Chinese Dining Etiquette
Chinese dining etiquette is usually the most important skill
to acquire to be respected in Chinese cultures by the Chinese community. There are
different kinds of Chinese dining etiquette required when dining with Chinese people.
These are the Chinese dining etiquettes needed: seating arrangements, ordering
food, tea pouring and paying the bill for the dinner.
The most senior person will sit the furthest from the entrance and facing the door. The guest of honour sits next to the most senior person right. The person paying the bill sits opposite the guest of honour and closest the door. The remainder seats are filled by social hiearachy by placing the most important person next to the most senior person. Only one person orders the dishes, which are usually family style unlike the western people order, their own food. When you’re in charge of ordering food you usually order cold appetisers, two or three meat dishes, seafood dish, one or more vegetables dishes, rice or noodles and additional dishes like dumplings, soup, pancakes and etc. The most senior person is served first then the most important person decides who should be served next and finally the honoured guest served last. The most senior person has to begin eating first before everyone else begins eating. Hot Chinese tea is usually the prefer drink of choice with the meals. When someone refills your teacup you should thank him or her by tapping your pointer and middle finger or knuckle on the table. As for paying for the dinner, it is good manners to offer the pay the bill or it will be impolite when not offering to pay the bill. If someone pays the bill for you with work colleagues, it is often expected that you repay the favour back at similar or slightly expensive restaurant. When dining with family members or girlfriend the men should be paying the bill.
The most senior person will sit the furthest from the entrance and facing the door. The guest of honour sits next to the most senior person right. The person paying the bill sits opposite the guest of honour and closest the door. The remainder seats are filled by social hiearachy by placing the most important person next to the most senior person. Only one person orders the dishes, which are usually family style unlike the western people order, their own food. When you’re in charge of ordering food you usually order cold appetisers, two or three meat dishes, seafood dish, one or more vegetables dishes, rice or noodles and additional dishes like dumplings, soup, pancakes and etc. The most senior person is served first then the most important person decides who should be served next and finally the honoured guest served last. The most senior person has to begin eating first before everyone else begins eating. Hot Chinese tea is usually the prefer drink of choice with the meals. When someone refills your teacup you should thank him or her by tapping your pointer and middle finger or knuckle on the table. As for paying for the dinner, it is good manners to offer the pay the bill or it will be impolite when not offering to pay the bill. If someone pays the bill for you with work colleagues, it is often expected that you repay the favour back at similar or slightly expensive restaurant. When dining with family members or girlfriend the men should be paying the bill.
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment