中美餐桌礼仪Table-manners-between-China-and-America.pptx

THE DIFFERENT TABLE MANNERS BETWEEN CHINA AND AMERICA1 1.Table manner is an essential part of a culture and its a mirror of certain culture.Different countries have different table manners.America can be the most typical country in the West,while China,the counterpart in the East.Also,the United States is the biggest economy and developed country in the world,while China,the second biggest economy and the largest developing country.For these reasons and cultural gaps,the differences in table manners can be large.What is polite in china may not be polite in the United States.2 2.THE WAY TO INVITE GUESTSChinese people regard banquet as an important way to facilitate interpersonal relationship and an essential part of social communication.There are two traditional ways to invite guests in China depends on the importance of the banquet.One is the family meal,the host can tell the guests orally.The other one is the formal banquet,the host must to meet the guest personally with a formal invitation card.These processes are not only a method of expressing courtesy but also the way of showing the social status of the guests and the value of the banquet.No matter whether the banquet is the ordinary one or the formal one,host has the responsibility to inform the guests of the time,location and the list of the participants in advance.3 3.For a family meal it may be several days in advance,while for a formal banquet it may need months in advance.The host should stand at the door to welcome the guests personally before the guests come to attend the banquet.When the most honorable guests enter into the room,the hosts stand until the guest of honor is seated.Before the banquet,host usually prepares some good tea to entertain the guests.Tea can be an indispensable part of a Chinese banquet.Tea has the effect of relax the guests and make a comfortable atmosphere.The host then orders the dishes brought,and the guest should be silent.The dishes will be brought into the table.The host will make a brief talk to start the banquet when some good dishes are on the table.Traditionally,the most important guests will be the first one to start to eat.4 4.In America when people say that he or she want to invite you to have a meal,you should differentiate the situation.If the host do not inform you of the time and location of the banquet,its just for politeness and the host do not really want to invite you.This can be puzzling to Chinese.When you are invited to a banquet,the guests must have the sense of punctuality.Its rude to come in advance or come too late.Just minutes before the ordered time can be appropriate.Also in America,the guests should take the food when they join a party.5 5.THE WAY TO EATUnlike the American,where people have their own plate and eat separately,the dishes are placed on the same plate and all the people in the banquet shares.No matter of the banquet is a ordinary family meal or a formal banquet,all the people sit around at the same table and share food together.When eating,Chinese always have the habits of sharing regardless of age,gender,social status.For Chinese people share food in some plate can be a signal of good relationship and same interests.When you have a meal with someone not very familiar,its rude and impolite to eat separately.Chinese pay a great attention to the cuisine and take pride in the culture of food.No matter whether they are eating at home or at the restaurant,the host always tries their best to entertain the guest.For old friends,Chinese people usually order the enough food.If for friends whose relationship is polite or at a business banquet,Chinese people usually order a large amount of food which more than enough.By these the host can express the friendly and respect for the guests and can make the guests know that the host is a person worth to get along with.6 6.DINING ATMOSPHEREIn China,almost at every banquet,people tend to urge others to drink,fetch food for others and chat loudly.The lively atmosphere serves as a symbol of reunion.Alcohol is a big part of eating in china,especially when dining with Chinese hosts,you can expect the beer to flow freely and many beis to be Gan Bei.Besides beer,the official Chinese alcoholic beverage is Bai jiu,high-proof Chinese liquor made from assorted grains.There are varying degrees of bai jiu,and some are famous,such as Maotai and Wuliangye.To urge people to drink is a tradition in china.For Chinese regard drinking together as a signal of good relationship and intimacy.7 7.Many people in china still hold the old say,when you are good friends and the friendship is deer,you should always dry the bottle.When asking people drink a toast,the toaster must have some causes to congratulate the drinker.This called toast in china.If a person asks someone to drink a toast,the one being asked must respond positively and drink without any hesitation.The more a group of people drink,the closer is their relationship.If you do not drink the toaster may think that you are not friendly to him and do not give his face.8 8.During the banquet,especially the one for business or official issues,people dress formally and behave gracefully.Different banquets ask guests to dress different clothes.Its important to dress appropriately in American banquet.The varied kinds of party dresses are the favors of the gentlemen and civilized women.Loud talks and vulgar movements are regarded to be rude and are seriously banned in the banquet.Its unacceptable to ask other people to drink or eat too much.9 9.1010.