Table Manners in China

In China meals and dishes are shared communally, because of this it may seem at times that there isn’t really any etiquette and that it’s a ‘free for all’ scenario. But that’s not the case, China has hidden etiquettes that you may not have noticed. It also depends who you are dining with.

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In formal dinner meetings, although it may be unspoken the sitting arrangement will be based on a hierarchy, with the seat of honor saved for the oldest or the host. This person is also the one who will get to eat first. Don’t take a bite before them if you want to avoid embarrassment.

In all dining settings you need to be careful of how you use your chopsticks. Don’t repeat my mistake. Never leave your chopsticks left standing upright on a dish, in my case rice. This is how food offerings are done for the dead…

The chopstick rules go on! But here the most important ones: you can’t dig around a dish as it’s seen as ‘digging your own grave’, it’s rude to lick your chopsticks, or leave them lying whilst pointing at someone (if in doubt place them on top of your rice bowl flat next to each other).

It’s common to say thanks for a meal, you may find everyone around making toasts as you are trying to eat. As a way to say thanks you should toast the guest of honor.

What do you teachers think about Chinese etiquette, do you think there are some that should be adopted? What etiquette do you think is important?