Chopsticks, generally believed to have originated in ancient China, play an important role in Chinese food culture.
Over the thousands of years that chopsticks have been around, many different rules of etiquette have come about concerning their use. Some, mostly those observed for hygienic reasons, are shared by other countries that use chopsticks. Others are unique to China and are usually related to some aspect of its culture. The following are a few of the things one should avoid when using chopsticks in China:
- Using chopsticks to strike or bang on plates, bowls, cups, etc.
In most cases it is considered obscene to strike or bang on your plate, bowl, or cup with chopsticks, as in the past it was something typically done by beggars as they begged for food.
- Sticking a pair of chopsticks vertically into in the middle of a bowl of rice
While handing someone a bowl of rice and chopsticks or when not using your own chopsticks, it may be more convenient to stick the chopsticks into the bowl of rice. However, many Chinese people consider doing so to be disrespectful. Why? A pair of chopsticks sticking straight up out of a bowl of rice looks like a stick of incense jutting out from the center of an incense burner, just like the one used in China to offer sacrifices to the dead.
3. Using your chopsticks to push food around on communal plates It is considered impolite to push around or poke at food on a communal plate, especially if you don’t take anything in the end.
4. Sucking noisily on chopsticks Most Chinese people believe that sucking noisily on one’s chopsticks during a meal is a sign of an improper upbringing. The same goes for drinking soup loudly.
- Pointing at others with chopsticks or while using chopsticks during a meal
Using chopsticks with only the thumb, middle, ring and little fingers while sticking your index finger out as if pointing at someone is considered to be impolite. This is because using the index finger to point at someone is generally a gesture used to scold them. Similarly, it is also considered bad manners to use your chopsticks to point at someone while chatting during a meal.
