Etiquette at the Dining Table

With a vast territory，there are great differences in material and taste of local dishes.But the etiquettes at the dining table are more or less the same，take the seating arrangement and course order as examples.

Etiquette at the dining table is of great importance in Chinese people’s life.

For the Chinese，going to a banquet is more a social formula than having dinner.

Knowing it can help us understand Chinese culture better.

Table manners should be followed either as a guest or host.

1.Seating arrangement.Though most dining tables are round，it’s subtle in seating arrangement.In the private rooms，the seat facing the directly door is for the most respected guest or senior，and the seat near the door is for the less privileged.Other guests seat along both sides in order.

2.Course order

·Cold dish.People eat slowly，drinking and chatting.

·Hot dish.Eat a little bit faster，for they taste better when they are hot.

·Main course.It is the most expensive dish or the specialty of the restaurant.

People talk to each other while enjoying it，and the banquet reach climax.

·Tea and Pastries，staple food and soup.The guests have had enough by then，s they eat slowly，and spend most time chatting.

3.Etiquette at the dining table:the dining table is a place to show the

manners of both host and guests.The proper manners help not only to make the atmosphere lively but also help make the dinner go smoothly.The table manners vary in different areas，but the following manners are recognized by most areas in China.

·The banquet starts after the most exalted guest arrives.

·Don’t touch your chopsticks until the host or senior finishes his/her simple opening speech.

·The most distinguished guest and the senior will be the first one try a new dish，and others should follow them.If it is a Lazy Susan，the guests should be following clockwise in turn.

·The host should encourage the guests to have more dishes and drinks，and propose a toast to the guests.Use shared chopsticks when helping guests get food.

There is a rule for toasts:Pour as full as you can when it is wine，but only pour half of the cup if it’s tea.

·Don’t make noise by playing with chopsticks，or pointing at somebody with chopsticks，or flipping the course for your favorite，or sticking your chopsticks into the rice（it looks like candles and incense in the funeral，and is considered as whammy）.

·Don’t eat all the food hosts prepared，or they will feel embarrassed that they fail to prepare enough food.

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