Table Manners（餐桌礼仪)

Table manners are how to behave when you eat a meal. They include how to handle cutlery and how to eat in a civilized manner.

Eating 进餐

1. Japan 日本

(1) It is “perfectly” okay to slurp when you eat noodles. The reason is that Unlike making big noises, slurping mildly is not rude but is a compliment to the chef. Japanese also say it tastes better if you slurp.

(2) Eat sushi whole. Dip the fish part rather than the rice into soy sauce.

2. Russia 俄罗斯

(1) Your wrists should be placed on the edge of the table while eating, fork in left hand, knife in the right.

(2) Keep your hands in sight. It is not good manners to rest them on your lap. Keep your elbows off the table.

(3) Leave some food on your plate to show that the host has given you enough to eat. Or the host will ask if you’d like to have a second helping. It’s polite to mop up excess sauce or gravy with bread.

3. France 法国

(1) Never discuss money or religion over dinner. Going Dutch is considered “the height of unsophistication”.

(2) In France, a meal is like a ceremony. People relish it and make it’s a special occasion.

(3) In contrast to the etiquette in Russia, it’s considered good manners to finish everything on your plate. People often cut bread directly on a table cloth rather than on a plate. Tear your bread into bite-sized pieces before eating. Taking a bite from the whole piece is very impolite。

4. Mexico 墨西哥

(1) Whenever you catch the eye of someone who’s eating, even a stranger, it’s good manners to say “provecho”， which means enjoy.

 (2) In Mexico, dining is more than a meal. It’s a social occasion - lunches are rarely quick and suppers can last for hours.

 (3) Where you sit matters in the country. Before you get seated, look for place cards, or wait until the host seats you.

Drinking 饮酒

1. America 在美国

If you empty a bottle into someone’s glass, it obliges that person to buy the next bottle. It’s polite to put the last drops into your own glass.

2. Australia 在澳大利亚

In a pub it’s customary to buy a round of drinks for everyone in your group. When it’s your turn say “It’s my round”. They’ll make it up to you when it’s their round. Don’t leave before you’ve bought a round.

3. Japan 在日本

Don’t fill your own glass of alcohol, instead, you should pour for others and wait for them to reciprocate.

4. Russia 俄罗斯

Adhere to the vodka rituals. Vodka is for toasting, not sipping. Men, but not women, are expected to down shots in one gulp. Never mix vodka with another beverage or dilute it. And don’t place an empty bottle on the table - it must be placed on the floor.

5. Sweden 在瑞典

It’s considered impolite to clink glasses unless you say “cheers”.

Table manners are how to behave when you eat a meal. They include how to handle cutlery and how to eat in a civilized manner.

Eating 进餐

1. Japan 日本

(1) It is “perfectly” okay to slurp when you eat noodles. The reason is that Unlike making big noises, slurping mildly is not rude but is a compliment to the chef. Japanese also say it tastes better if you slurp.

(2) Eat sushi whole. Dip the fish part rather than the rice into soy sauce.

2. Russia 俄罗斯

(1) Your wrists should be placed on the edge of the table while eating, fork in left hand, knife in the right.

(2) Keep your hands in sight. It is not good manners to rest them on your lap. Keep your elbows off the table.

(3) Leave some food on your plate to show that the host has given you enough to eat. Or the host will ask if you’d like to have a second helping. It’s polite to mop up excess sauce or gravy with bread.

3. France 法国

(1) Never discuss money or religion over dinner. Going Dutch is considered “the height of unsophistication”.

(2) In France, a meal is like a ceremony. People relish it and make it’s a special occasion.

(3) In contrast to the etiquette in Russia, it’s considered good manners to finish everything on your plate. People often cut bread directly on a table cloth rather than on a plate. Tear your bread into bite-sized pieces before eating. Taking a bite from the whole piece is very impolite。

4. Mexico 墨西哥

(1) Whenever you catch the eye of someone who’s eating, even a stranger, it’s good manners to say “provecho”， which means enjoy.

 (2) In Mexico, dining is more than a meal. It’s a social occasion - lunches are rarely quick and suppers can last for hours.

 (3) Where you sit matters in the country. Before you get seated, look for place cards, or wait until the host seats you.

Drinking 饮酒

1. America 在美国

If you empty a bottle into someone’s glass, it obliges that person to buy the next bottle. It’s polite to put the last drops into your own glass.

2. Australia 在澳大利亚

In a pub it’s customary to buy a round of drinks for everyone in your group. When it’s your turn say “It’s my round”. They’ll make it up to you when it’s their round. Don’t leave before you’ve bought a round.

3. Japan 在日本

Don’t fill your own glass of alcohol, instead, you should pour for others and wait for them to reciprocate.

4. Russia 俄罗斯

Adhere to the vodka rituals. Vodka is for toasting, not sipping. Men, but not women, are expected to down shots in one gulp. Never mix vodka with another beverage or dilute it. And don’t place an empty bottle on the table - it must be placed on the floor.

5. Sweden 在瑞典

It’s considered impolite to clink glasses unless you say “cheers”.