with others' eating, you are qualified.
1, the most basic use principle of tableware is from the outside to the inside. Finish a dish, serve, take away the tableware, and add a set of knives and forks if necessary.
2. When eating meat (such as steak), cut it from the corner, and then cut another piece after eating. When you meet a part or side dish that you don't eat, move it to the side of the dish.
3. If you have something to spit out in your mouth, put the fork to your mouth and take it out, or take it out with your fingers and move it to the edge of the plate. Try not to attract others' attention during the whole process, and then eat naturally.
4. When you meet a side dish such as beans or rice, you can hold the fork in your left hand, put the fork tip up flat on the plate, and then gently dial the beans or rice onto the fork with a knife. If you need seasoning but you can't reach it, you can ask the other person to pass it to you. Never stand up and lean forward to get it.
5. Wipe your hands and mouth after eating. Don't wipe hard with a napkin. Pay attention to manners and gently print off the oil stains on your mouth or fingers with a corner of a napkin.
6. No matter how comfortable the stool is, sit upright and don't lean back. You can lean forward slightly when eating, and keep your arms close to your body to avoid bumping into the next door.
7. After eating every dish, it is ugly to put the knife and fork on the four sides or cross them. The correct way is to put the knife and fork side by side on the plate, with the fork teeth facing up.