10 Tips on Chinese Table Manners

10 Tips on Chinese Table Manners
Hello, everyone, it’s a pleasure to give some tips about Chinese table manners. Table manners are important in China. As we know, enjoying a Chinese meal or banquet is one of the best ways to spend time and share food and drink with a Chinese family and friends. Here are some tips you should keep in mind:
1.  As a guest, you should never begin to eat or drink before your host does.  This is the same as in Western etiquette 加where ？you always wait for the host to initiate the beginning of each course. 
2.  Do sample a bite of every dish.  It is considered rude not to sample a bite of every dish and sometimes a generous comment is expected from the guest on the dishes.
3.  You should offer someone else food or tea before you serve yourself.   If you want another food, simply offer it to others before taking another helping for yourself. Primarily for tea pouring, if you want another cup of tea, never serve yourself without serving other guests first. 
4.  Serving dishes are not to be picked up or passed around. In China, it is not rude to reach in front of someone to get to dish or to grab something, while in USA you should ask politely for someone to pass it to you
5.  Finishing all of your food may be impolite to your host, since it can mean he did not provide enough food for you.  Leaving a bowl completely full is also rude.  You can leave a small amount in your cup, glass, or plate, it gives you the out to say, “Oh, no thank you I still have some.”
6. Never be the one to take the last piece of anything.  It’s considered bad luck and shows your greed and being too hungry. 
7.  When laying your chopsticks down, do not lay your chopsticks parallel on the top of the bowl or leave them sticking in the bowl. It is considered rude and a sign of bad luck. Instead you are to leave your chopsticks on the chopstick holder. 
8.  Business is not generally discussed during a meal.  Good topics of conversation include Chinese art, food, health, and sights. As in all cultures, conversations are to be kept light and general, not heavy politics or religion.
9.  As toasts are performed throughout a dinner, use both hands to show utmost respect.  Toasts are performed with the utmost respect using both hands around the cup or glass, raised to shoulder height, make eye contact with the host and all, smile, and taking a sip or “bottoms up”.
10. Finally, the serving of fruit signifies the end of the meal. Generally, guests will talk a while after dinner but do not linger much past the end of the meal.
 
I hope these tips will help you have a wonderful time at a Chinese table. Thank you.
 
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