On Differences between Chinese and Western Table Manners College of Foreign Languages Hebei North University

Sun Gengmei Yao Kun

【Abstract】At the time of bidding for 2022 winter Olympics， China may invite the world to visit.For entertaining foreign guests more attention should be drawn to the differences between Chinese and western table manners.Understaning the differences is of great help to achieve success in cross-cultural communication.

【Key words】Chinese； western； table manners； differences

Introduction

At the time of bidding for 2022 winter Olympics，China may have more cultural communications with the world.Table manners are important components of national culture，for dinning is a channal of aquiring more information，broadening horizon and expanding social circle.Understanding differences between Chinese and western table manners can be a great help to achieve cross-cultural communication.Then what are the differences ？

Different Dressing for Dinner

Dressing is a part of the table manners.Chinese often dress casual for dinner，some，even with t-shirts or jeans.Only on some very important occasions like festivals，weddings，funerals or parties，can they dress up，wearing suits，skirts or some formal wears.But westerners have the common sense to be well dressed when having a meal.In a decent restaurant，men must wear clean jacket and shoes； women suits and heels.If specified formal clothes，men have to wear a tie，you can not go to the restaurant for dinner underdressed.

Different Dining Atmosphere

Chinese people like sitting around sharing food and drink like a big happy family，especially in the feast or celebration.During the whole meal everyone keeps talking，drinking，eating，laughing loudly，and they enjoy the noisy atmosphere，which reflects the guests happiness and the noise is a symbol of harmony，in their mind，the noisier the better.

Westerners like individual serving.Everyone orders his own food and drinks his own wine to avoid imposing his will on others.Some are very particular about life details，nobody uses his own fork to get food for others.When they see Chinese hospitable host and hostess get food for others with their own chopsticks，they think its unhygienic.Westerners often ask others to pass some food to them if they cant reach it.Stretching out or standing up to get food is bad table manner.They chew with mouth closed and wont make noises when eating and drinking soup，they talk quietly keeping the voice only being heard.So Western table atmosphere is quiet，even romantic.

Different Arrangement of Seats at Table

There is a strict rule in China when arranging seats at a round table.The honor seat opposite to the door is for chief guests or elders； the seats beside for the second honor guests； the inferior seats opposite the honor for the host and hostess.So before a banquet host and hostess wont sit down before the chief guest and the second honor guests have taken their seats.

While its different for westerners to arrange seats at table，long rectangular table is their pereference when entertaining friends.The host and the hostess sit down at both end of the table，the chief guest sits at the upper right side of the hostess，and his wife sits at the upper right of the host.Right is honor and left is secondary in the west，which is exactly opposite to the Chinese.

Different Tablewares

For tablewares，Chinese people often use chopsticks， spoon，bowl and small dish.Chopsticks are used to help Chinese to almost everything except soup.It is a bad manner to point others with chopsticks or put them upright in the rice bowl.Spoon is used to scoope food or to assist chopsticks picking food in big size.Its impolite to scoop a full spoon of food at one time or put the spoon into mouth，or lick the spoon again and again.

Westerners use many table wares shch as knives， forks，spoons，glass and napkin.Knife is used to cut food and fork to carry food into mouth.Left knife and right fork are put in the way of Chinese character “八”.Soup spoon is always put on the outermost right side.Chinese think knife and fork are so complicated to use，but its more difficult for westerners to handle chopsticks.

Conclusion

Differences between Chinese and Western table manners are distinct，neither is better or worse and each has its own advantages.The important thing is to understand the differences so as to improve intercultural communication and assist the Olympic bid.

【基金項(xiàng)目】張家口市科學(xué)技術(shù)研究與發(fā)展計(jì)劃項(xiàng)目（1411058I-2）。

作者簡(jiǎn)介：孫耕梅，（1966.8），女，河北北方學(xué)院副教授， 碩士，從事英語(yǔ)教學(xué)和英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言文學(xué)研究。