搜索
DifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterntablemannersWiththedevelopmentofglobaleconomy,cross-culturecommunicationhasbecomemoreandmorefrequent,andthedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternculturehavebecomemoreobvious,especiallythedifferencesoftablemanners.ArrangementofseatinChinaInChina,peopleusedtousethenumberofthetablestodefinethesizeofbanquet.Insmallbanquetswhichhavetwotables,thetableontheleftorfarthertotheportalisthetoptable.Atbiggerbanquetsthathavethreeormoretables,therulesaremuchmorecomplicated.Generally,seatsthatclosertothetoptabletakeprecedence.Forexample,ontheweddingparty,familymembersofthebrideortheleadershipsarearrangedtothetablethatclosesttothetoptable.Hostsshowtheirreverencestotheguestsbyarrangingseatsbythisway.Seatsatonetablealsohavedifferentmeanings.InChinesetablemanner,theseatoppositetothedooristhehonorseat,whichisforchiefguestsorelders;theseatsbesidearethesecondhonorseatwhichareforotherguests;theseatsthatoppositetothehonorseataretheinferiorseat.Inferiorseatsareforthehostandhostess.Sobeforethebanquet,hostsshouldfirstinvitethechiefguestorelderstothehonorseat,andtheninviteothergueststothesecondhonorseat.Hostssitdownontheinferiorseatsafteralltheguestssitdown.ArrangementofseatinWestWesternpeoplepreferlongtabletoroundtablewhenentertainingfriends.Thehostandthehostessseatatbothendofthetable,whileguestsseatatotherseats.Thechiefguestsitsattheupperrightsideofthehostess,andthewifeofthechiefguestseatsattheupperrightsideofthehost.InChina,leftishonorandrightissecondary.Whileinwestern,rightishonorandleftissecondary.Theproperwaytotaketheseatinwesternistositbythelefthand.Itisbetternottowalkoutbeforethebanquetisfinished.TablewaresbetweenChinaandWestChinesetablewaresinvolvechopsticks,smalldish,bowlandglass.Chopsticksandspoonarealwaysputtogetherontherighthandoftheplate.Toothpickandashtrayarealsonecessary.ChopsticksarethemaintablewaresinChinesefoodculture.Itisimpolitetousechopstickstocleantooth,orpickotherthingsthataren’tfood.Itisalsobadmannertotalkwithchopsticksinhand.Therightwaytousespoonis:scoopthefood,andwaitforsecondstomakesurethatthesoupwillnotsplashout,andthenmovethespoonback.Itisimpolitetoputthespoonintomouth,orlickthespoonoverandoveragain.Inwesternmeals,theyusesomuchtablewareswithdifferentkindsandsizes.theuseoftablewaresalsoshowsdifferentfoodcultureindifferentcountries,themaintablewaresinwesternareknives,forks,spoons,glassandnapkin.Knifeisusedtocutfoodandforkisusedtocarryfoodintomouth.duringthedinner,youshouldputthemonbothsidesoftheplate,andknifeandforkshouldbeputinthewaythatlooksliketheChineseword“八”.Youcanalsousetheminawaythathandleknifeinyourrighthandandforkinthelefthand.Soupspoonisalwaysputontheoutermostrightside,togetherwiththeknife.Dessertspoonisputtogetherwithdessertknifeandfork.DifferentatmospheresattableNoisyandquietisthemaindifferentoftableatmospherebetweenChineseandwestern.Chinesetableatmospherealwaysnoisyandalwaysthenoisierthebetter.Whilewesterntableatmosphereisquiet..InChina,peoplebegintotalkatthetimetheysitdown,andtheywouldkeeptalkingduringthewholedinner.Everybodyatthetabletalking,drinking,eating,andenjoyingthepulsatingatmosphere.Noisyatmospherecanreflecttheguests’happinessfromtheirhearts.Westernersalsotalkattable,buttheytalkquietlyandkeepthevoiceatthestagethatcanonlybeheard.Youcannotmakenoiseswhendrinkingsoup.Chewingwithyourmouthclosedanddonotmakingnoiseswheneating.ThewaytofinisheatingAtChinesedinnertable,aftereating,thechopsticksshouldputorderlyattherightsideofthebowl,andleaveafterthehostsignalstoleave.Hostsshouldsignalafteralltheguestsputdowntheirchopsticks.Atwesterndinnertable,thewaystofinisheatingistoputtheknifeandforktogetherontheplateparallel,withthefork’sbacksideupandtheknife’sedgeinside.ThroughcomparingthetablemannersofChineseandWesterncountriesandkeepingpacewiththechangingworldcanbemoremeaningfultoallpeople.