8 Essential Etiquette Rules During Chinese Meals

You are about to sit down for a beautiful Chinese meal, and with a gesture here and a bite there, you and your family are suddenly subjected to a sea of ​​shame and cursed with bad luck for generations. “How can a simple lunch end in this?” You might ask yourself.

First, we must understand that eating is an important part of Chinese culture, whether it's time to celebrate something, receive visitors, socialize or strengthen ties. Therefore, behaving properly at these times is very important, as demonstrating good manners indicates proper breeding and attracts good luck.

Already acting inappropriately is a magnet for bad luck and demonstrates how bad the education received from your parents was. If you don't want to inculcate the fury of tiger moms around the world, then plug into the eight etiquette tips during Chinese meals below for you.

1 - Where to sit

Even before sitting down to eat, it is important to show respect for your host and guest of honor. To do this, it is sufficient not to occupy the most prominent position, which in round tables is the central chair that has direct view of the entrance. The second most important place is to the right of the most important, the third to your left and so on. Note that the person responsible for paying the bill will always sit on the opposite side of the table.

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2 - How to place your order

Chinese meals usually follow the family style, in which everyone shares their plates and usually one person is responsible for ordering. Occasionally, the host may pick a few options and tell each guest to order additional food. If it's up to you to make the order, make sure you select a good variety and the order has an even number, as odd ones are reserved for funerals - and this attracts bad luck.

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3 - How to serve tea

Even at tea time there is a certain etiquette to follow. It is considered good manners to serve those around you. To do this, you must hold the teapot handle with your right hand and secure the lid with your left, which demonstrates that you are honoring the person serving - and still prevent the cover from falling off. When the tea runs out, set the container aside with the lid partially open, which tells waiters that a refill is needed. Completely removing the cover is again a magnet for bad luck.

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4 - How to show gratitude

If someone is pouring tea for you, you must verbally thank them to show their gratitude and good manners. However, if the conversation is flowing during the occasion, speaking out loud can interrupt the subject, so to make your thanks, you should put your index and middle finger together, bend them and tap lightly on the table.

This gesture that has been taught in China since ancient times and is based on a history of Chinese royalty. The story goes that the emperor once decided to travel secretly around the country with his two helpers to see how things were going. When they stopped for tea, the Regent served them all, which would force the servants to bow in gratitude. In order not to end the disguise, the helpers bent their fingers.

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5 - How to use the sticks

No matter how hard they are to hold, you must learn to use chopsticks properly. These tools are seen as extensions of your fingers, so be careful not to point them towards other people, which is considered rude. Also, never let your chopsticks stick in your food, as it resembles the incense used by the Chinese to honor the dead, which - you may have guessed - attracts bad luck.

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6 - How to eat your meal

Chinese meals are usually served on rotating center tables to facilitate family-style eating. When a meal is served, the older person has the right to catch it first before it is spun on the table. It's good manners to take just a small portion of each option so everyone can try everything.

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7 - How to eat fish

In the Chinese language, the expression “eat fish” has the same sound as “abundance” (“yǒu yú”), so this type of food is considered as good luck attractor. Once one side of the marine animal has been fully eaten, never turn the fish to the other side.

This custom began in China's fishing communities, where the swimming animal represents a boat and turning it symbolizes turning its source of income upside down. For this reason, to be able to eat the other side of the food, you just need to take the fish column with its chopsticks, the starter of the rest and place next to the plate.

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8 - How to pay the bill

Making meal payments is a very complex custom and one of the most important during meals. Guests never - NEVER - should be opposed to the host, as this indicates either that you believe he or she cannot afford the costs or that you do not accept the hospitality offered.

Still, although the host must pay the bill, guests have to offer to pay it a few times - and the more honest you seem, the better. Simply passively accepting that it pays makes it seem that you are not grateful or that the host owes you something. Once all this dance is over, accept it to pay and thank you honestly.

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Surprised by the Chinese traditions? Leave your opinion in the comments.