Differences between Chinese and Western Table Manners

------Jenny & Gill

• Sitting down• Etiquettes on eating• Leaving the table

• At a very formal dinner name cards will show you where you should sit.

• If there are no name cards on the tables, the host will take you to the correct place.

Sitting down ------in Western

Sitting down ------in Western

• If you are at a romantic dinner, the man should push the woman’s chair in for her.

• Sometimes the waiter will do this.

Sitting down -------in China

• The main seat that should be seated by the most important person is the one facing the door, with the best view

• The second best one is the seat on the left hand of the main one.

• Then the right part. Because in the Chinese people's point, the left is superior to the right. What you care most may be who is responsible for paying the bill.

Sitting down -------in China

Etiquettes on eating------in China

• a. Keep your eyes on the meal, especially at the beginning of the meal.

• b. When eating, keep your bodies forward, and face to your food.

Etiquettes on eating------in China

• c. It is allowed to spit the bone on the tables.

• d. When chewing, it is allowed to make some rhythmical noisy of chewing.

• e. Traditional Chinese meal doesn’t need the public chopsticks.

• f. Traditional Chinese meal doesn’t have the sweet snacks after meal.

Etiquettes on eating------in China

• Don't stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl. Instead, lay them on your dish.

• Make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing anyone.

• Don't tap on your bowl with your chopsticks.

Etiquettes on eating ------in China

• a. Western interpersonal communication need eyes contact, that is, gaze at the people on the table when eating and occasionally look the food.

• b. Keep your bodies straight and try to eat food by the forks in western table manners.

Etiquettes on eating------in Western

• c. The belief of the western-style food, no one can spit anything in public. If you have to spit something, you can spit it to the towel quietly.

• d. When chewing, always keep your mouth closed and keep quiet in western.

Etiquettes on eating------in Western

• e. In western-style food, people use the public scoop to pick the food in a big pan.

• f. Sweet snacks are essential in lunch and supper

Etiquettes on eating------in Western

Similarities DifferencesIn China

In western countries

Sit straightSmile Talk quietly Wait for the host to start eatingDon’t talk with food in your mouthDon’t spit anything outDon’t touch your nose, hair of teeth at the table

Don’t stick your chopsticks upright

Don’t tap your bowl

Don’t face the spout of teapot anyone

Don’t drink too much

Don’t burp

Leaving the table ------in Western

• When you have finished your meal, place all used utensils onto your plate together, on the right side, pointed up, so the waiter knows you have finished. Do not place used utensils on the table.

• Except in a public restaurant, do not ask to take some uneaten food or leftovers home, and never do so when attending a formal dinner.

• Leave the napkin on your chair only if leaving temporarily. When you leave the table at the end of the meal, loosely place the used napkin on the table to the left of your plate.

• Wait for your host or hostess to rise before getting up from a dinner party table.

Leaving the table ------in Western

• Thank your host when leaving a dinner party.

• Once dessert, after-dinner coffee, or the equivalent is served, be wary not to overstay your welcome.

Leaving the table ------in Western

• When you leave the table at the end of the meal, place your napkin loosely next to your plate.

• don’t forget to invite your host to your home for dinner someday before you leave .

Leaving the table ------in China