The Chinese Lesson About Chopstick Etiquette

By Author: james toma
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As you are making friends with Chinese people, you may have used “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks.” But do you know the taboos of using this dining tool? Many foreigners think that skillfully using chopsticks is as hard as learning Chinese.
As we all know, Chopsticks are main dining tool in china. Proper Chopsticks etiquette is an important part of maintaining harmonious relationships. Do you know how to politely use Chopsticks at the dinner table? Using Chopsticks politely will help you make a good impression. Let's start our Chinese lesson about Chopstick Etiquette now!
The followings are five things you must know about the use of “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks.”
No.1: Hold “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks” with your “大拇指 (dàmǔzhǐ) thumb,” “中指 (zhōngzhǐ) middle finger,” “无名指 (wúmíngzhǐ) ring finger,” and “小拇指 (xiǎomǔzhǐ) little finger,” but be sure not to point your “食指 (shízhǐ) index finger” at others. It is widely ...
... acknowledged in China that when someone is about to swear using dirty words, they tend to point their “食指 (shízhǐ) index finger” at others. So if you let your “食指 (shízhǐ) index finger” point to other guests at the table, it is perceived as being impolite.
No.2: Do not hold “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks” in your mouth and suck them. It is regarded as lack of “涵养 (hányǎng) good behavior.” Besides, if you suck on the “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks,” you are very likely to make strange noises, which is often quite annoying.
No.3: Do not get what you want to eat with only one chopstick. It is well-recognized that both “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks” are always used together. But when you use only one of them to get something really small, it is like sticking up your “中指 (zhōngzhǐ) middle finger” to someone in the western culture.
No.4: Do not put your “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks” in the middle of a bowl of rice before eating. This is an action employed when you want to pay your respects to your ancestors who have passed away.
No.5: Do not use your “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks” to hit the bowl or the plate, even when you feel bored. That’s what beggars do when they beg for food.
In fact, there is more information about chopstick etiquette knowledge. If you know more chopstick etiquette, please come to learn Chinese team. Using Chopsticks politely will help you make a good impression. I hope that the Chinese lesson will give you some help.

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